Tag Archives: love

Apr19

Random 5 Below Finds

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Random 5 Below Finds

Hi there! Johnny and I delight in being the fun aunt and uncle and love spending time with our nieces. This past weekend we took our middle niece out for a special morning before meeting up with her big sis, mama, and their Uncle Andrew to see the new Mario movie. Our little was so sad she couldn’t join us for her sister’s birthday treat day and we promised to take her on a solo outing ASAP. Before the movie we shopped till we dropped at 5 Below, visited the animals at Petsmart, and went to Mickey D’s for lunch and Play Place time. It was a blast!

At 5 Below we let her pick out anything and everything and got some treats for ourselves and her sisters too. It was a full fledged shopping spree! As you all know, I loves me some 5 Below and just couldn’t say no to the following:

I saw the freaking hilarious Pitbull shirt the last time I was at 5 Below with a client. I was going to purchase it but they only had extra larges at the time. Am I a huge Pitbull fan? Isn’t everyone secretly? Lol I will be the first to admit that he has some straight BANGERS! During this shopping trip I was so happy to see that the sizes were restocked and I just had to get it. How could I not when it was only five bucks?! Mr. 305 happens to be coming to my neck of the woods in September and I am SO trying to go. I already know exactly what top I’ll be wearing! 😀

And, of course, the K-Pop Demon Hunters sticker went into the cart immediately to decorate my laptop with. My nieces love that movie so much and I do too! We are always listening to the soundtrack together and singing and dancing like crazy. It’s just pure joy and I honestly tear up every time I hear Golden because it makes me think of them. I adore the Huntrix girls and now I get to see them every morning when I work from home. This was the very last K-Pop Demon Hunters sticker on the shelves so we visited 5 Below at the perfect time. Great success!

These Random 5 Below Finds featured two very different musicians for sure. Future Mr. Worldwide/Huntrix collab? I think YES!

What is your favorite song from K-Pop Demon Hunters? How about Pitbull (lol)? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr8

Happy Birthday, Sister!!

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Happy Birthday, Sister!!

Hello everyone!! Today is a fantastic, wonderful day because it is my big sister, Kristen’s, birthday! Kristen is my bestie pal and I am still overjoyed at the fact that we got to have so much quality time together in New Orleans this past month. Our mini vacation turned us into teenagers again and it was, honestly, magical. We had slumber parties, sipped on drinks, shared delicious meals, and got to explore a brand new city side by side. Our trip was nonstop laughter and fun and I think it brought us even closer together. It has warmed my heart so much that we have been texting way more often since our return home! Maybe next year we could do another getaway for both of our birthdays but it will be so great to celebrate her here on her big day and every day. ❤

Kristen inspires me to no end and I genuinely don’t understand how she is still standing at the end of each day. She is a proud mom of three precious girls, two cats, and two dogs – I’m exhausted after a few hours at her place and she makes it look so easy. It is anything but and I couldn’t be more proud of her and all she has accomplished. Kristen is one of the strongest people I have ever met and I do not say that lightly. She has endured countless hardships and emerged victorious on the other side to create a beautiful life for herself. She is so steadfast and determined but greets any and all situations with kindness – a further testament to her fortitude.

It is so special to have a big sister as incredible as mine and it’s even better that we’re best friends too. We might not have always acted like it lol but we really are thick as thieves! From childhood to teenage years, I remember wishing that I could be just like her and I’m sure it was easy to get fed up with her constant shadow. Even when we had our tiffs, however, we both knew that I would never be far from under her wings five minutes later. It was so fun to return back to that sisterly bickering but loving every minute of it during our travels and I can’t wait to make more memories together. We have plans for a sister slumber party soon and I can’t wait! ❤

To my best friend and best big sis – Happy Birthday!

I love you, Kristen!!!!! ❤

Apr6

Happy Birthday, Dad!!!

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Happy Birthday, Dad!!!

Hello! Today is a fantastic, wonderful day because it is my dad’s birthday!! As my dad refuses to celebrate birthdays, I gave him his prezzies last week on his unbirthday so he could still enjoy them lol. However, that will never stop me from sending him an extra special birthday shout out on the ol’ blog! My dad is my bestie pal and we have so much fun together. Whether we are doing puzzles, gardening, or playing along to The Price Is Right, there is nothing better than spending time with my dad. He is freaking hilarious and always keeps me in stitches. My dad also keeps himself in stitches as he is prone to laugh attacks which make the matters at hand even funnier. Not to mention how charming and handsome he is to boot! ❤

One of the things that I love about my dad is his spirit of adventure. He is constantly planning experiences for my family like vacations and nights at the theater and is always up for trying something new. For the past year, my dad has been taking guitar lessons from Johnny and he practices every day. I so enjoy being a fly on the wall during their lessons and hearing my dad practice because it’s just cool. Learning the guitar is no easy feat but he is dedicated to it and Johnny and I are both amazed at how much he has improved. No matter what, you should never stop learning and my dad really is a testament to that. It inspires me deeply!

Spending time with my dad is a lesson in good things taking time. It could be nurturing his beautiful garden, working on a difficult puzzle, or hearing him piece together a song. These are all reminders to just keep working at it and plugging away because something great is right around the corner. As a child and, honestly, sometimes as an adult, my MO has been to quit out of frustration. My dad has always been the one to encourage me to give it another try. One more lesson, one more practice, one more go and it worked every time. It worked because my dad was in my corner and that was the most important thing. Everything is better when he’s by my side because he is the best and I will forever be a daddy’s girl. ❤

Happy birthday to my dad!!!!

I love you so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mar22

Happy Birthday, Mom!!!

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Happy Birthday, Mom!!!

Hello!!! Today is a fantastic, wonderful day because we have a birthday girl in the house – my fantastic, wonderful mom!! My sweet mom is my little cutiepie lol she is a tiny ball of energy and spending time with her is one of my favorite things in the world. Whether we are shopping, walking our beloved Archie dog, or just sitting at the kitchen table chatting it is literally food for the soul. There’s a saying that as you age you turn more and more into your parents and I am a-okay with that. It is a gift to be anything like my mom!! ❤

My mom is my best friend and when we’re apart, we are sure to be texting or talking on the phone. Every Monday after work I give her a call on my way home and I look forward to that chat every week! I am lucky enough to see my parents several days of the week and live right down the street from them. Honestly, it’s not close enough lol. Whenever we are together, it promises to be a good time and we are always laughing about something. It could be my dad jogging through the house or my mom losing her glasses for the five hundredth time but the laugh attacks are always on the verge of striking!

All joking aside (Which is more often than not!), being around my mom is a masterclass in kindness. Ever since I was little, I can always remember her greeting every person we encountered with a smile and her deep passion for animal rescue. From childhood on, I wanted to be just like my mom and I still do. Her compassionate manner hasn’t faltered once in her life and if that isn’t an amazing role model then I truly don’t know what is. My mom is always who I want to talk to first whether I have good news or bad. She celebrates the good with the utmost pride and helps handle the bad even if we don’t say anything at all. Just being around her is enough because she radiates love and that is the best medicine of all. ❤

To my mom and A1 bestie – I love you more than words can say!

Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dec25

Merry Christmas!!!

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Merry Christmas!!!

Hello everyone and Merry Christmas! I will keep this post short and sweet as I know we all have lots to do for the big day. I just wanted to send the biggest hug to you and yours for an amazing holiday season no matter how you celebrate. Consider this a Lil Red Christmas card! A wish for the absolute best for the remainder of the year and the next to come. A wish for good health, safety, and happiness. And a great big thank you for continuing to support lifewithlilred every day. ❤

The holiday season is my *second* favorite time of the year after Halloween and I am so excited to share it with my friends and family. That means all of you too! My blog has created a worldwide friend group and I can’t wait to see how all of you celebrate. Your hauls, delicious dinners, pretty outfits, and those what in the world White Elephant gifts. Holidays bring people together and I am so thankful that all of you are here to enjoy this special time with me. lifewithlilred would be nothing without each and every one of you so keep tuning in for more festive fun Lil Red’s way. Have the best day ever!!!

Merry Christmas!!!

I love you all! ❤

Dec18

New Hair, Who Dis?

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New Hair, Who Dis?

Hello! Due to a stint with Covid, I had to cancel my hair appointment and was blessed by my stylist who squeezed me in this past Saturday. Anna opened up The Shear Shop just for me on her birthday, no less, and we had the best time spending the day together while she created hair magic. Whenever Anna does my hair, I always say that it’s the best style yet. However, I REALLY think we are onto something with this new do. We went dark for winter and I am in absolute love. Check it out:

Pulp Riot Colors Used:

Pyro mixed with Fireball

Absinthe

Nightfall

To begin creating this look, we bleached my hair for about twenty minutes and it did the trick perfectly. All of the old color was stripped from my hair and what remained was the lightest lemon hue and a bit of green around the ends. This was no matter, though, as our experiment into the world of green hair would take place on the bottom layer. Once my hair was washed and dried from the bleach was when the fun part starts – painting on the color! 😀

For my Pulp Riot palette, we went with Pyro mixed with Fireball at the roots, a layer of navy Nightfall, and a layer of deep emerald green Absinthe. Anna and I have tested many a color at my roots but we have never had better regrowth than with Pyro and Fireball, which masks the incoming natural brown hair like a charm. From the red would melt into rich and bold navy and emerald and we were chomping at the bit to see the end result. We just had a feeling it was going to be good and was it ever!

This color combo is everything and we were blown away by the dimension of the Pulp Riot dyes. We only used three colors but it sure doesn’t look that way. There is a kaleidoscope going on! The red and blue near the roots mixed into purple, there are swirling teals, aquatic blues, and jewel toned greens that created a full fledged peacock palette. My favorite animal! I could not wait to take pictures as soon as I got home and I loved seeing the falling snow against the gemstone magic that my genius stylist and I dreamed up. ❤

This is the darkest I have ever gone before for my hair and my only regret is not doing it sooner. I feel completely fabulous and, as always, Anna continues to showcase the true mastery of her craft. I am so beyond thankful for her! ❤

How often do you get your hair done? What brand of dye do you use? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov18

TikTok Love

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TikTok Love

Howdy! As you all know, I am a word girl through and through. I don’t really like scrolling through videos or pictures and have always preferred Facebook as my primary social media. However, way back at the end of March, I decided to make a TikTok. I had just left a work situation that, for lack of better words, sucked ass. I was in a weird kind of limbo but what I wanted most of all was to focus on my own content again. Not anyone else’s – just me, myself, and I. And you know what? It felt good!

Prior to making my TikTok, I rarely made videos of myself and was busy making videos for other people. I was deeply ambivalent at first but after a few days, I definitely saw the appeal. It’s just pure fun! My blog baby will always be my A1 but I loved the idea of making video content that coincides with what you read on lifewithlilred. It’s like an extra sneak peek into my world and I have found myself enjoying making OOTD videos just as much as shooting them in picture form. I have also been having a blast just making videos that I think look cool or are funny. It might not be to anyone else, but it is to me.

I went into my TikTok with no intentions of following trends. No expectations of getting paid or becoming TikTok famous. I went into it with the intentions of trying something new. The last new thing I tried in terms of work sucked and that’s because it wasn’t on my own terms. My TikTok was totally different because I had the final say and I still relish in that feeling every time I click post. It really does feel amazing to do something for you with zero expectations. Just to enjoy yourself. It sounds silly, but my blog and TikTok really are my favorite forms of self care. Outside of shopping, and getting my hair and nails done – obvi lol!

As I have literally zero expectations with my TikTok, every new like and follow feels like a huge win. Every notification is a victory and it feels like a pat on the back. I am immensely proud of my 2,640 followers and 24K likes. Like my blog, my TikTok is an extension of me. Something I made all on my own. I started both pages on a total whim and the fact that I still make daily content after all this time tells you everything you need to know. I just love to create!

If you are in the mood for more Lil Red, have I got a deal for you! Follow me on TikTok for more from your favorite lil blogger. Every single follow means the world!

Are you on TikTok? What is your handle? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct16

Dirty Works Vitamin C Miracle Moisturizer Review

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Dirty Works Vitamin C Miracle Moisturizer Review

Yoohoo! I absolutely love trying out new skin care products and have been obsessed with the new to me moisturizer I have been using. I finally got around to testing the Vitamin C Miracle Moisturizer by Dirty Works and the name is so fitting. This moisturizer is a little miracle in a bottle! This is the first Dirty Works product that I have used that genuinely impressed me and I am keeping my fingers and toes crossed to find it again at TJMaxx. If you try it, you are going to be all about it too so let’s discuss:

When it comes to skin care, I really don’t care if it’s scented or not. All I want is for it to be effective. However, it’s always nice when a product smells nice and the Miracle Works Moisturizer is a delight. It smells like summer and sunscreen and is a lovely little pick me up when I apply it in the morning. Especially because it finally feels like breezy and brisk fall in good ol’ Akron, Ohio. I use a little more than a dime sized dollop for full face and neck coverage and it feels like I’m getting ready for a day at the beach with each use.

While the sunny scent is a welcome addition, the best part about this moisturizer is the way it feels once it’s on. I have never used one quite like this! After its application, this moisturizer makes my skin feel like pure velvet. It offers a matte finish that just feels so soft to the touch and I cannot recall ever using a moisturizer that has provided that crushed velvet sensation. It is heavenly! This moisturizer absorbs super quickly and gives my skin a radiant glow with the Vitamin C and a hydrating snap compliments of the hyaluronic acid. I can’t get enough of it and I know it’s bad but I also can’t stop touching my face as soon as it’s on morning and night. Yeah, it’s that good!

If you are on the market for a new moisturizer, I truly cannot recommend this one enough. You are going to love it!

What is your favorite Dirty Works product? What is the best moisturizer you have ever used? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun7

Happy Birthday To Me!!

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Happy Birthday To Me!!

Hello and holy moly! Today is my 31st (…21st?) birthday!! When I started lifewithlilred in 2014, I never imagined writing a birthday post for myself eleven years later but here we are. And I wouldn’t want it any other way! As it’s mine and Johnny’s birthaversary, I have already had a wonderful celebration so far. A party at home, dinner with my in laws, and treating myself to a fresh new fill. I am also very much looking forward to a birthday FaceTime with my blogging bestie, a hang out with my other bestie, and a big family dinner at Hibachi Japan. Why celebrate for one day when you can celebrate all month, amiright?!

As I reflect on another year older (And hopefully wiser!), I can’t help but to think how lucky I am. Lucky to have an amazing family, friends, husband, bunnies, and the whole blogosphere in my corner. It is such a gift to be surrounded by so much love every day and no matter how much I wish I could slow the aging process down, it is a gift to be able to do so with the best company by my side. You know what? These past handful of years have been some of the best of my life so maybe getting older isn’t all that bad. Not that thirty-one is old (I’m trying to remind myself!), but you know what I mean lol. All I know is that I am in store for another great year and I can’t wait to share it with each and every one of you!

Happy birthday to me and thank you ALL for spending time with me on lifewithlilred every day. I love you!!!
Jun1

Happy Birthday, Johnny!!

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Happy Birthday, Johnny!!

Hello!! Today is a fantastic, wonderful day because it is my main squeeze, Johnny’s, birthday!! My beloved’s birthday kick starts our birthaversary extravaganza and I am so excited to celebrate our big days and wedding anniversary together. I truly do not know what I would do without my Johnny and I consider myself to be the luckiest girl in the whole world. We have been together for well over five years and those first date butterflies have remained every day since. I miss him when we’re apart, I think about him all the time, and it is still exciting when he greets me at the door after work. It’s safe to say I am madly, deeply in love!

Whether we are at home binging our favorite shows or on the go, it is never a dull moment with Johnny. We just have fun together and his personality and laugh are infectious. Johnny is never without a kind word to say to anyone and he provides such a bright light to everyone he encounters. He is always, always thinking about others before himself and loves fiercely. It is so beautiful to see him interact with those he holds dear because it simply radiates. It is my absolute favorite to watch him play with our sweet nieces and nephew and he really is joy personified.

Being married to Johnny is a nonstop adventure and waking up next to him is a gift. Since our first date, we have barely been apart from each other and I wouldn’t want it any other way. We have been through so many of life’s ups and downs together and I couldn’t and don’t want to imagine anyone else by my side. Johnny has made my life better in more ways than I could ever count and I fall in love with him more every day. And I don’t even care how cheesy that sounds because it is the truth! ❤

Happy Birthday, Johnny! I love you always!!!! ❤