Tag Archives: love

Holiday Haul: Last But Not Least Edition

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Holiday Haul: Last But Not Least Edition

Hellooo! The last gift from my Holiday Haul, but certainly not the least, that I would like to share with all of you is from my dear old dad. Last year, I was gifted with a true crime daily calendar from my dad that was an absolute hit. In fact, it was one of the first gifts that I think my dad actually picked out for me, instead of just having “from mom and dad” written on the label.

With the calendar being such a success last year, I was presented with the 2020 version from my dad and I am very happy with it! Check it out:

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A day to day calendar is truly the gift that keeps on giving, especially if you are interested in the subject. I, for one, am a huge lover of all things true crime and it makes changing the page every day exciting because I never know what I am going to learn about next! It will also be especially fun to tuck into this calendar with my boyfriend because he is a true crime aficionado, as well, and we love flipping through the pages together.

Although this gift may seem simple, so much thought went into it and I am thrilled to be welcoming 2020 with a present that was seemingly made for me!

What is the subject of your calendar? Where are my true crime fans at? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Accessory Story: Jessica McClintock Cape Edition

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Accessory Story: Jessica McClintock Cape Edition

Greetings everyone and welcome to the last of my Holiday Haul from my parents! One of Lil Red’s loves definitely has to be faux fur. From jackets and vests to cool collars, I just think that they add the perfect touch of edgy glam to any look. And the funny thing? I used to think that they made an outfit look cheap! It’s funny how your sense of style evolves over time and my mom definitely got the hint of my ever changing look by picking me out this beauty by Jessica McClintock:

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It was such a trip, because a week or so before Christmas, my mom asked me to get her her slippers from her closet AKA her present hiding spot. So, I went to grab her slippers and discovered this gorgeous cape hanging there. I came downstairs and immediately told her “I LOVE that cape, when did you get it?”. I really thought nothing of it, because my mom is quite the trendy lil lady herself and I figured she purchased it for her own use. So, imagine my surprise when it was waiting for me under the tree!

Aside from the faux fur, I just love the color of this little number. Forest green is a color that never ceases to look amazing me. I hate to toot my own horn, but TOOT, TOOT, TOOT. With my pasty pale skin and red hair, it just makes everything pop and I am all about it. I cannot wait to pair this over all of my sweaters for the rest of the winter. But, it will be so fabulous for a chilly summer night and I can already see myself snuggling up in it during late evening drinks on the patio.

What color looks the best on you? How do you feel about faux fur? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

7 Ways To Say Thank You

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7 Ways To Say Thank You

The most difficult thing to do these days is to tell someone “thank you”, and do it with feeling. There will be people in your life who you are grateful for every day, and sometimes, the words are just not enough to convey how thankful you are. The best thing to do is to go the extra mile and make your thank you the best one ever. This means getting a little more creative sometimes; more than just firing off an email and hoping for the best.

With our help below, you’re going to have seven new ways to say thank you to those whom you love the most. Let’s take a look:

A New Gift:

We don’t mean running to the nearest store and buying bath salts. Sometimes, only the most unique Hawaiian gifts will do! You can pair this with a beautiful home made gift bag like the ones that you find here. It’s a great way to show your appreciation to someone who deserves it!

A Toast To Them:

Not many people enjoy public speaking – we get that. However, giving a toast at an event you’re both at can make them feel so good! A sincere toast is one that is well-received, so practice in front of the mirror so that you can see that your toast is done with eloquence!

Write A Heartfelt Poem:

Words really are all you need. Go online and do some searching for the best poetry rhythms around and you’ll likely find something that is perfect for you and the person you want to gush to! Write a poem according to that rhythm and make them feel fantastic about themselves.

Take Them Out:

There are times where a thank you cannot be put into words or gifts and you need to do a little more. Does your friend or relative love musicals? Why not take them to a show and treat them to dinner while you’re there? It can make a huge difference: your time is all they need.

Think About A Gift Card:

Choosing a present isn’t always easy, but a gift card for a store that you know that they love is always a good way to go. They’re not impersonal if you know the best stores that they shop in, and if you make the amount on the gift card generous enough, you’re going to find that you have the perfect present.

Write A Letter:

You can say why you are thanking someone on the phone but it never seems to have the same impact as the written word. Never panic about how long the letter is – it can be as long as you feel is necessary to get your feelings across.

Declare Thanks On Social Media:

Everyone knows that social media has an impact on people these days; a positive one for the most part. So, put out a blast on social media and let them know how much they mean to you there, too. Social media blasts can then be shared, and everyone will know how grateful you are to that person.

The holiday season is the perfect time for giving thanks to your loved ones. Do so with the tips above!

Featured Image By: Pexels

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

Happy Haulidays: Blogging BFF Edition

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Happy Haulidays: Blogging BFF Edition

Helloooo! Lil Red had a terrific day on Monday compliments of the United States Postal Service. I received the rest of my shoes from Dolls Kill AND a surprise Christmas present from the beautiful Kate of Live In The Nautical. I was so excited to see something from my Gemini twin and blogging soul sister, especially after a fantastic hour and a half FaceTime session the week before. :*)

Kate is an amazing gift giver and I was so blown away by the gorgeous bracelet by Emerson Victoria that it literally made me gasp when I saw it. And, a Golden Wonder bath bomb from Lush doesn’t hurt, either! Check it out:

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When it comes to gift giving, Kate always seems to know what you need before you do. I had no idea that a wrap around bracelet with silver skulls peppered in was my latest obsession until I’ve worn it every day since Monday! Whether it be a cute piece of home decor or a Harry Potter themed bracelet, Kate will manage to find something that is so personal to you because, like the wonderful friend that she is, she listens and pays attention to things like your favorite pattern or if you prefer gold or silver jewelry (Or black, in my case!).

I am incredibly thankful to have had Kate in my life for the past several years now and I’m so happy to have shared another holiday with her. Despite being in different states, we still can send each other holiday cheer and text nonstop, as per usual, and that is so special to me. I feel proud to have Kate as one of my dearest friends and am looking forward to another Blogger’s Conference hopefully in 2020! ❤

Who is your Blogging BFF? Have you ever met any of your blogging friends in real life? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Gorgeous Gifts For The Girls In Your Life

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Gorgeous Gifts For The Girls In Your Life

Gift giving is an excellent way to show love and appreciation to those that are important in your life, especially at Christmas time. Of course, for the genuinely special loved ones such as the female friends in your life, pre-bought gift sets just aren’t going to cut it! Instead, you will want something more thoughtful and personal. Fortunately, we’ve given this matter some thought and came up with some suggestions. The best of which you can read below:

Flowers:

Flowers aren’t just for romantic couples. In fact, they have traditionally been given as a token of affection of friendship for hundreds of years. Something that makes them an excellent choice for a gift that shows the girls in your life how much you care. There are several options to consider when gifting flowers too, like having an elaborate display delivered to a friend’s work or bringing a single bloom when you visit their home.

You may even wish to get deeper into the language of flowers if you’d like to convey even more meaning. For example, as you can see from the post at thelanguageofflowers.com a bouquet of yellow roses is a way to express friendship, while sunflowers demonstrate loyalty and longevity.

Jewelry:

Another popular gift for the ladies is jewelry. Of course, you do not have to spend a fortune to find a piece that your friends will love. In fact, you will find that there are numerous sites online that provide personalized pieces of jewelry at a reasonable price. You can then use a guide like the one at rogersandhollands.com to select a birthstone or engraving that can be customized to your choice. Thus giving you the perfect opportunity not just to get something beautiful, but to get a gift that is meaningful and lasting, as well.

Something personalized to their interests:

One of the best ways you can show your friends how much you care for them is to choose them a gift that is based on their own interests and passions. The good news here, is that if you know what their hobbies or interests are, you can use the gift guides at sites like allthestuff.com to find a present that suits them down to a T.

Something customized:

Finally, if you are looking for a gift that is a lot more personal than something you can buy off the shelf, why not go for a custom item? There is a vast range of products to choose from that can be monogrammed or customized, including clothes, ornaments, purses, and even photo books and calendars.

That is not the only way to customize items, either. Actually, there are now some makers that specialize in creating art that includes images and words representing the recipient’s most favorite things. This being an option that means the person you gift it to will get a great decoration for their home. While at the same time will be shown how well you know them and how much their friendship means to you.

Show all of your favorite ladies how much you value their presence with the gifts above!

Featured Image By: Pexels

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

New Dove Grey & Tiffany Blue Nails

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New Dove Grey & Tiffany Blue Nails

Hellooo everyone! With the holidays approaching, mama needed to get her nails right so I took myself to Elysian Nails after work on Friday for some pampering. As always, being able to sit back and get my talons pretty while girl talking with my favorite team of nail techs was just what the doctor ordered after a long work week. I am so in love with my latest color combination and am back to feeling 100% sassy fabulous after some much needed TLC to the claws. Check it out:

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I have wanted to do my nails with this palette for a long time and finally found the perfect shades at Elysian to do it with. The soft, dove grey looks so charming against the more vibrant Tiffany blue and it definitely serves icicle fierceness during the cold month of December. I don’t think that I would ever go full on red and green during the holidays but this combo felt appropriate and still oh so cool during the festive season.

I would never say that I’m someone overly concerned about brand names but, what girl hasn’t fantasized over receiving that statement blue box from Tiffany’s with something sparkly inside? A girl can dream! For now, though, I’ll be okay with just glancing down at my claws and seeing a color that makes me smile!

What color of polish do you have on? How do you sport holiday nails? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Puppy Love

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Puppy Love

Hello everyone! This past week, we welcomed a brand new tiny, furry member to our family and he goes by the name of Archie! My mom and dad adopted a new baby brother for our little terrier, Ollie, from One Of A Kind Pets in Akron and he is the sweetest ball of Golden Retriever fluff you will ever see in your life. Take a look and prepare accordingly for your heart to melt:

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We Mushenheims are a lover of all dogs big and small but we have a special place in our heart for Golden Retrievers. Sadly, our sweet golden, Gem, passed several months ago and we still mourn the loss of her and all of our fallen angel pets. However, we have always been a two dog family and, once we felt the time was appropriate and we were ready, we began to look into different pet rescue sites for a new pup to adopt.

After a handful of failed meet and greets with some of the dogs we were interested in because little Ollie straight up didn’t like them, we were beginning to lose hope. And, then, tiny Archie rolled into One Of A Kind Pets, an amazing rescue organization, and we decided to give it one more try.

My parents brought Ollie into One Of A Kind to meet Archie and, thankfully, they got along swimmingly… Probably because they’re the exact same size for now! So, needless to say, the adoption was a go! We have never had a puppy before, as we’ve always opted for older pups and it is definitely a different change of pace. Archie is three months old and loves to chew on everything, sleep, and then continue to chew on everything. 😀

We are so in love with our new little baby and, although Ollie remains indifferent to everything, I think he likes him too. I can’t wait to watch Archie grow and play and I am obsessed with that uber soft puppy fur! He is already and irreplaceable part of our family and we are so thankful to One Of A Kind Pets for bringing him to us. ❤

Have you gotten a new pet recently? What animals do you have at home? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah