Tag Archives: love

Unsung Wardrobe Heroes: Carolina Belle Blazer Edition

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Unsung Wardrobe Heroes: Carolina Belle Blazer Edition

Hellooo! One article of clothing that Lil Red owns in abundance is jackets. From blazers and peacoats to moto and jean jackets – I love them all. One style that I am particularly fond of as far as an amazing transitional piece from work to play goes is the blazer. Whether it’s fitted and constructed or a slouchy boyfriend style, you can never go wrong with a blazer while you’re on the job or on a night on the town. I own a handful of blazers, but my favorite one will always be this Carolina Belle beauty. Check it out:

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This cobalt blue velvet blazer makes me feel so good whenever I wear it. It makes such a statement thanks to the striking color and pale grey pattern and it gives me a huge confidence boost no matter what mood I’m in. This, in itself, covers what I think clothing should do for someone:

  1. Give you confidence.
  2. Make a statement.

I used to shop very haphazardly when I was younger. I would buy things that maybe didn’t look or fit the best just to have something new or because it was a good deal. Now, as the years have gone by, I try to only purchase things that follow my above guidelines. If the article of clothing that you’re trying on doesn’t instantly make you feel amazing, then what’s the point?

As soon as I tried this blazer on – no, as soon as I looked at it, actually, it made me happy. It made me feel like I could walk into a room or a job interview and be taken seriously but still light it up. I never agree with buying things for the sake of buying. But, how can you not buy a blazer that speaks to you on such a spiritual level?!

What is your favorite style of jacket? How would you style this Carolina Belle blazer? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Do You Love Your Home? Time To Show It

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Do You Love Your Home? Time To Show It

A home is much more than walls and a roof. It’s a place that means something to you and your family. It’s where memories are made. Your house should feel like a safe and inviting shelter from the world. Whether you’ve had a hard day at work or your kids have had a hard day at school, everybody should feel as if they can stroll through that front door and let all of their worries fade away. It’s not just about creating a practical environment for physical relaxation but an aesthetically-pleasing environment that relaxes the mind. For example, your couch can look modern or sophisticated and still be comfortable.

Essentially, creating an inviting home is all about finding a good balance between prettiness and comfort. Whatever improvements need to be made, it’s time to put some effort into the appearance of your humble abode. Do you love your home? If you do, then you should want to show that. Let’s talk about some of the improvements you could make to your household in order to create a warmer and more relaxing environment for you and the whole family. You don’t need to hire a professional team or become a DIY expert either; any beginner with determination can renovate their home:

Space is everything:

The first step towards improving your home is to declutter every room. This is a chance to get rid of all the junk you’ve hoarded over the years (and perhaps make some money by selling those things at a yard sale). In turn, you’ll notice that the house slowly opens up. There’s more potential space in your home than you realize. That minimalistic and spacious design you’ve always wanted is within reach. It’s just about putting your home’s available space to better use. Putting up shelves on the walls as additional storage space is another great way to “tidy up” rooms in the house.

Lighting affects the mood of a room:

The importance of lighting in a home can’t be underestimated. If your house feels a little drab and dreary despite being decorated with all of the bells and whistles, then you might want to consider that the problem lies with the lighting. So many households have a bad interior design because the decorator doesn’t consider the layout and colors used in each room. If you want your home to feel bright and enticing, then you need to utilize lighting cleverly. Throughout the day, you should be allowing natural light into your home as much as possible. Neutral colors such as white will naturally reflect any sunlight pouring in through the windows and serve to brighten up each room in the house.

Tame your back garden:

Another important aspect of a happy home is a nice garden. That’s right – you need to push your horizons a little further than interior design. Your house’s exterior is just as important to your home. Is it nice to look out of your window and see an overgrown jungle that used to be your garden? If you really love your home, then you need to tidy up this outdoor space. You might even want to look into companies such as ABC Home & Commercial to help you mow, fertilize, and essentially tame your garden if you need help. The key thing is to make this area feel homely. Create a relaxing patio area with comfy seats, a dining table, and maybe even a patio awning for shelter from the elements.

Once your backyard has been tamed, fixtures like ponds or pools can make an amazing addition and boost property value. Not a lot of space? No problem! Spools (AKA small pools) are becoming wildly popular and for good reason. They require a lot less maintenance and, due to their small size, can fit in almost any yard. When you choose a fiberglass, gunite, & vinyl spool, you create a backyard oasis for your home, ready for the kids (or you!) to jump right into when the sun comes out.

Reinvent the front of the house:

Continuing from the previous point, you need to think about the entire house when it comes to exterior design. Tidying up your back garden is one thing, but the front of your house is a crucial element of your home’s overall feel. It makes the first impression on you and your guests, after all. If you want to come home to a pleasant sight before you’ve even opened the door, then you might want to consider repaving the path leading up to the door and putting some plants on the front window sills. You could even repaint the front door to give it a “fresh” feel. Reinvent the front of the house, in other words.

With spring just around the corner, there is no better time than now to give your home a new beginning and spruce things up a bit!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Blush, Baby – Maybelline Dream Bouncy In Fresh Pink Edition

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Blush, Baby – Maybelline Dream Bouncy In Fresh Pink Edition

Howdy! After trying many a different brands of blushes over the years, my all time favorite would have to be Maybelline’s Dream Bouncy blushes. It is a cream blush and the best word to describe its texture really is bouncy. It’s soft, cushiony, and feels barely there lightweight on the skin. I have quite a few Dream Bouncy blushes in various shades, but my go to color from the start has always been Fresh Pink:

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Besides for its seven dollar price tag (give or take) and its pillow soft texture, what I like best about the Fresh Pink color is that it’s great for layering and mixing. As I mentioned yesterday, I like to apply my lavender blush over this color for a flower field effect. I also enjoy layering a peach blush over top of it for a sweet mimosa shade. The Dream Bouncy blushes blend effortlessly and the color doesn’t budge all day, which is a wonderful bonus.

The nice thing about this blush is that, despite its brightness before applying, it goes on quite light – which is great. Too bright of blush looks clown-like on me and that is never a good look! The cream texture and soft pink coloring leaves my skin looking dewy and fresh. I always keep Fresh Pink well stocked in my makeup hoard and I use it every day that I wear makeup. Maybe she’s born with it? Maybe it’s Maybelline! 😉

What is your favorite drugstore brand of makeup? Do you prefer cream or powder blush? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Blush, Baby – Clinique Pansy Pop Edition

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Blush, Baby – Clinique Pansy Pop Edition

Hi everyone and happy Hump Day! Aside from lipstick, my favorite makeup is probably blush. Creams, stains, powders – I love it all. As a pale princess, I can always benefit from some added color to my cheeks and I think that it is such fun to pick out different shades to apply. I love pinks and peaches, but the color of blush that I am most fond of is lavender, like my favorite one seen below:

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In August of 2016, my sister surprised me with this blush from Sephora, because she knew that I desperately wanted a new lavender blush to replace my fallen favorite. It was the sweetest thing and here I am in February of 2018 with a decent amount left and still loving it every time I blend it from the apples of my cheeks to over my eyebrows for a beautiful band of color. I like to wear my Clinique Pansy Pop blush over one of my go to pink shades so that the color has a strong base, because without it, the shade is a bit too light. It works like a charm!

There is something about lavender blush that just speaks to me. I like it, because it is more interesting than your basic pinks and nudes – it really adds some flower girl fun to my face. I also like how shades of purple bring out the green in my hazel eyes, which makes for a change in my eye color for the day. I am usually not one to buy high end makeup, but this twenty-two dollar Clinique blush has lasted me a year and a half so far – and you really can’t beat that. 😀

What is your favorite shade of blush to wear? How do you make your eye color pop with makeup? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

An Ode To The Olympics

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An Ode To The Olympics

Hi everyone and happy Monday! If you are anything like me, then I am sure that you revel in every chance that you can get to sit down and enjoy the Winter Olympic games in Pyeongchang. I have been loving taking some time out of my evenings to watch the different events with any of my family members that feel like joining me. And it’s so wonderful to think that in households literally all over the world, families just like mine are doing the exact same thing. If that doesn’t get you in the Olympic spirit, then I really don’t know what will.

Aside from a few choice sports in the summer games, I have always been fond of the Winter Olympics. No, not just because I love watching figure skating, as a former competitive skater myself! But that is a big part of it! Alas, there is something about the Winter Games that is so exhilarating. Perhaps it’s the briskness in the mountain air as you watch the downhill skiers whirl down at seventy miles per hour. Or maybe it’s when the snowboarders do magnificent tricks on the half pipe and your heart catches in your throat. Whatever it may be, the Winter Games have always been magical to me.

All Olympic sports and athletes are amazing. Every single one. But during the Winter Games, I always seem to be exclaiming “How do they do that?!” during every event. Not to downplay the Summer Games, but we all know what those events look like. During the Winter Games, there is so much variety and events where anything goes and it’s so special.

You watch the Skeleton event where it looks like the athletes could fly off the edge of the track at any second. Or maybe you’re checking the ice skaters out as they hurl themselves in the air and revolving four times. And each event, you see something that makes you think to yourself, “they must be crazy”. And maybe they are. But if crazy gets you to the Winter Olympics all the way in Pyeongchang to give you the opportunity to represent your country, then I want to be crazy too.

Who else is an avid fan of the Winter Olympics? What is your favorite event? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image By: Brit+Co

February Jams

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February Jams

Howdy! Did you know that singing in the car or shower is a great stress reliever? That’s what my therapist told me and, damnit, it’s true. Nothing makes me feel better than playing my music really loud in the car and singing along with my favorite songs. Including some of the following:

(And, as always, I have no rights to these songs or videos!)

This month, I had to give credit where credit is due because Justin Timberlake’s halftime show at the Super Bowl was just to die for. No one can deny how much talent that that man has and his nod to Prince was a much appreciated touch during his performance. I also have fallen back in love again with Sufjan Stevens, thanks to his song “Tonya Harding”, which was perfect to listen to after seeing I, Tonya which was absolutely fabulous.

And, of course, I had to celebrate some new tunes by the love of my life, Jack White, from his upcoming album Boarding House Reach. What a guy, what a guy, what a heck of a guy! ❤

What have you been listening to this month? How did you feel about the Super Bowl halftime show? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Happy Valentine’s Day!!

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Happy Valentine’s Day!!

Helloooo everyone and Happy Valentine’s Day! I just wanted to write a quick post to tell everyone to enjoy their day no matter how they spend it. For some people, V-Day sucks. For others, it’s the most awaited day of the year. So whether you’re with your significant other, best friends, or riding solo – try to make today your best day yet! After all, it’s just like any other day, except slightly more romantic.

Regardless of how you go about your day today, just remember that you are all my Valentines and I freaking love all of you!!

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How are you spending Valentine’s Day today? What is your best or worst V-Day memory? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

New Pink Glitter & Black Nails

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New Pink Glitter & Black Nails

Helloooo! With my nail tech leaving for a much deserved vacation with his wife this week, I had to fit in a fill a bit earlier than I would have liked. I’ve been going about four and a half to five weeks in between getting my claws fixed up and it has definitely been a time and money saver! Despite getting a fill right at the four week mark, it was well worth it, because they look gorgeous and are right on time for Valentine’s Day. Take a look:

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Despite the harshness of jet black claws, I had to sweeten things up with a pale pink polish with glitter on top for an accent nail. It felt perfectly like goth My Little Pony fun for Valentine’s Day and I just couldn’t resist. Even though I’m not the most girly girl in the world, I can totally sacrifice two accent nails on each hand to all things glittery and sparkles. I love pastel nail polish as of late and am looking forward to doing a lavender accent nail next fill! 😀

What color of nail polish do you have on right now? How long do you go in between getting your nails done? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

If The Shoe Fits: Qupid Platforms Edition

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If The Shoe Fits: Qupid Platforms Edition

Howdy! One of my favorite styles of shoes is easily the platform heel. The height, the chunky heel, the retro vibe – they just look so sexy and summery to me. During the warmer weather, I live in my platform collection and during the spring and fall, I love pairing them with gorgeous knee highs for some extra warmth. Needless to say, I am missing my 70s throwback babes something fierce this winter!

I have had really awesome success with the brand Qupid while online shoe shopping with TJMaxx and am so excited to break out these Barbie platforms this spring:

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These platforms are SO darling to me and they make me really happy to look at. Although I am not the biggest floral girl in the world, I just couldn’t say no to these shoes. They remind me of something that my Barbie or Bratz dolls would have worn back in the day, and I just couldn’t deny myself that nostalgia. I think every little girl has wished that she could have the clothes that her fashion dolls have. I definitely did! So it’s pretty fun to have the adult size version of my early 2000s fashion doll faves.

I seriously can’t wait to wear these Qupid babies. Of course, they will look beautiful in the spring with tights and little dresses. However, I’m more excited to break them out during the summer time with short shorts and maxi skirts to strut about town in. Platforms add the perfect amount of funky flare to any look and these new heels make an amazing and sure to be well loved addition to my collection!

Which style of shoe is your favorite? How would you style these floral fun platforms? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Valentine’s Day Gifts For Him

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Valentine’s Day Gifts For Him

Okay! Yesterday, we talked about some amazing V-Day gift ideas for her. But, now it’s time to hear it for the boys. I’ve noticed throughout the years that some guys are incredibly easy to shop for, while others are damn near impossible. So no matter what difficulty level your boyfriend is on the gifting scale, there are sure to be some ideas that you can work with below. Let’s get to it:

First Of All:

The first thing that I mentioned yesterday was that a card is a necessity in a Valentine’s Day gift for a girlfriend. And, coincidentally, the same goes for your man candy. Guys like romance, too! They might just not be as outward and vocal about it. What do you love about your boyfrand? What makes him different from literally every single guy on the planet? Write it out! Underneath all of the fart jokes and actual farting, there is a sensitive ball of mush in your boyfriend and a card can be just the way to tap into that.

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Definitely not this one!! ^^^

Dapper Dudes:

Does your guy love to get suited up, duded up, and fancy free every chance he can get? Accessories can be a great way to go, then. Enhance the fance with pocket squares, tie clips, cuff links, watches (Wrist or pocket!), and ties. All of these things will take his ensemble to the next level and it will add your personal touch to each of his looks. This is an incredibly thoughtful way to go, especially if your man has a passion for fashion.

Another way to spoil your dapper man is with some pampering. This could be booking a couples massage session or even using a mobile barber in New York or your local area. You can bring the salon to him, and he’ll get a fresh cut just in time for a romantic evening out!

Give Him Some Sugar:

My best friend and I have made chocolate truffles together and it was so much fun and totally delicious. Reach out to your girls and plan an evening to set up bake shop. Sweet treats always go down well and it’s even better when they’re hand made just for him. Throw on a rom-com, pour the wine, and enjoy a bake night with your friends. And, yes, you can taste test! 😀

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^ I promise this chocolate was more delicious than it looks!

Gamer Guys:

A favorite way to pass time for a lot of guys is spent by playing video games. If this sounds like your significant other, get competitive with him and take him out for a night of gaming fun. So many bars now feature arcade games, new and old school, to enjoy and that can be an amazing way to spend an evening. If no bars around you have the arcade game option, Dave & Buster’s or other similar establishments work just as well.

Hone In On Hobbies:

Many a man really enjoys experience gifts rather than sentimental trinkets. So what are some of your boyfriend’s hobbies? Does he love music? Is he a fan of trying different beers when he can? Maybe he loves to cook? Take what your guy enjoys and turn it into a date night. He’ll be shocked that you remembered and touched that you want to share his interests with him.

Still Need Some More Options?

  • Treating your S/O to dinner and a movie is a nice surprise, especially if he doesn’t pick the restaurant or flick very often.
  • If your guy has a beard or is picky about his hair, a trip to the barber to get duded up is a great option. Definitely include his favorite products and beard balm!
  • Couple’s massages, anyone?
  • Does your boyfriend work out? Paying for a few months of his gym membership is sure to please!

And Remember:

As I said yesterday, it’s not about spending money but making memories! There are so many ways to spoil your boothang rotten without breaking the bank. Ball out if you want to, but creating a unique experience for your guy is what Valentine’s Day is all about! Make your day fun or make it romantic, but most importantly – make it special.

What are some of your gift ideas for him for V-Day? Does anyone have Valentine’s Day plans already? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image By: Tumblr