Tag Archives: love

May28

Teaching Your Dog New Tricks

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Teaching Your Dog New Tricks

We have all been in a situation when we had to encounter an untrained dog and for most of us, it’s not exactly the most relaxing encounter. Whether it is having an overly playful puppy at a relative’s house or a wildly barking passerbying dog, these situations can make us feel a bit frazzled. But don’t you worry, because things like the examples listed are easily fixed. Guiding your pets through the experiences that dog training gives sets them on the straight and narrow when you have your pooch in public:

Importance of Obedience Training: One of the most important responsibilities of owning a pet is giving him or her the proper training. Having a dog that listens to you will save you a lot of stress. Your pet understanding basic commands such as sit, stay, or come can make a world of difference. Building this communication will help avoid problematic behavior and increase comfort and security. It gives you the necessary control to keep your dog and the people he interacts with safe. Accidents such as having your pet run loose by him slipping off of the collar or escaping out of the home can happen. Being able to prevent your pet from running across a busy road or into other dangerous obstacles at a moment’s notice can save his life and your emotional well being.

Not only will training help reduce problems, but it will allow for bonding experiences that both you and your pet will enjoy. Your pet chasing or pouncing onto others is always a potential risk and without control over the situation, you and your dog will run into trouble. However, obedience is not the only positive outcome. A well-behaved pet is a happy pet. It allows them to be free and the time you spend with him will be of quality instead of misunderstandings and frustrations. He can have the pleasure of being taken with you when going out to places and safely played with by family members and visitors, instead of missing out on the socializing and fun by being in the backyard due to potential misbehaving and unnecessary trouble.

Before Training Your Dog Yourself: When it comes to dog obedience training, you can either do it yourself or seek the assistance from a professional. Doing it yourself allows you to spend quality interactive time with your pet. However, in some cases, it might be better to reach for help from an experienced trainer. The journey of obedience training requires a lot of prior knowledge, in addition to time and patience. It is not as easy as reading a few lines from a book or watching a few minutes of a TV show and it is best for both you and your pet if you don’t try to make it up as you go along.

Improper training can lead to inconsistent messages and can be ineffective. Consequently, this is only allowing your dog to develop poor habits and bad behavior. If you have proper dog training experience, then doing it yourself can be fulfilling. The earlier that you put your dog on the path to obedience training, the better. Like us, dogs learn significantly faster at younger ages. Providing a proper foundation of training and socialization is important for all parties (and pooches) involved.

Be sure to give your pup lots of love and treats during your training and also a belly rub from yours truly! ❤

Featured Image By: Pixabay

May27

Hard To Say Goodbye: How To Teach Your Dog To Spend The Day Without You

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Hard To Say Goodbye: How To Teach Your Dog To Spend The Day Without You

We all know how much of a commitment it is to bring a new dog into your home. They need a great deal of care, affection, exercise, and training. A puppy can be an incredible addition to your home, but you definitely have to be ready not only for the work involved in looking after them but also the changes that you may well have to make in your life to fit around them. In that way, having a puppy is a lot like having kids since you now have a whole new set of priorities that you have to think about when you’re deciding how to spend your days and nights.

Of course, there is always going to come a time when you’re going to want to go somewhere without your furry friend (Crazy, I know.). It could be going to work or simply going for some drinks with friends. This can be seriously difficult for a lot of people because many dogs really don’t like being left alone. So does that mean you have to be either trapped in your house or take your puppy everywhere you go? Fortunately (or unfortunately) not! Here are some things that you can do to make spending time alone a little easier for your puppy:

Ease Them Into It: The worst possible thing that you can do is to just disappear for hours the very first time you leave your dog alone. They will almost certainly become very upset and that can lead to things like broken furniture and some seriously unpleasant accidents. If you want to start introducing your dog to the idea of spending time without you, then you need to do it gradually. Ease them into the idea of being alone. You may even want to start with something as simple as shutting the door on them and waiting outside for a few minutes. Over time you can increase how long you stay away until they’re used to keeping themselves entertained for decent amounts of time.

Give Them Things To Occupy Them: Speaking of entertainment, even if your puppy doesn’t get very upset when you leave, the other major risk is that they are going to end up being extremely bored! You will want to make sure that there are things around the house to occupy your puppy’s attention and prevent them from wreaking havoc throughout the house, like chewing furniture and knocking over lamps. Companies like http://tuftoys.com are fantastic, because you can rest assured that your pup isn’t going to chew through their toy before you get back. This means that they’ll have something to occupy themselves with all day long.

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Omg ❤

Play With Them as Much as Possible Before You Go: The last thing you want is to leave your dog at home with too much excess energy. Sure, a dog is going to have plenty of energy no matter what but if you can give them a decent amount of play and exercise before you go anywhere, they are that much more likely to feel relaxed, and they may even sleep for a lot of the day. Take them for a long walk, play with their favorite toy, or do some intense training before you go and you can make sure that they don’t feel bottled up and trapped while you’re gone.

Saying goodbye is hard – ESPECIALLY when it’s to your dog! These tips will help make the transition easier for both of you until you can be reunited again (and it will be beautiful!).

Adorable Featured Image By: Pexels

May27

May 2017 Finishes

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May 2017 Finishes

Hi everyone and happy weekend! If you can believe it, we’re already at the end of May, which means that it’s time for my monthly beauty finishes post! This month has been somewhat of a drag and a waiting game. My boyfriend is coming up to Ohio from North Carolina at the end of this month for my birthday so the entire month of May has literally been spent wishing for the days to go by faster! This month didn’t even bring me a lot of beauty empties to look forward to getting through so, needless to say, it’s been a pretty blah May (despite thoroughly enjoying all of my used products!). Take a look at this month’s finishes and let’s discuss:

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Would I Use Again?

  • Bath & Body Works Country Apple body spray: YES
  • The Body Shop Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow mask: YES
  • Angie’s Bath & Body Goat’s Milk moisturizer: YES

Why/Why Not?

B&BW Spray: As I’m sure that all of you know by now, the Country Apple body spray from Bath & Body Works is one of my favorites. I love anything apple scented – lotions, shower gels, you name it. To me, apple is the perfect fruit fragrance. It’s crisp and refreshing and has the perfect balance of a sweet and tart bite, which results in a clean, freshly picked from the orchard scent. This B&BW spray is no exception. I always purchase a half a dozen or so of these sprays when they’re marked down to THREE DOLLARS during B&BW’s summer sale. It takes me about five or so months to finish one bottle, which is a cost of a whole sixty cents per month. Such a steal!!

TBS Mask: I absolutely LOVED the Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow mask from The Body Shop!! I purchased this for fourteen dollars when The Body Shop that I live by closed down and it was worth every penny. Seriously, I wish I bought ten of these bad boys so that I could have a year’s supply! I am obsessed with all things charcoal so I just had to give this mask a try and I am so glad that I did!

The first time that I used this cool, invigoratingly scented mask, I noticed a difference on my skin. As you all know, I am constantly battling blackheads on my nose next to my five piercings, and this mask annihilated them in ONE USE. Not only that, but it left my skin feeling tingling, soft, and totally radiant. I cannot recommend this product enough and I would definitely use it again! It took me about one month to finish this mask.

Angie’s B&B Moisturizer: My dear friend, Angela, the owner of the Etsy shop, Angie’s Bath & Body, gave me a sample of this moisturizer in my last order and I thought that it was fabulous. First of all, it smelled AMAZING. It had such a rich and creamy scent and it was such a delight to put on every morning. Second of all, it was effective. This moisturizer left my skin feeling smooth and hydrated and it looked peaches n’ cream perfection. And finally, a little bit of this moisturizer goes a long way. It took about two weeks to finish the sample pod and I used it every morning on my neck and face, so I can only imagine how long a full sized jar of this would last!

Although I didn’t finish too much this month, I really liked all of the products that I used up. I was happy to use old and new favorites, alike, and all three empties left me feeling nice and pampered. I am confident in recommending all three of my finishes this month and am looking forward to using more from my beauty hoard in June!

So there you have it, this month’s May 2017 Finishes! What beauty products did you use up this month? Has anyone ever used any of my empties before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May26

Warby Parker – ROCI N’ Roll

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Warby Parker – ROCI N’ Roll

Hi everyone and TGIF! I hope all of you are having a fabulous day so far! So, if there’s one thing that Lil Red loves, its sunglasses. From my beloved and battered frames from when I worked at PacSun almost three years ago (yikes!) to my Chanel pair randomly given to me by my nail tech, I truly treasure my sunnies. I probably have over twenty pairs of shades for any given occasion and, yes, I’m totally aware that that’s a little excessive!

But, guys, hear me out: sunglasses are seriously the best accessory on the planet. Not only do they shield sensitive eyes (like mine!) from the harsh sun, but they instantly transform an outfit. Whether you’re covering your face with oversized frames because you decided not to wear makeup or you want something bright and fun to wear while lounging by the pool – there’s a pair of sunglasses for you. From “don’t look at me” diva shades to a pair of crisp aviators or even a cat eye if you’re feeling saucy, there is a sunnie style for you to fit your mood (or moods!) that day.

And guess what? Cute, chic, throw your face back at the sun you emblazoned goddess sunglasses can all be found if you shop with Warby Parker. Warby Parker, the little brand that could, developed from the brain blast of college students who were sick and tired of paying a pretty penny to replace their glasses and sunnies every time they got lost. Hey, I feel it – you know that your girl is constantly ballin on a budget!

Anyways, fast forward to present day, about seven years after the brand first launched and you will find that Warby Parker is up to a world of good. Did you know that one billion people worldwide lack access to prescription glasses? That’s why with every pair of Warby Parker frames sold, a pair goes out to someone in need, thanks to collaborations with non-profits like VisionSpring.

Oh. And did I mention that another part of Warby Parker’s world of good comes with the fact that their glasses and sunnies are seriously cute? Yeah. Let’s get to that. Warby Parker has just launched their summer collection and I am in love. We’re talking 1960’s mod inspired shapes with a bright but slightly sun faded color palette to give you dusky hues in an array of gorgeous shades. Hello, fun in the sun.

Along with Warby Parker’s summer collection comes a fabulous collaboration with artist, Robert Rauschenberg. A legendary artist, in his own right, Robert Rauschenberg is known for his creative spirit and a life dedicated to activism. He truly is the perfect person to pair up with Warby Parker for a limited edition collaboration. Drawing colors found in one of four paintings from Rauschenberg’s ROCI (Rauschenberg Overseas Culture Interchange) project, the “there for a short time only” frame is available in four different colors. And the name of this stunning brand new collaboration, you might ask? ROCI, obvs! Take a look:

With stained sea glass hues sweetly contrasting from the frames to the sides, it’s no wonder why the ROCI collection is a major hit! The muted yet vivid tones of these frames will pop beautifully against a summer tan as you strut your stuff on the boardwalk or beach. Or, if you’re sporting the pasty pale look, like me, all summer, you can wear your new ROCIs while jamming in your car to AFI as you’re on your way to a sold out show at your favorite venue. House Of Blues, anyone? That’s how I ROCI N’ Roll.

It’s a no brainer to see why I simply adore the new ROCI collab with Warby Parker and Robert Rauschenberg. Art truly has met fashion with this limited edition collection, which is nothing short of inspiring. So, now, let me inspire you with some of my favorite frames from the Warby Parker summer collection so that you can start day dreaming about your next summer fun adventure:

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Seen From Top To Bottom:

  • Laurel in Espresso Tortoise
  • Clementine in Espresso Tortoise
  • Nancy in Coral

When I shop sunnies, I normally always opt for a darker colored frame. With bright red hair and red lips, a colorful pair of sunglasses can be, well – a bit much. That is why I am totally in love with the Espresso Tortoise hue seen above, particularly in the Clementine frame. Black, browns, and tortoise shades make up a majority of my sunnies collection and the Clementine frame just speaks to me as something that I love enough to want to wear on my face!

So, if I love dark colors on my sunglasses so much, why would I choose the Coral colored Nancy frames? Well surprise, surprise I actually really like that shade! Once long ago I had the most gorgeous circle shaped pair of sunnies from Aerie in almost the exact Coral color as the Nancy frames. I wore those sunglasses everywhere and I loved how chic and elegant they made me look. After years of wear and tear, my beloved shades finally fell apart and I miss them every day. The Nancy sunglasses from Warby Parker’s summer collection would be the perfect replacement for my fallen friend. Revel in this, because this is the only time I’ll admit to liking a color other than black!!

Are you drooling yet? I think it’s high time that you head over to Warby Parker’s website to start some shopping of your own! What is your favorite frame from their summer collection? How many sunglasses do you own? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May24

Bollywood Style Target Haul

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Bollywood Style Target Haul

Hi everyone and happy Hump Day! I had a shockingly really nice day yesterday – I got a lot of work done and managed to squeeze in a Target shopping trip, which instantly turned the day from pleasant to fantastic! Oh, Target. The store notorious for people going there to get one thing and leaving with a cart full of so called “necessities”. AKA, my life every time I walk through those sliding doors.

I don’t think people realize just how much Target has improved in this past decade because honestly, their clothing and accessories used to suck eggs. But now, I can’t remember the last time I went into Target without trying something on in the dressing room or modeling a new pair of shades in their accessory shop. But hey, it could be worse. I could be going into Target and leaving with nothing! 😉

For the most part, I’ve been really impressed with Target’s summer line of clothing and yesterday was no exception. I was taken aback by the taste of Bollywood style that some of the pieces invoked and as soon as I saw them, they were basically as good as mine. I absolutely ADORE Bollywood inspired clothing. The jewel tones, the fine attention to detail, the flow, and flare. UGH. I love it all. Take a look at my latest indulgences and let’s discuss:

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As you guys know, ten out of ten times, I’m going to prefer black clothing. But, when I venture into color, jewel tones are where it’s at. My pasty pale complexion is such a blessing because it allows me to wear the deep, dazzling colors that I love. Emerald green, cobalt, mustard yellow, shocking magenta, and deep shades of wine. My skin tone turns into a blinding fifty shades of pale and enhances the color of the clothing tenfold. That is why I was so attracted to my new maxi dress and bralette top.

I’ve been on the prowl for a maxi dress since the weather began to warm up because I don’t own one. I have some fun high low dresses but no straight up, down to the floor maxis. I’ve tried on a few and some were nice but none of them spoke to me on a spiritual level. Then, I found this mustard yellow gown yesterday and yes, it moved me.

Mustard yellow is my color. Granted, it hasn’t always been that way, though. Before I began dying my hair red and was still wearing my hair in its natural shade of medium brown, mustard yellow looked ghastly on me. It was so sad because I wanted it to look good on me so badly but it was just very blah. Fast forward to when I became a red headed vixen (ayyy!) and it became all mustard yellow everything. Many people have told me that mustard yellow really is a red head’s best color and they are so right. I have never met a red head, real or fake, that that color hasn’t looked good on. It truly is an anomaly how simply changing your hair color can open up a whole new clothing color palette to you, but I am so not complaining. #blessed

In summary, this dress is fabulous. The way the fabric crimps, the silhouette, the color, the detailing in the bodice, the emphasized waist line. Holy moly. I love when I see pieces of clothing that I just know will look good on me and that’s how I felt about both of my new purchases. Sometimes, I find that maxi dresses can really overpower a petite gal, such as myself. But not this one. The way that it was designed with the slit down the bottom middle, the embellished bust, and the detailing on the waist line was genius because it broke the dress up. It turned what could have been a dress that looked like a potato sack into a gown with a distinctive top and bottom, which makes the eye dance around because there’s more to look at than a floor length window curtain. #greatsuccess

And, lord god have mercy, don’t even get me started on my new bralette. I love, love, love, love, LOVE this top. Crop tops are my number one BFF in my wardrobe when it comes to showing off my tattoo arsenal because five of my six are on my side and back. And best believe with my latest tattoo addition, that I’ve been wanting all of the crop tops to show it off!

This top is just stunning. The muted magenta color, the embroidery, the mirror decal embellishments. Omg. Just pure, modern, Bollywood fun. The best thing about this bralette is the possibilities that come with styling it. You could wear it with a:

  • Maxi skirt
  • High waisted/normal shorts
  • Jeans
  • Harem pants
  • Underneath a blazer/cardigan

I mean, seriously, the possibilities are endless. I feel like I am going to have so much fun incorporating this top into my outfits and I already have so many ideas in mind! When my MAN comes up at the end of the month for my birthday, I plan on wearing this with black shorts, my black, oversized boyfriend blazer, and my olive green platform heels for a sexy cool summer look. Dress to impress much?

Target hit the nail on the head with these pieces and I am so happy to have them in my collection as we head into the summer months ahead. My wardrobe is not the most accommodating to summer clothing because I thrive when I’m styling things for the cooler fall, winter, and early spring. It’s going to be fun to try something new and go into summer not feeling like I don’t have anything to wear!

So there you have it, my Bollywood Style Target Haul! How do you style a bralette into your outfits? What style of dress do you prefer for summer (maxi, mini, midi?)? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May23

Panty Palooza

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Panty Palooza

Helloooo everyone and happy Tuesday! If you guys have been following my Panty Problems series, then you’ll know that we left off on a good note – a Silver Linings PantyBook, if you will. My online order to Aerie finally arrived over the weekend and I am so happy to say that all seven panties that I paid a whole $27.50 for were winners!

You guys have no idea how badly I needed this panty win after so many underoo trials and tribulations. I honestly don’t know what I would do if I opened my package from Aerie and hated every single panty that I ordered. At that point, I would probs just set fire to my entire panty drawer AND the rain, while I’m at it. Luckily for all parties involved, that wasn’t the case. Take a look at my Panty Palooza purchases and let’s discuss:

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^^^ PANTY PARTY!

So, yes. Thanks to Aerie’s staggeringly better selection online as opposed to when I went to visit them in stores, I was able to replenish my panty drawer. I got me some boyshorts, cheekies, a thong for good measure, and a new pair of period panties (it should be obvious which one that is!). I’ve grown increasingly fond of the boyshort as of late so I’m really excited about all three of my new pairs of those! They are so cute and comfy and I cant wait to wear them as a set with a pretty bra or under an oversized T for when I go to bed. The panty possibilities are endless!

After evaluating my seven new panties and relishing the purchase, which proved to be satisfactory, I began the task of organizing my panty drawer. I’ll be honest with you guys, I am a complete and total clothing hoarder. If I have that whisper in the back of my mind that says “you might be able to wear that four years from now” you best believe that I’m going to keep whatever that article of clothing is. Even panties.

My panty drawer is something that I rarely go through because I never really think of it. Especially considering that I have my favorite pairs of panties and everything else just becomes kind of forgotten in my panty plethora. This had to change. I emptied out my panty drawer, organized my underoos by color, and parted with some dearly beloved panty friends.

It was sad to see some of my fallen panty warriors end up in the trash, but I was happy to be reminded of all of the panties that I had forgotten about by picking favorites. A solid clean through of my panty drawer left me feeling like I had way more than seven new pairs to pick from, because of all of the ones that I wasn’t even aware that I had – so that was a major plus!

Although this journey began with some major Panty Problems, all’s well that ends well, because it was a straight up Panty Palooza this weekend! Three cheers for sweet little underthings and also three cheers for me for finally getting the panty revamp that I so desperately needed.

So there you have it, the Panty Problems series conclusion: Panty Palooza. I am so BLESSED that my panty odyssey had a happy ending and now, you guys can rest assured that you won’t read the word PANTY on my blog for a very long time! Where do you love to buy lingerie from? What store has the best selection? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Panty P.S.: Have any of my readers shopped Adore Me? I’m intrigued and I want to know if it’s worth the hype before making a purchase! Thanks! ❤

May22

Tattoo Update!!

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Tattoo Update!!

Hi everyone and happy Monday! So on Saturday I got my new tattoo, which you can see the inspiration for in this post. It went swimmingly BUT there is still some work to be done on it – a few add ons and touch ups because some of it was done in white. SO I won’t be posting a picture of the finished product until next week when it is officially “all done”. Rest assured that I am absolutely in love with my Little Prince themed ink so far and I can’t wait for all of you to see it soon!

Until I post pictures of my new tattoo baby, enjoy this picture of me talking on my good ol’ trap phone, instead!

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^^^ AYYY!

(And if you use your powers of observation, you’ll notice my Little Prince shirt underneath my favorite moto jacket!)

How was everyone’s weekend? Who else has gotten some new body mods done recently? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May18

One Lovely Blog Award #5

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One Lovely Blog Award #5

Hi everyone and happy Thursday! This post is compliments of my darling friend, Kimmiee, at The Typical Beauty Blog. This lovely lady nominated yours truly for my fifth One Lovely Blog Award so many thanks to her for that! Please be sure to check out her page and give it some love! I feel like I’ve been doing so many of these posts lately that I’m running out of fun facts about myself so check out the rules and let’s see what I can come up with:

The Rules:

  • Thank the blogger who nominated you.
  • Share seven facts about yourself.
  • Nominate five bloggers.
  • Let them know that they’ve been nominated.

Fun Facts:

  1. I’m getting a new tattoo on Saturday and I’m very excited!
  2. I love to read and am currently working on We Need To Talk About Kevin. I loved the movie and the book is even better.
  3. The last food that I ate was strawberry shortcake! 😀
  4. My life basically revolves around quoting Seinfeld. When I grow up I want to be Elaine.
  5. I have many a celebrity crush but my number one fantasy man is Jack White with Marilyn Manson coming in at a close second.
  6. It was my brother’s 28th birthday yesterday! ❤ ❤ ❤
  7. Skin care is a passion of mine and I love using face masks a few times per week.

My Nominees (I’m only doing three):

Thank you so much to Kimmiee again for my nomination for lifewithlilred’s fifth One Lovely Blog Award! You’re a doll! Who is your celebrity crush? What are some fun facts about yourself? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May16

New Alien Green & Black Nails

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New Alien Green & Black Nails

Hiii everyone and happy Tuesday! Yesterday, I participated in Mani Monday and got my beloved talons filled. I prolonged my length between fills from three to three and a half weeks and was actually quite surprised at how un-janky they looked. In fact, I probably could have waited a little bit longer but I had nothing to do yesterday so I figured that I would get them done. So, this time I will probably see if I can stand going four weeks until my next fill because ballin on a budget. But, enough about that, let’s see these bad boys!

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^^^ Pretty! :*)

When my dad asked me what I was doing yesterday and I told him that I was going to get my nails done, he asked if I was going to get them taken off. LOL, I don’t think that that’s ever going to happen. My claws make me so unbelievably happy and it’s really the one “treat yoself” thing that I do, considering I dye my hair at home now. I can’t picture myself without them and, damnit, I don’t want to!

Unfortunately for this fill, I ended up picking the worst shade of green because in the bottle it looked super neon but on the nail it just looks kind of thin and dull. But that’s okay, because the overall effect is still really nice! I got the sparkle hearts top coat on my accent nails last time and I loved it so much that I had to get it again. Without them, I would have been super disappointed in the green and asked to pick out a different color but I’m not that picky and still like the finished product well enough just the same.

Regardless of how I feel about the blah green, I have already gotten a ton of compliments on them in just one day thanks to my nail tech, Steve’s, nail wizardry. So, I guess the wait out for my next fill won’t be all that bad! What color of nail polish do you have on right now? How about on your toes? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May14

Happy Mother’s Day!!

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Happy Mother’s Day!!

Hello everyone and a Happy Happy Mother’s Day to all of the lovely people celebrating today. I’ll keep this post short and sweet so that you can get on with your brunches, walks in the park, and other Mother’s Day activities. But I just wanted to give a big lifewithlilred thank you to all of the mamas out there. Whether you’re a mom to children, your pets, a foster parent, or are in the process of trying to conceive or adopt – this day is all for you! Thank you for all that you do and for giving the world a dose of the love and care that only a mother can provide! Much love. -Sarah