Tag Archives: love

Happy Birthday, Sister!!

Standard
Happy Birthday, Sister!!

Hello everyone and happy weekend! Today is an amazing, special, wonderful day because it is my beautiful big sister’s 25th birthday! Kristen. My sister, my soulmate, my best friend on the face of the earth. Kristen is someone who my life would be absolutely impossible without. She is someone that I can go to for literally anything. To laugh, cry, complain, or just be there with to pass the time. My sister is one of the strongest women that I have ever met. Ever. She is a survivor, she is brave, and she has proven to herself and everyone around her that she can get through the worst of times and ultimately improve and better herself along the way. If that isn’t the definition of courage, then I really don’t know what is.

Kristen is someone who is kind. She is genuine, she has a huge heart, and she brings so much joy and light to everyone who she encounters. Her smile and laugh is contagious and her beauty is second to none both inside and out. If you can’t tell by now, my sister is my everything. I am so thankful not only for our sisterhood but for the friendship that came from it. You can have someone as a sibling and only view them as such, but Kristen is so much more for me than that.

From outings to the movies, shopping, the nail or hair salon, coffee, dinner, or just binge watching on Netflix, I treasure every minute that I spend with my sister. Don’t get me wrong, she drives me fucking crazy, but isn’t that what sisters do every now and then? And I promise you that she would say the same thing about me, but probably even more so!

The point that I’m trying to get at, is that I am so, so incredibly lucky to have my sister as, well, my sister. I love you more than anything, so here’s to you, you beautiful, fantastic, intelligent, loving, perfect girl. Happy birthday and I can’t wait to celebrate with you tonight!

sis4grad35sis3sis1sis

Happy Birthday, Kristen ❤

I FREAKING LOVE YOU!!

Happy Birthday, Dad!!

Standard
Happy Birthday, Dad!!

Helloooo everyone and happy Thursday! Today is a wonderful, special, fabulous day because it’s my dad’s birthday!! Although my beloved father isn’t particularly fond of birthdays, I can’t not celebrate my handsome, charming, adoring dad here on lifewithlilred. There’s a saying that talks about how a dad is the first guy that a girl loves or something like that and it is so true because my dad is basically my number one. Let’s discuss all of the reasons why!

From a dry but silly sense of humor that occasionally results in laugh attacks to the compliments and approval that is always special when it comes from my father, my dad is the best. He plans the most wonderful vacations, he has two green thumbs, loves his backyard animal friends, and is always down to watch two episodes of Seinfeld in a row as a “double feature”. CHARLES has excellent taste in music, too. If you were to see him cruising around with his stunner shades on, chances are he’s listening to The Rolling Stones, The Black Keys, The Who, U2, and an abundance of other classics in a rock n’ roll lover’s arsenal.

My dad is just a cool guy. Seriously. So here’s to a man that makes me laugh, smile, feel increasingly warm with love, and, of course, some type of way! I love you, my daddy dearest. Happy birthday!!

DSCN0890DSCN0892

I LOVE YOU, DAD!!!! ❤

Accessory Story: Bandana Babe Edition

Standard
Accessory Story: Bandana Babe Edition

Hi everyone and happy Tuesday! So one of the accessories that I have a very deep love for is the bandana. I think that they are one of the most underrated accessories out there, actually, but that’s just fine with me because I think that that makes them even cooler. When people think of bandanas, they usually think of good ol’ country folk that are riding horses and milking cows at sun rise. So not the case with me! I think that bandanas are a very edgy edition to any outfit and I use them to add a touch of grunge to my looks frequently.

This past weekend, I scored a little ten dollar treat at Target that just so happens to be a…you guessed it: BANDANA! But the fun thing about it is that it’s actually a necklace with some really pretty embellishment for an added pop of glam. Take a look:

bandana.jpeg

^^^ So adorable!

Granted, this isn’t my usual black or navy blue bandana, but it only seems fitting that Lil Red finally has a literal lil red bandana of her own! Normally I don’t care for other objects trying to be a bandana. For example, I freaking HATE headbands that have the look of a bandana but are really just a circular piece of cloth. Despite those feelings, I really like this little necklace! It’s cute and pretty without going overboard and I love the way that the silver and white gems pop against the red background.

One of my favorite ways to wear a bandana is with a flannel to add some visual contrast to the look. I am excited to pair this necklace with my black and white as well as navy blue checked flannels along with a killer pair of skinny jeans and ankle booties. This Target treasure will also be great to wear with a band or fun slogan-ed T-shirt on a lazy day to give a little extra something something to the outfit.

My only concern is if I should store my new necklace with my jewelry or tucked safely inside my accessory drawer, instead. I’m leaning towards the accessory drawer, though, because I would hate to see the cloth collect dust, which is something that you normally don’t have to worry about when it comes to necklaces!

Target has a bunch of super cute spring and summer accessories available at the moment so if you have one near you, get to shopping ASAP! And make sure you grab yourself a bandana necklace so we can twin it up!

So there you have it, the latest issue of Accessory Story: Bandana Babe Edition! Who else is an avid bandana lover? How do you style bandanas into your outfits? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

If The Shoe Fits: Bamboo/Cape Robbin Edition

Standard
If The Shoe Fits: Bamboo/Cape Robbin Edition

Hi everyone and happy Monday! I hope everyone had a wonderful and relaxing weekend. As all of you know by now, your girl loves shoes. With a collection of over fifty pairs, my affection for footwear knows no ends and I am always on the hunt for unique pairs to add to my shoe museum. That’s why I freaking LOVE TJMaxx’s online shoe department. Last week, my mom and I did a little online shopping and ended up with some really cute new heels, boots, and flats. All of our purchases were so unique and fun and they were shoes that they didn’t have in any stores near us so it felt like we were getting something that no one else would have, which I love! Check out my latest shoe haul and let’s discuss:

shoes10shoes11shoes14shoes12shoes13

The Haul:

  • Bamboo patch work platforms (As seen in the picture of me with a Target dress!)
  • Cape Robbin embellished booties

My current shoe obsessed at the moment is platform heels. I love that this funky 80s and 90s style is making a hardcore comeback and am really keen on finding more unique platforms to add to my collection. I currently have two adorable pairs that I got for a song on ModCloth but two is not enough – obviously! That’s why when I saw such a darling pair of patched denim platforms for a whole twenty-five bucks, I just had to buy them.

What I love the most about my Bamboo platforms, aside from the shape, is the denim material! I have a pair of denim booties, also from TJs, that I love so I was really hyped to add another pair of shoes in that fabric to my museum. The beautiful floral patch work on the heels was just a nice added bonus because I feel like I would have bought the shoes with or without it. Although these platforms look intimidating, they are super comfortable! I was able to strut through the streets of downtown Cleveland over the weekend while sporting these babies and didn’t even break a sweat. The power of the platform!

As you can see from the pic of yours truly, I styled these shoes with a super 70s style frock and absolutely loved the look. I felt so retro and fierce and I thought that the dark denim heels complimented the mustard yellow dress perfectly. I am looking forward to pairing these platforms with more dresses, definitely, as well as with maxi skirts for a cool but chic summer time OOTD.

Another style of shoes that I love is the ankle bootie. I have had a lot of luck with TJs in expanding my bootie collection and they certainly did me right with my new powder blue Cape Robbin boots. I. Freaking. LOVE. These. Shoes. Most of my bootie collection comes in various shades of black so these powder blue powerhouses were a much welcomed change of pace.

I love everything about these babies – The shape, color, studs, stitching, and the cool as hell chain that goes under the heel. *Mwah* C’est magnifique! My only minor problem with these boots is that they don’t have a zipper to make getting them on easier so putting the shoes on with my long ass talons is a bit of a pain in the derriere but that’s a small price to pay if the shoe fits!

I just know that these Cape Robbin baby blues are going to be a wardrobe staple this summer. They are going to look so fierce with a little pair of black short shorts and a flannel for outdoor warm weather adventures. I can’t wait to add a touch of mod thanks to the power blue color to all of my looks while still keeping things very edgy compliments of the gorgeous details. The studs and stitching are completely fab, but I am so in love with the heel chain that I really just can’t even. I’ve never seen anything like it before and now I wish that all of my shoes had that!

If you haven’t hit up TJMaxx’s online store, then you need to get on that pronto. They have such fantastic finds that I don’t think I would ever see in store and I can’t wait to continue to grow my shoe collection with their fabulous selection!

So there you have it, the latest issue of If The Shoe Fits: Bamboo/Cape Robbin Edition! What is your favorite style of shoe? What is your must have footwear for spring and summer? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

New Purple & Black Nails

Standard
New Purple & Black Nails

Hi everyone and TGIF! Yesterday was super fabulous because when I went to get my beloved talons filled, I was pleasantly surprised to see VINNY at the salon. For those of you who don’t know, Vinny was my former nail tech who unfortunately works at a salon that is over an hour away now. Sweet Vinny was helping out for the day and although he couldn’t do my nails, he took me out to a delicious, boozy dinner after he was done at the salon. It was basically the best day of my life and I was so happy to finally be able to spend some much needed quality time with one of my favorite people on the planet.

Despite Vinny not taking care of my nails, they still look fabulous – compliments of STEVE! I am freaking obsessed with the OPI shimmery purple shade for my accent nail and legit can’t stop looking at my freshly filled claws. Check it out:

nails5

I’ve grown increasingly fond of all things sparkly as of late for my accent nail and can’t get enough of my latest color choice. I pointed out to Steve how this OPI shade doesn’t look like it just has a teaspoon of glitter thrown into it, which I liked. He then explained to me that OPI uses ground up crystals in their polish to give it that gorgeous shimmer and I think that that’s the coolest thing ever! I definitely plan on using more of their OPI shades in the future so that my accent nails can achieve that extra touch of glitz that isn’t obnoxious.

Super special shout out to my favorite nail techies, Vinny, Steve, and the darling Tina (Steve’s wife)! I freaking love you guys! ❤

I hope everyone has a fabulous Friday and a super fun weekend. What accent nail color should I get next? What color of polish do you have on currently? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Furthering Your Education, Your Career, Your Life

Standard
Furthering Your Education, Your Career, Your Life

Choosing to further your education can be a daunting task. If you have already started in the world of work and have had somewhat of a gap between the last time you sat in a classroom and where you find yourself today, don’t fear – not much has changed in what you need to do to get you to where you need to be; you still need to knuckle down and put in the effort required, as well as the following steps:

Prepare Yourself: Preparing yourself to go back into a world of learning is something that will take a bit of time. For starters, you will need to visit colleges to make sure you’re choosing the right one. What does your ideal college experience look like? Do you want to live on campus? Commute or learn online? Perhaps you even want to study abroad! Prior to visiting colleges, it’s important to have a clear vision of how you want these next several years to go. That way, you won’t settle for anything less.

You’ll need to get yourself focused with a clear conscience and the right attitude to tackle any workload. The reason that quite a lot of people don’t think about furthering their education when they’re making their way through adulthood is the whole host of responsibilities that you’ll inevitably have running alongside. This means all of the washing, cooking, cleaning, and bills that you have to uphold whilst still doing school work, plus all of the other jobs that you have to uphold to keep a house running – especially if you’ve got children. That doesn’t mean that it can’t be done. There are loads of examples of people who have made their way through college or another form of education while still running a successful household.

Should trips to campus for classes be too much with your schedule – that’s okay! There are countless different options for furthering your education online. Remote learning can earn you your diploma or a certificate and can be completed on the go or from home. You can also consider online courses for a specific career path. For example, if you are interested in cyber security you could explore the course options available through https://www.cybrary.it . Career specific courses can often be completed quicker than a traditional degree and will still open lots of doors in the working world.

Get The Materials: There is so much more than a pen and paper that you’ll now need to get yourself through the years that you have committed yourself to. There are must haves such as books, online resources (so you’ll need access to a computer), and other higher-learning materials that you will need to be able to grab a hold of at a moment’s notice to help with essays and other learning projects. Getting the staples such as pens, pencils, and paper will also help, as neolithic as it sounds nowadays! Talk about old school!

It’s important to note that you will need a great computer if you are choosing an online education like this STEM School Certification or virtual associate degree programs. You will also need to have fast, dependable internet so you can always access your learning materials.

Find a Mentor: You can reinvigorate your education and career path at any point in your life, but one constant is that you should find a mentor to emulate and an example to follow. This can be a teacher, a professional, or an expert in your chosen field. For example, people like Caitlin Brodie of Greenwich have succeeded professionally and have offered to train others in leadership skills and other abilities that are useful in the business world.

If you can get a private tutor in addition to your basic education and your classes in your course, you will find that you progress much more quickly and completely. Of course, it’s beneficial to be selective in who you choose to follow, and there’s nothing to say that you can’t learn from the example of multiple mentors as well. Find what works for you.

ed1.png

Pretty!

Learn The Code: There is a code of conduct set in place in every educational faculty, and it is up to you to upkeep the core values and morals that it is displaying. There can be disastrous consequences to your learning path if you violate the code – you can find more at Duffy Law about the steps that you need to take should that happen. It’s definitely a good thing to learn ahead of time what is required of you in terms of on campus conduct.

Make Friends: Just because you are studying doesn’t mean that this isn’t a chance to make new friends. People are usually on the same course as you because they have at least one common interest: the subject at hand. It’s good to have study buddies with you regardless of what age you are or how independent you feel; discussing and exchanging ideas about what you are educating yourself on is a great method of making your learning deep-rooted rather than superficial and easily forgettable. When you begin to explain to someone what you know and how to do something, you are further teaching yourself and cementing any rough ideas that you had.

Congratulations on beginning your higher education journey. Now get out there and learn, learn, learn!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Girls Day Out!

Standard
Girls Day Out!

There is nothing more important than sisterhood – women coming together and supporting each other, regardless of color, race, or religion. Us girls need to spend time with each other to remember why we are utterly amazing. Girls tend to build each other up and spending time with other females will help improve your mental health. We are good listeners and very empathetic, unlike men who tend to be more logical and reasoned. They aren’t so keen on listening to us talk our problems over for hours on end; they just want to solve them. Of course, we understand that the only thing able to solve our problems is us! Talking is part of the process. As well as analyzing every text message sent between you and your crush!

With this in mind, spending time with the girls is critical. However, you shouldn’t just stick to girls nights out; experts say that daytime activities with a gang of your sisters are the best way of keeping our mental health in good shape. So here are some fun ideas for you to try next GDO (girls day out!):

Horseback Adventure: Setting new challenges and getting up close and personal with animals is usually something that women love. This is because animals are as empathetic as we are. We feel relaxed around them and at ease. Horse riding is perfect. Think about a few of your mates all jumping on horseback and then heading off for a few hours of chatting and relaxing. Finding a good riding school will save you all the cost of horse ownership, and you won’t have to buy your own riding hats and turnout rugs, you can just turn up, get on, and head out! Make sure to pack a picnic lunch and some cute sunnies!

gno1

HORSIE!!!!!

Shop Till You Drop: What girl doesn’t like retail therapy? We all do! So heading out for a day of shopping somewhere a little further from home could be just what the doctor ordered. A great way of doing this is to take a train to a large shopping center. This way you can all have a long boozy lunch after, and none of you have to worry about driving. Just keep an eye on your bank balance and spend within your limits!

gno2

Pexels Image

Pampering Party: How about a spa day? Taking a moment to get completely chilled out and enjoying a massage for some much needed TLC. Most spas will do couples massages where you can be with your loved one. Well, you can enjoy these with your mates, too. Then head into a clay bath and laze the afternoon away lounging by the pool! Chilling at the spa is a brilliant way to catch up with your friends as well as give yourself some love.

Keep your girl pack close and take time out of your schedule to enjoy each other. We know how to make the best out of every moment and how important it is to leave the boy drama behind. Find out what the rest of the girls enjoy doing and get out there. You could even take it in turns to organize a weekend every month. Then, you will get to try out a variety of different things and learn more about your BFF’s interests.

And remember. Sisters before Misters!

Featured Image By: Pexels

The Body Shop Store Closing Sale

Standard
The Body Shop Store Closing Sale

Hiii everyone and happy Monday! This past week, I learned the unfortunate news that the only Body Shop within a one hundred twenty mile radius of me is closing because of a leasing problem with the mall. Because of this, the ENTIRE store was half off and although I did have a major haul a month ago from TBS, my mom and I just had to stop in because half off. We got so many goodies that I don’t even know what to do with them all and I am so excited for some mom and sister spa nights in the future with all of our new spoils. Take a look:

bod2.jpeg

The Haul:

  • A new makeup brush
  • Amazonian Acai Energizing Radiance Mask
  • Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow Mask
  • Vitamin E moisturizer
  • 2 bronze eyeshadows
  • Drops Of Youth Bouncy Sleeping Mask
  • Strawberry scrub
  • Vanilla body mist
  • Satsuma bar soap

Grand Total: About ninety dollars (craziness!!!)

Believe me, I had zero intentions of making such a large purchase. In fact, on our way to the store I even told myself in my head that I was not going to buy anything. Well, it was a nice thought, anyways. But I just couldn’t help myself. The deal was so excellent and it only seemed right to stock up on some favorites as well as try out some new items. The Amazonian Acai and Himalayan Charcoal masks, for example, are never included in the online sales so to get them for half off was such a treat because I would have never bought them otherwise.

I am also so hyped for my Drops Of Youth Bouncy Sleeping Mask because it is a personal favorite item that I rarely buy for myself. Normally, when I shop TBS I just stick to the products that I would consider my skin care essentials so to load up a shopping bag full of items that I usually would never buy for myself felt SO good. New makeup brushes, fragrances, and masks are not a high priority for me when I’m shopping TBS – but god knows I want them! To have a total treat yoself moment was just what the doctor ordered but still, it sucks that the store is closing. -_-

Despite the downer of an occasion to shop, my mom and I both got some wonderful products for ourselves (her purchases are not pictured). I think that I am most excited about my Vanilla body mist, actually. I’ve loved their Vanilla scent for as long as I can remember because it’s a fragrance that my mother loves. It’s such a pure, rich fragrance and it seriously smells good enough to eat. I snagged the very last one and it will definitely be a nice change from my Satsuma and apple scented sprays that I’m currently working on. In fact, I think I’ll wear it today!

I wish nothing but the best for the beautiful ladies who were employed at The Body Shop because, unfortunately, they are now all out of work. All of them always made our shopping experiences wonderful every time my mom and I would shop in store. I have no doubt that all of them will find new companies to share their talents with soon! ❤

So there you have it, my haul from The Body Shop Store Closing Sale. Who is lucky enough to have a TBS near them? What is your favorite product from The Body Shop? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Angie’s Bath & Body Purchases

Standard
Angie’s Bath & Body Purchases

Hi everyone and happy Sunday! Yesterday, a special delivery came (super quickly!) in the mail – some wonderful treat yoself goodies from Angie’s Bath & Body. Angela, a dear friend who custom created Ruby Tulip is the boss lady behind her Etsy shop which boasts amazing home made bath and body care supplies like sugar scrubs, body butters, fragrances, and bath salts. I needed to purchase the finished product of Ruby Tulip for a giveaway here on lifewithlilred coming up next month so I figured that it was the perfect time to also buy a sugar scrub since they’re my fave and I’ve wanted to buy one for forever! Take a look:

ruby3.jpeg

Not only did I get my Peaches & Cream sugar scrub and Ruby Tulip but Angela also treated me to a sample of her goat’s milk lotion that she’s currently working on. SPOILER ALERT: All three smell divine! As soon as I opened the package, which arrived in ONE DAY flat, I could smell the sweet Peaches & Cream scrub which was just as good as biting into an ice cold creamsicle – my favorite frozen treat. I cannot wait to use my new sugar scrub as an exfoliant before shaving my leggies to create a closer shave, silky smooth skin, and a good enough to eat scent. And can we talk about the totes adorbs little spoon that she added to dollop the scrub out with?! SO. CUTE!

The rose petals that Angela added into the Ruby Tulip bottle was a beautiful touch and will be going to a lucky reader come April! I am so excited for lifewithlilred’s first giveaway and for the new lotion that Angela is working on. I tested out the goat’s milk lotion yesterday upon its arrival and it smelled so creamy and absorbed instantly, which is a must for me when it comes to lotions and body butters. I just know that that product is going to be another major seller on her Etsy page!

If you haven’t checked out Angie’s Bath & Body yet, then I urge you to get on it ASAP and treat yoself to some new body care goodies. You won’t be disappointed! What is your favorite bath and body care item to treat yoself with? What is your favorite lotion or perfume scent? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Happy Birthday, Mom!!

Standard
Happy Birthday, Mom!!

Hi everyone and happy Hump Day! Today is a special day because it’s my mommy’s birthday!! As I’m sure that you guys have gathered by now, my mom is basically my best friend. We love to hang out together, cook, watch movies, go shopping, pet dogs, and play Scrabble. My mom is easily one of my favorite human beings on the planet and everyone who has the honor of knowing her feels similarly. It’s hard not to!

I am so thankful for having a mom who is as funny, smart, wonderful, and perfect as mine. Not to mention how caring, supportive, and encouraging she is. I can always count on good ol’ JANE to be there when I need to talk and am appreciative to have a mother who is a fantastic listener. No matter how my mom and I spend our time together, I always enjoy it because I am seriously in the best of company when I’m with her. I love you so much, mommy!

Happy Birthday!! ❤

DSCN0875