Tag Archives: love

Bunny Baby Angels

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Bunny Baby Angels

Hello! Johnny and I have had our bunny baby angels, Mel and Penelope, for over five weeks now! They are settling into their routine so nicely and it’s impossible to think of life without them. I have wanted pet rabbits for SO long and it is, honestly, everything that I wanted it to be and MORE. Both rabbits are so sweet and special in their own ways and as soon as I leave for work, I can’t wait to get home and see them again… And Johnny lol. ❤

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Prior to bringing Mel and Penelope home, Johnny and I did a lot of research to make sure we were going to be able to provide above and beyond care for them. There are some things, however, that you just won’t know until you bring them home. For example, the litter box was giving us a lot of grief. Both rabbits were semi litter trained before we got them and Mel was doing pretty good with using theirs once they were home. Penelope, on the other hand, was a totally different story and went anywhere in the litter box area but the box. *Face palm*

Thanks to reading lots of tips from The Bunny Lady, trial and error, and a ginormous litter box from Chewy, I am so happy that within days Penelope figured it out. With that final obstacle out of the way, they are both now fully litter trained and have never had an accident when we let them explore the bunny proofed area in our apartment (All compliments of Johnny’s handiwork!). It sounds a bit silly but oh my goodness was I proud. 😀

Depending on the day, I provide most of the general maintenance care and play time for our mother and son duo. Johnny definitely falls under the category of the Cool Dad! Whenever I’m not home and he takes them out after work, he always plays the banjo for his rabbit audience and it’s so cute to me. He went into our bunny parenthood with sheer ambivalence at best and has transformed beautifully into a full on bunny dad!

Johnny and I are a family of four and I am beyond happy. If you have the means, space, and time for a pet and have wanted one for a while, my advice is: GET IT. You will be kicking yourself in the butt when you realize you should have done it forever ago!

Do you have a pet? What is your favorite thing about being a pet owner? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Eos Heal + Repair Body Cream Review

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Eos Heal + Repair Body Cream Review

Hello! I don’t know about you guys, but it is about that time of the year for me to start experiencing extremely dry hands. Every morning when I walk my sweet pup, Archie, I step outside knowing that my hands are going to be raw by the time I get back. Combined with the fact that I have spent almost every day of the past three weeks Pureling constantly at the Cleveland Clinic and washing my hands a lot after interacting with the bunnies, my hands are awful by the end of the day.

I have tried many a lotion to combat dry skin and have been pretty impressed. However, I recently started using the Eos Heal + Repair Body Cream that I was gifted with by my bestie last year and I can confidently say that it blows every other lotion that I have tested out of the water. Let’s discuss:

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^^^ This product is cruelty free!

Before we get into the details, we must start with how good the Pomegranate Raspberry scent smells. The tart raspberry is counterbalanced by the soft pomegranate notes and it makes for a perfectly light fragrance. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind a more powerful scent but this one is just right to use before bedtime because it’s comforting rather than stimulating. Before I rub the lotion in, I always have to take a whiff because it seriously never gets old! 😀

When it comes to my dry skin, it takes form on my hands through noticeable redness and parched skin. I never use a lotion expecting it to be a cure all to this issue on the first go so you can imagine my surprise when I woke up to see my hands back to their normal shade and totally hydrated. My hands felt so touch-ably soft and smooth and it almost made me forget how bad they were prior to using it. This was not a one off occurrence but an every use thing and I am marveling at the results even now as I type this.

While I am a huge fan of cocoa butter based creams, I have learned through trial and error that my skin responds better to shea butter and this cream has it in spades. A huge plus about this product is how easily it absorbs into the skin without a greasy residue despite the shea butter base. From my time working at The Body Shop, I learned that cocoa butter bases tend to have a thinner consistency than shea and this was a concern for me. I am a very tactile person and can’t stand when lotion doesn’t absorb fully. This was not the case with the Eos cream at all and it melted into my skin with ease even with a thicker texture.

I have been using the Eos Heal + Repair Body Cream since the beginning of November and I will be so sad when it is all gone. It is, hands down, one of the best creams that I have ever used and I would highly recommend it if you are experiencing winter skin too!

What is your favorite body cream or lotion? Do you prefer cocoa or shea butter? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Best Bunny Dad Ever!

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Best Bunny Dad Ever!

Hello!! Johnny and I have had our sweet bunny babies, Penelope and Mel, for two weeks now but it feels like we have had them for forever. They are the most wonderful pets and it is an honor and a privilege to be their parents! The most pleasant surprise of this experience is, easily, Johnny’s transformation into a full on bunny dad. I knew from the jump how much I was going to love them but it is so adorable to see how equally obsessed my husband is with them too:

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^^^ Proud papa!

When we brought our mother and son duo home, it was safe to say that Johnny didn’t seem particularly thrilled about it. However, that changed drastically the following day! When I returned home in the evening, Johnny couldn’t wait to tell me about all of the fun him and the bunnies had together. They spent hours on end snuggling and playing and Johnny even treated them to a banjo concert lol. It was also VERY NICE to hear every wife’s favorite words of “you were right”!!

Johnny, Penelope, and Mel have been best buddies ever since and it’s so hilarious to me. The whole situation is such a classic turn around from “I don’t want a pet” to constantly snapping pictures of them and oohing and ahhing over every single thing the bunnies do. Johnny is always calling Mel his “special boy” and Penelope his “favorite girl” and it melts my heart every time. 🙂

Now that we are the proud parents to our furry little children, our evenings our spent watching them explore our apartment. Johnny actually went to Menard’s and got a bunch of baby proofing stuff so Mel and Penelope can safely go on their adventures. I’m sure everyone at the store thought he was preparing for a new baby so I would have loved to see what they had to say if Johnny told them it was for his bunnies lol. He is truly the best bunny dad ever! ❤

Becoming pet owners has been so exciting and every day with our precious babies brings me so much joy. Having Johnny so clearly feel the same sentiments is the cherry on top!

Has anyone else had a similar experience to Johnny over a new pet? What are some of the nicknames you have for your pets? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

SpaScriptions Hyaluronic Acid + Sugar Scrub Review

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SpaScriptions Hyaluronic Acid + Sugar Scrub Review

Hello! I have been sitting on some new skin care from TJMaxx and have finally had the chance to use a Hyaluronic Acid + Sugar scrub by SpaScriptions that I bought in September. I have been using it every morning for about a month now and it is, easily, one of the best scrubs that I have ever used. My only regret is that there was only one of them at TJs because I would have happily bought ten of them! If you are looking for a gentle scrub to help ease dry skin this winter, then this is the one for you. Let’s discuss:

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^^^ This product is Leaping Bunny certified.

I had two first impressions when it came to the SpaScriptions scrub (Try saying that five times fast!): 1) The color was so pretty – like lavender pixie dust and 2) It smelled just like candy. These are small things but it enhances the experience every time I use it and the sugary scent is a nice perk me up in the morning! A little of this product also goes such a long way because it lathers up like crazy into a foam, making it so easy to work into your skin. The amount that you can see squeezed onto my hand is all you need for your face and neck, making for a great value. After one month of daily use, I have barely finished half of the bottle.

What I like the most about this scrub, other than out well it works, is the texture of it. It’s more like a cream cleanser with a bit of extra grit from the sugar rather than a full on scrub. With cold winter days drawing ever closer, it is the perfect option for removing dead or dry skin without drying your face out even more. Every time I use this scrub, my skin feels so soft and looks simply radiant. Saying these past few months have been tiring for me is a severe understatement but my skin never looks it!

The SpaScriptions Hyaluronic Acid + Sugar scrub is one that I would most definitely use again. It checks all of my boxes of being cruelty free, an excellent value at just five bucks, and fully effective. I think that you will like it, too, if you give it a shot!

How often do you restock your skin care? Where is your favorite place to shop skin care? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Pet Parent Lyfe

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Pet Parent Lyfe

Hello! It has been one week since Johnny and I brought home our sweet lionhead bunnies, Penelope and Mel, and pet parent lyfe has been treating us fantastically so far. When it was just me and my husband at home, our apartment felt complete. However, now that we have two little fur babies scampering around, our apartment feels so much fuller and a whole lot more adorable:

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Johnny and I both grew up in animal loving households and our families always had pet dogs. I also had a guinea pig and parakeets way back when too. We have been without a pet of our own for several years and I think we were both taken aback by how awesome it has been since the bunnies have been home. Johnny and I both marvel at the fact that we have these little babies greeting us when we wake up in the morning and come home from work. It is also a hoot to hear them running around at night when we are trying to sleep. I have fallen into the habit of saying “settle down, kids” every time it’s bedtime and they are playing away!

The best part of our days now that we have Penelope and Mel is, easily, when we take them out of their hutch, which we do several times throughout the day. Whether it’s just to give them a cuddle or have them frolic in their playpen, it is so nice to have these tangible little bitties that depend on us. Johnny is also very pleased that he now has an audience whenever he plays the banjo! While Miss Penelope is super chill, Mel is constantly on the go and has a love for nibbling on anything and everything – including mine and Johnny’s booties when we’re in the playpen lol… he crazy. 😀

Every morning, I wake up genuinely excited to rush downstairs and begin their morning care routine. This includes fresh water, food, veggies, bedding, and a quick jaunt in the playpen before I leave for work. Johnny, on the other hand, is always eager to get home to our lil buddies in the early afternoon and takes them out immediately to play. Then, when I get home a little later, we have them out for the evening. It is an absolute blast!

With all of the stress and craziness currently happening for me, it is so comforting to have Penelope and Mel. We both can’t picture our apartment without them and it has only been one short week. Pet Parent Lyfe is suiting us very well, indeed, and Penelope and Mel are already more loved than words can say! ❤

Do you have a pet? What is your favorite thing about being a pet parent? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

The Best Grilled Cheese EVER

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The Best Grilled Cheese EVER

Hello! I pride myself on my cooking and I LOVE making dinner for my husband and family whenever I can. It feels so good to make something that everyone enjoys and it is a true labor of love. This past week, however, the tables turned and my sweet Johnny ended up making dinner for me. I was craving a grilled cheese something fierce all day and he definitely delivered:

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^^^ He was so pleased with himself for “plating it up” for me!

Last week was a whirlwind between work and helping out at my mom and dad’s house. Every day when I got home, I pretty much just sank into the couch and prepared to do it all again the next day. By Friday, I had averaged a solid 11,000 or so steps per day and walking up the stairs to my apartment was a monumental feat on my aching legs. I was also freaking STARVING.

Rather than become one with my couch, I had to make my way to my office to finish some billing and online work. I am one of those people that can’t do anything else until all of my work is completely done but the rumbling in my belly was proving troublesome. So, I decided to ask Johnny to make me a grilled cheese to which he replied “of course” even though he was worried it wouldn’t turn out as good as mine!

By the time I finished my final tasks for the day, my dinner was ready and I couldn’t wait to chow down. It looked AMAZING and it tasted even better. Food always tastes better when someone else makes it for you and this sandwich was a true testament to that! I was so thankful to Johnny for lending me a hand but he was even happier that he could cook for me for a change. He was so proud of himself and, damnit, I was proud of him too. ❤

With so much going on in my life, Johnny told me that he will cook anything that he is capable of for me. AKA eggs and, now, grilled cheese. It was the sweetest thing and I really do have the best husband/grilled cheese chef ever!

What is your favorite simple thing to cook? What is your go to comfort food? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

A Stroll In The Garden OOTD Pt. 2 Bonus Pics

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A Stroll In The Garden OOTD Pt. 2 Bonus Pics

Hey! Today, we are going to check out some bonus pics from Part Two of my Stroll In The Garden OOTD. Johnny took these pictures and prior to being with him, I always got a kick out of the “husbands of Instagram” posts. I thought they were so funny and sweet and I admired the significant other for assisting in all of the pictures. They seemed like the partner to have and I feel like the luckiest girl to have me a blog husband of my own!

Not only is Johnny the best in every aspect of my life but he turned out to be a formidable iPhone photographer as well. His method of “just take a million pictures” works perfectly every time and I am so appreciative whenever he helps me out for my OOTD shoots. Take a look at his handiwork:

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Taking pictures used to be something I was really self conscious about due to constant battles with low self esteem. To this day, I still don’t let just anyone take my pictures and have a handful of people that I like to work with. In fact, the first time Johnny took some OOTD shots, I was SO nervous! That feeling quickly dissipated, however, because he treats every photo shoot like an America’s Next Top Model moment… Even the bloopers!

Johnny’s comments of “you’re working it”, “you look great”, and “are we done yet?” make all of our photo sessions a joy. He truly makes sure that every picture he snaps is shot just the way I like it and has also gotten so good at not cutting my head or feet out! My blog is something that I take a lot of pride in and being able to collaborate with my husband for OOTDs is really special to me.

A HUGE shout out to my sweet blog husband for indulging me in my OOTD shoots. He is the behind the scenes hero of almost all of them and my love and self confidence soars with every picture taken. I LOVE YOU, BABE! ❤

Who is your favorite person to take pictures with? What or who makes you feel confident? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

 

TJMaxx Haul: Nicole Miller Pants Edition

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TJMaxx Haul: Nicole Miller Pants Edition

Hello everyone and thanks for stopping by on lifewithlilred! Yesterday, we took a look at a new crop top that I got to wear with a pair of Nicole Miller floral print pants. And, today, we are going to be discussing said pants! There was only one pair of these bad boys in the entire store and I fell in love with them instantly. In fact, I was thinking to myself “please fit” before I tried them on lol. Obviously, they did so let’s get to it:

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Patterned pants are a relatively new phenomenon to me because I much prefer my old standby of black skinny jeans. That’s not to say that I don’t like the idea of a good pair of patterned pants, though, and I just never found the right pair for me. Thanks to some recent TJMaxx hauls, I was able to explore this side of clothing that I never got the chance to before and I am so there for it! Now, the main concern is finding things to wear on top lol and we’ll discuss some pro tips for that shortly.

These Nicole Miller pants are, honestly, everything that I have ever wanted in a patterned pair of pants and MORE. When I saw them hanging up, I couldn’t believe my good luck and would have been so disappointed if they didn’t fit so thank god for an elastic waistband! I adore the jogger shape, watercolor style flowers, and the adorable back pockets. 😀

Looking back on my experiences with trying on patterned pants and instantly vetoing them, I now realize what I was doing wrong. Every pair that I liked even a little got put back because I had nothing at home to compliment it. Rather than finding something that would work with it, I just said no and that was my mistake. As you all know from yesterday’s post, I made my second round in TJMaxx specifically to find a shirt to go with these pants and had GREAT SUCCESS. This is what shopping and building outfits is all about!

Other than my new Rebellion Again top, I genuinely don’t have anything else at home to wear with this purchase. However, that doesn’t mean that I don’t have ideas! There are so many different colors that I can pull from the pattern to assist me the next time I go shopping. I hope to find a dusty rose or yellow cami to wear on top and tying it all together with a tighter fitting jean jacket. I can’t wait. 😀

I like to fancy myself as an excellent outfit builder and this Nicole Miller number taught me something that I never considered before. TJMaxx continues to surprise me and soothe my soul every time! ❤

Are you a fan of patterned pants? Why or why not? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

New Hair, Who Dis?

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New Hair, Who Dis?

Hello!!! It had been a very long time since I was able to get my hair done because my brilliant stylist, Anna, unfortunately got COVID. Needless to say, I was counting down the days until my rescheduled appointment this past week and the results were worth the wait… My hair is finally red and white after two trial attempts! This is exactly what I’ve been wanting for so long and I am beyond obsessed. Check out how it started VS how it’s going:

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^^^ The red is Pulp Riot’s Fireball and the white is Pulp Riot’s Ghostblood.

I have been wanting red and white anime style hair for forever and the past two appointments with Anna got us close but not quite. My natural hair color is a medium to dark brunette and the bleach just wasn’t lifting enough to achieve it. We had to bleach my hair once and then a little bit more and the results ended up being more beige with hints of white peaking through.

This time around, however, was a totally different story and the bleach lifted the color to something Anna was happy with on the first go. This was a success in and of itself and we were both eager to see how the color turned out after the Fireball and Ghostblood sat. We were expecting to have to bleach it again so we were both surprised when Anna told me that she didn’t think we would have to as she washed my hair.

I couldn’t get back to her styling chair soon enough to see what she was talking about and I couldn’t believe my eyes when I sat down… Even with wet hair, the Ghostblood did its job and my hair was a pure white. It also had some awesome touches of purple and pink in it for an opalescence pop of color. It. Looked. Gorgeous.

The color was, of course, fabulous but I was also desperate for a haircut too. I always say that I can deal if the cut is good but the color is “meh” but I didn’t have one or the other going for me. After so long without Anna working her magic (Through no fault of her own!), my roots and haircut were so grown out and it was an overall hot mess. Because of this, I told Anna to go crazy with the cut and she delivered with a short, choppy, scene kid style. The cut took me back to high school with a voluminous top and a straight bottom layer and I am so there for it!

I am very curious to see how the perfected red and white fades out because it was not flattering on the first two attempts. Although Anna and I are already plotting for red, yellow, and orange hair next time around for fiery fun, it seems like such a shame to change it when my hair is finally what I have been daydreaming about. No matter what we go with, I know that I will be in the best hands and, as always, Anna is a genius! ❤

What colors should my hair be next? What is your favorite way to pamper yourself? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Accessory Story: New SJ Pearl Obsidian Necklace

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Accessory Story: New SJ Pearl Obsidian Necklace

Hello! Last Monday, I had a very successful shopping trip at TJMaxx with a new friend. I got all kinds of cute stuff with my birthday gift cards, including a new SJ Pearl necklace that I love so much. Part of the novelty of shopping at TJMaxx that never gets old is being introduced to new brands that you haven’t heard of before. I purchased two SJ Pearl necklaces almost three years ago from TJs and still find myself looking for more every time I go.

On Monday, my prayers were finally answered and there were several new SJ Pearl necklaces on the jewelry counter. I knew the brand as soon as I saw it from aisles away and couldn’t reach the display fast enough. There were three different designs to choose from and, honestly, I wish that I bought them all lol. Here is what I went with:

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Despite having a huge jewelry collection, I always seem to gravitate towards my SJ Pearl necklaces to spice up an OOTD. They are, easily, some of my favorite pieces that I own and they add a unique touch to the most simple of outfits. I love the reassuring weight of them around my neck as they are fairly heavy because of being made with precious stones. Obsidian is used for protection and, maybe it’s just in my head, but I do feel more at peace just knowing that it’s on.

My other SJ Pearl necklaces are shorter in length, although they can be adjusted. So, I was very excited to find my new one that is longer. It is such a stunning design and I can’t wait to wear the jet black beads against cream colored blouses to add a major pop of visual interest. Also, if anyone knows more about the image on it, then please fill me in because I couldn’t find it when scouring Google.

My new necklace is the last thing from my TJMaxx haul and it was definitely one of the better trips that I have had recently. Once a maxxinista, always a maxxinista!!

What is your favorite jewelry brand? Where do you go to discover new brands? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah