Tag Archives: maxxinista

Aug13

Fetching In Flowers OOTD

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Fetching In Flowers OOTD

Hi! This past Friday we had the greatest joy of celebrating my best friend’s engagement and it was the most wonderful time! A gathering of bestie and her fiance’s family and friends all met at HiHo Brewing Company for some drinks and good old fashioned Tom foolery and we were so honored to share in the happiness of the beautiful couple. Of course, a partay called for some fancy dress and I LOVE styling special occasion OOTDs. It was, unfortunately, hot and muggy AF on Friday but this little fit kept me somewhat cool. Let’s just say I was thrilled to take it off as soon as I got home lol check it out:

Who? What? Wear?

Button Down Dress: Zara

Platform Heels: Marc Fisher, TJMaxx

Earrings: Lucky Brand

To begin styling this look, I knew I wanted to wear a dress but the question was which one. A majority of the dresses in my collection felt way too casual while others were too fancy for a get together at a brewery. I needed something hey diddle diddle, right down the middle for the event and was in business when my eyes landed on this little number by Zara. This button down dress is oh so chic with its silky material, slightly oversized fit, inky black flowers, and corset tie sides. It feels dressy without feeling like the queen of England and just right for a summer evening celebration. It was a huge hit at the party and blessedly no one could tell I was sweating buckets underneath lol.

It was WAY too hot for any extra additions to this outfit, which now brings us to shoes and accessories. I wanted the striking pattern of the dress to do all of the talking so kept things simple with my go to pair of Marc Fisher platforms. The ballet slipper pink added such a sweet pastel pop to the bold dress which I adored because the easy choice would have been a pair of black heels! For one more pop of color, I added my favorite pair of dangly turquoise cross earrings and was ready to see my bestie in the best style! ❤

Although this outfit didn’t have many bells and whistles, it felt so effortlessly cool and sometimes simple is best. Stay tuned for the Blooper Reel coming soon!

Are you attending any upcoming weddings? What is your special occasion style? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug11

TJMaxx Skin Care Haul

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TJMaxx Skin Care Haul

Hi! This past Tuesday I went to TJMaxx on my break as I needed a skin care restock and wanted to browse for upcoming birthday gifts for a couple of my bestie girls. I had great success on both counts and actually ran into one of my bestie girls! While I was perusing the skin care, I sensed a presence beside me who seemed to follow me in step. I felt like I was blocking whomever from their shopping and felt SO awkward and it kept happening. Finally, I turned to the person to apologize and it ended up being my BFF of eighteen years, Lea!! Omg did we have a laugh and after we parted ways I texted her with “you scare me :(” lol because she really did! It made my TJs trip even more magical and I walked away with the following skin care goodies:

For my skin care I was on the market for a new moisturizer, serums, an eye cream, and a scrub. And, of course, I never say no to my go to micellar water if it is available! Selecting a moisturizer was an incredibly easy choice because I actually purchased the same Goodness moisturizer a few months ago, am using it now, and am absolutely LOVING it. The Goodness Every Morning Moisturizer is really rich despite its thinner texture and feels like clouds when I apply it. It is ultra hydrating and leaves my skin feeling soft as can be and looking refreshed. The last moisturizer I used was a total dud and the Goodness brand was a total breath of fresh air the first time I used it. I will happily continue buying it as long as it’s available!

As far as my preferred serums go, TJMaxx always seems to have Glow Elixir and Precision Beauty in stock and I am a fan of them both. Like the Goodness moisturizer, it was a no brainer decision to pick up a few in my tried and true Collagen + Vitamin C formula for a dose of radiance in my beauty routine. A scrub was also needed as I had just finished up one of my favorites by ValJean Labs. In fact, I used it up this very morning. I really enjoy their products and was hoping to find the same scrub to use again. The shelves were bare in that regard but I did find a ValJean Labs eye serum that I am looking forward to trying! I opted for a Vitamin C & Turmeric scrub by Skin 2.0 which is a brand I have never used before. I’ll get my introduction tomorrow so stay tuned for a review coming soon. 😀

Prezzies, skin care, and a bestie sighting – oh my! This TJMaxx trip had it all and I can’t wait to use the new to me products and gift my beloveds with what I found for them! ❤

Do you like to shop alone or with someone? What are your go to skin care brands? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug7

Comfy Cozy OOTD

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Comfy Cozy OOTD

Hi! Going to the movies is one of my favorite things in the world and I love checking out what’s hot in horror or anything else that strikes my interest on the big screen. I frequent the local Cinemark with Johnny, my friends, and family at least twice a month and there is just nothing better than loading up on snacks and getting lost in the cinematic universe for a few hours. As you all know, I love to dress up for any and every occasion but that was so not the case the last two times I hit up the movie theater. The live recording of Hadestown and The Odyssey were both long AF and, for once, I could not be bothered to dress for cuteness lol. In those situations, it was all about comfort to settle into the almost three hour flicks! Check it out:

Who? What? Wear?

Rock On Hoodie: Zoe + Liv, Target

The sweats are just an old pair I work out in lol – like I said, I could not be bothered for cuteness!

Sneakers: Adidas, TJMaxx

Wow! That’s a totally different look than what you usually see me in but the thing is, this is how I look 95% of the time! During the work week, I am sporting no makeup, a hoodie or t-shirt, and jeans or shorts. The OOTDs I post on here are reserved for weekend dates with Johnny and outings with friends. Johnny and I both get up at the buttcrack of dawn for work and I just don’t have the time or desire to get myself done up to meet with clients or do content shoots after my morning work from home rush. And you know what? That’s okay!

Back when I was a teen and early twenty something, I would have been shocked to read myself say I go to work comfy and bare faced a decade later. In the olden days, I wouldn’t have left the house without makeup and a cute outfit! As I have gotten older, however, I simply don’t care as much lol. My clients all know what I look like, my content shoots all revolve around working outside, and I would rather eat a good breakfast and watch an anime in the morning over doing my makeup. That is honestly my favorite part of the morning and I wouldn’t have it any other way. 😀

No matter what I leave the house in whether it’s a full fit or lounge wear, I’m rocking it because I’m me. And the same goes for you too! This Comfy Cozy OOTD is a reminder that what you see online is usually far from what you see in real life. That’s why I’m posting this outfit and share bloopers from my OOTD shoots because that’s Lil Red too! I might look put together in the clothes I style, but I am still a goofy, imperfect, often fresh faced gal and don’t care who knows it. Especially because I was probably the comfiest person in the theater when I saw The Odyssey!! Lol GREAT SUCCESS.

This is Lil Red IRL but trust and believe I will be putting a few killer OOTDs together this weekend for the plans in my calendar. Stay tuned for the latest and greatest! ❤

How do you dress on a normal day? How are you required to dress for work? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug1

July 2026 Finishes

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July 2026 Finishes

Hello everyone and happy August! Also wait what? It’s August?! This summer is going by fast and I am not mad about it whatsoever. This summer has been hellacious and I am so ready to be wrapped up in the chilly comfort of fall. Before we dive into a new month, let’s time travel to one day ago because we must discuss my beauty finishes! I dropped the ball when I forgot about my June empties and took note of the mental note to not do that again lol. There are several good products in the mix for July so let’s take a look:

Would I Use Again?

Evoluderm Micellar Water: ALWAYS

Precision Beauty Glow Up Vitamin C Serum: YES

Gold Bond Healing Lotion: MAYBE

Bath & Body Works Champagne Toast Shower Gel: YES

Why/Why Not?

Precision Beauty Serum: I am a big fan of the Precision Beauty serums and have yet to find one that I didn’t like. The Glow Up Vitamin C serum, however, is my favorite. It takes me about five weeks of twice daily use to finish the bottle and I am impressed by it every day. This serum is rather thick and a little of it goes a very long way as just a smidgen packs a huge punch. The Glow Up formula leaves my skin bright and radiant even when I am feeling neither bright nor radiant lol. I am always amazed at how well rested and alert I look even when the hot days of summer screws up my sleeping schedule. Highly recommend if you are on the market for a new serum!

Gold Bond Lotion: Johnny purchased this bottle of lotion for applying on our tattoos that we got in April. It was the most fun day where myself, Johnny, and his aunt all got some ink! Truthfully, I don’t feel one way or another about this lotion but would use it again if it ended up at chez moi. I am extremely partial to my beloved Bath & Body Works lotion and rarely stray from it. BUT I used up the Gold Bond for one reason only: It has been hot AF and while I love the B&BW scents it was just too much in the heat. Sweating profusely to the aroma of a fruity or sweet fragrance is not my idea of a good time and it overwhelms me which is why I appreciated the scent free Gold Bond formula. Don’t get me wrong, it worked very well and left my skin feeling hydrated and nourished. But I am excited to get back to my favorite scents as summer draws to a close!

A Little Note: You all already know my love for Champagne Toast and my Evoluderm micellar water. I just wanted to mention that the mega bottle of Evoluderm lasts almost three months with twice daily use and it is such an awesome value. Definitely a steal if you find it at TJs. 🙂

Out with the old and in with the new! Keep tuning in on lifewithlilred as we tackle this new month together. Yay for it being almost fall!

What cools you off in extreme heat? Do you do well in really hot weather? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul31

Spill The Tea OOTD

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Spill The Tea OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! This past weekend I attended an adorable Mad Hatter’s tea party with my nieces at the library. It was such a lovely program where the kiddos got to make finger sandwiches, fruit salad, fruit punch, and decorate cookies with the assistance of their grown up helpers. We had a blast! As the extra aunt, I just had to get dressed up for the occasion as my squad has come to expect. They love my themed outfits as much as I love creating them! Here is what I wore to Spill The Tea at the party:

Who? What? Wear?

Cami Top: mittoshop, French Rooster

Pleather Skirt: BB Dakota, TJMaxx

Platform Heels: Marc Fisher, TJMaxx

Headband: Claire’s

When I think of a tea party, my mind instantly goes to floral patterns and my OOTD created itself from there. This look came to me in a vision and it turned out exactly how I wanted it to. I LERVE when that happens! 😀 I started building this fit from the middle because my pleather BB Dakota skirt was a must. This skirt is girly sweet Lil Red’s way as the black base and pleather added a healthy dose of edge. It saddens me deeply that some of the pleather has begun to peel but that is made up for with this skirt’s twirl-ability! As you can see on my TikTok, this skirt moves like a dream and I had to refrain myself from twirling with every step. So fun!

I chose to turn my skirt into a pseudo dress by pairing it with a black cami from French Rooster. This gauzy number was the basic essential I needed to blend seamlessly with the skirt and that touch of lace really turns it into something special. When both pieces were on, I felt like the belle of the tea party and I wasn’t even there yet! Next up was shoes and accessories before I headed out to Wonderland…

I went for one of my favorite pairs of ballet slipper pink platforms by Marc Fisher and although it wasn’t a perfect match to the pink in the skirt, it was close enough. These platforms gave me a a boost in height and elevated this look into a special occasion OOTD because it most certainly was. Any time with my girl squad is! For accessories I added a cuff from Aerie as well as a bejeweled snake cuff by Betsey Johnson that you can’t really see in the pictures lol. That’s no matter because the piece de resistance was the cute as can be flower headband from Claire’s to tie the garden party theme into a pretty bow. My nieces were obsessed with it and it really blew their minds when it lit up from the fairy lights scattered throughout the flowers. With that, it was time to Spill The Tea (metaphorically speaking) at the tea party!

This OOTD was a total hit with my girl squad so it was a GREAT SUCCESS in my book. Stick around for the Blooper Reel coming soon!

Did you like to have tea parties growing up? What food would you include in a tea party spread? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul18

Safari Chic OOTD

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Safari Chic OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! This past Sunday, my entire family enjoyed a wonderful time at Playhouse Square seeing The Lion King. It was nothing short of a miraculous performance and we are all still raving about it! When we took our girl squad to see Toy Story 5, I decided to create an OOTD themed around my favorite character, Jessie. Everyone got such a kick out of it that I went the themed route again for The Lion King! Although I don’t have any character specific clothing or accessories, I could do a fashion interpretation and came up with this Safari Chic look. Check it out:

Who? What? Wear?

Jumpsuit: Japna, TJMaxx

Hat: Peter Grimm, TJMaxx

Heels that you can’t see lol: Made, TJMaxx

Snake Wrap Cuff: Earthbound, My sister got this for me in New Orleans!

The giraffe cuff was purchased forever ago from Target and the feather earrings were a hand me down from my sister!

When I think of the animals in The Lion King, my mind goes to a safari adventure and I had the perfect something in mind to match the vibes: My Japna jumpsuit! This little number is giving safari with style with the classic light khaki color, stitching, and deep front pockets. My only gripe with this jumpsuit? It is SO long!! I always wear it with the tallest heels I own and they forever remain invisible under all of that fabric. Regardless of the length, I do love this jumpsuit and the ease of wearing one. Literally all I had to do was accessorize and then it was off to the theater!

To up the ante on this OOTD, the accessories was where I was going to have some fun. As I had the safari theme in mind, I just needed a hat to “wear” and selected a gorgeous wide brimmed one by Peter Grimm. It would be uncouth to wear a hat on your head in the theater but mine could be worn on my back thanks to this hat’s toggle strap! This approach further enhanced the safari aesthetic with a fashion twist. Although you can’t see the shoes, I went for a strappy pair of heels that actually featured a bit of zebra print on the bottom straps. Once again, blame it on the fabric but I knew that this pattern was there and it was another feather in my safari cap. 😀

Like the animal print on my invisible heels, I chose all animal inspo everything for jewelry. I put on a pretty pair of dangly feathered earrings compliments of my sister and lived for that added drama right by my face. I also adorned my arms with some cuff bracelets, one of which being a snake and the other being a giraffe. These playful additions tied my Fashion Safari look altogether and I am so pleased with how it turned out. This OOTD was made completely with items I have had for years and I’m genuinely shook that I had a full blown safari fit just waiting for the right occasion to be worn!

The Lion King? Spectacular. The fashion? Inspired! Stay tuned for the Blooper Reel!

What do you wear on a dress up occasion? Do you have a special event coming up? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul7

Sassy Skort OOTD

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Sassy Skort OOTD

Hi everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! A few weekends ago we visited an absolutely amazing indoor mini golf course called Glow Sticks. This putt putt paradise was themed around music from the 1950s to the 1990s and we had so much fun rocking out to the great tunes and trying to sink a hole in one. We are chomping at the bit to go back and it is a perfect spot to go to beat the summer heat with a classic outdoor activity brought indoors. Of course, I had to put a little something something together for our outing and couldn’t wait to bust out a new top from a recent TJMaxx trip. Check it out:

Who? What? Wear?

Groovy Blouse: J. McLaughlin, TJMaxx

Tennis Skort: Kyodan, TJMaxx

Mules: B.A.I.T., ModCloth

I have no idea where the daisy earrings came from!

I have been itching for an occasion to wear my new J. McLaughlin blouse from my TJMaxx birthday haul and this was it, baby. This top is so groovy and just screams 1970s – I felt perfectly in place as we entered the room at Glow Sticks dedicated to that era! I just love the color palette of this little number and it’s like if 1970s wallpaper were made into a top. It is oh so retro and is a fond tip of the cap to one of my favorite eras of fashion. Not only is this top ultra cool but it is literally ultra cool. Despite the longer sleeves, the material is so light and I was completely comfortable even in the summer sun. That is a huge win because I typically save long sleeves for the fall!

I decided to pair my blouse with one of my go to mini skorts by Kyodan and tucked it in to make a pseudo dress. I am freaking obsessed with skorts and the Kyodan brand can’t be beat. I found this skort in the athletic department of TJMaxx but it is strictly a fashion piece for me! I know I have said this before but it is worth repeating: I will never serve on the tennis court in these skorts but I will serve looks every time I step out in one! Game, set, and match. 😀

Finally, it was onto shoes and accessories. To keep with the throwback theme, I chose a darling pair of heeled mules in a sunny yellow featuring adorable daisies. As the middle of this outfit was a neutral, it gave me permission to have some fun with my shoes and it doesn’t get much more fun than these! They were also just right for putting away at Glow Sticks although I never have any problem in a taller heel while mini golfing. *Hair flip* For accessories, I tied the look together from head to toe with a cute AF pair of daisy stud earrings. With that, I was ready to hit the links and have a blast!

Stay tuned for the Blooper Reel from this OOTD and so much more fashion fun on lifewithlilred!

What is your favorite athletic brand? Do you go mini golfing or big golfing often? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun26

Supergoop! Triple Prep Moisturizer Review

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Supergoop! Triple Prep Moisturizer Review

Howdy! I finished up one of the best moisturizers I have ever used in May and was sad to see it go but eager to try something new. As I browsed through my skin care stash, I decided to go for the jar of Supergoop! Triple Prep Moisturizer as it has SPF 40 to help protect my skin from the summer sun. The Supergoop! brand is brand new to me and, honestly, I think I got it from TJMaxx more for the name than anything else lol. While the brand name is an absolute hoot, the moisturizer leaves a lot to be desired. So much so, that I even considered not using it altogether. However, you all know that I refuse to not finish a product I started so here I am venting in this lackluster review:

In theory, the Triple Prep moisturizer should be exactly what I like: A light product for normal skin types with the added bonus of SPF. In practice, this moisturizer is just not it and I’m not sure if the problem is the product itself or the combination of skin care that I’m using. My skin care routine is tried and true: Cleanse, tone with micellar water, serum, eye cream, moisturizer. Wham, bam, thank you ma’am. Every morning and night, the last step of the routine with moisturizer comes to a grinding halt because when I apply and blend with the Supergoop! it turns gritty. Like I can literally feel it flaking off as I rub it in and that can’t be normal! Interestingly, this moisturizer has gotten stellar reviews but there are a handful of people who share the same sentiment as me so we must be part of the unlucky few.

Not only does this moisturizer not apply or blend well but it also clogged my pores like a mother and that never happens. For the first five or so days of use, my skin had a lot of unsightly bumps that almost looked like whiteheads and I just had to let it run its course. Now, I use barely a dime size amount which seems to have solved the clogged pores problem but it still peels during application. I just can’t win with this moisturizer! The Supergoop! Triple Prep is going for close to fifty dollars on Ulta and I am SO glad I got it for a TJMaxx price because I would be livid if I spent that much on a dud. Use at your own discretion!

For all of the excellent reviews of the Supergoop! Triple Prep Moisturizer, I am one of the naysayers. Just be warned that you really don’t know what you’re going to get if you give this product a try!

Have you used the Supergoop! brand before? Did you enjoy their products? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun23

Cute In Crochet OOTD

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Cute In Crochet OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! Johnny and I went on a little date night on the Friday after my birthday and had the best time. We bought the new Mario Kart for the Switch 2, hit up the dispensary for some weed treats, and had a delicious dinner out at Boss ChickNBeer. It was so nice to have an extra birthday celebration with my main squeeze and I just had to put together something cute to step out in. This simple summer look was perfect for being out and about in the hot AF weather and is very easy to recreate! Check it out:

Who? What? Wear?

Crochet Top: Bozzolo, TJMaxx

Jean Shorts: American Eagle Outfitters

Platforms: Sbicca, ModCloth

The earrings are Lucky Brand and were a gift from my mom!

The cuff bracelets are both from American Eagle Outfitters.

I am one of those people who just doesn’t do well in the heat. I have a very low tolerance for it and the medications that I’m on make hot days feel like I’m in hell lol. For this reason, dressing for summer bores me because I only have one thing on my mind: Staying as cool as humanly possible. This means that what I can wear comfortably in my wardrobe decreases exponentially and I’m basically left with a variety of shorts and crop or tank tops. But, I work with what I’ve got and came up with this look to beat the heat in.

I am a sucker for all things crochet when it comes to tops and selected a cutie crochet crop by Bozzolo. This little number is so sweet, made me sweat minimally (lol), and how adorbs are those wooden buttons going smack dab down the middle?! While the crochet is sweet, this top still serves so much sass and was just right when paired with some AEO short shorts. This combo gave classic summer vibes but still felt so unique with my tattoos out on full display. They really are the best accessories!

Speaking of accessories, with lots of open real estate I slipped on some cuff bracelets as well as one of my favorite pairs of earrings. I just love my turquoise cross Lucky Brand babes and my mom absolutely crushed when she gifted me with them! That pretty dose of blue definitely popped against the creamy shade of the crop top. For shoes, I kept with the blue motif and opted for a darling pair of platforms by Sbicca. That light denim blue with the tan flower embroidery is *chef’s kiss* and tied this look together from head to toe. With that, I was ready to hit the town with my Johnny!

Stay tuned for the Blooper Reel from this look and more fashion fun all summer long. lifewithlilred is the place to be!

How do you do in extreme heat? What are some of your tips for keeping cool? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun20

TJMaxx Skin Care Haul

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TJMaxx Skin Care Haul

Hi! When I went on my TJMaxx birthday gift card shopping spree with my mom I had two goals: 1) Find a new pair of sneakers. And 2) Restock my skin care. Everything else that was purchased was just the cherry on top! For my birthday and Christmas, I am often blessed with beaucoup bucks to TJs and like doing my semi annual skin care restock with those funds. It’s so nice to get everything I need for my skin care routine without paying a dime and I always enjoy trying out new to me brands and revisiting old favorites. I think this gift card haul will definitely tide me over for a while! Check it out:

My skin care routine goes a little something like this. Step 1) Wash my face with a scrub and then use a foaming cleanser. Step 2) Apply micellar water. Step 3: Serum, eye cream, and moisturizer. This is the setup that best works for me and I have never strayed from it. All I need are the products to make it happen! When it comes to shopping for skin care, I don’t really care what brand I’m using as long as it’s cruelty free. I have a very normal skin type so I can get away with dabbling in different formulas and product outcomes. It makes visiting the skin care department in TJMaxx exciting because I truly never know what I am going to end up with!

In this haul, I walked away with more of my beloved Evoluderm micellar water which I always need as well as a few new serums, moisturizers, a cleanser, and eye cream. I am particularly looking forward to trying the ValJean Labs serum because I have never seen them at TJs before and am crazy about their cleansers. If this serum is half as nice as the foaming cleanser that I use every morning then I know I am in for a treat. I also can’t wait to try the new to me Goodness brand for the moisturizer and eye cream. Part of it is for the experience, of course, but a bigger part of it is making a review for all of you. I will be finishing up my current moisturizer in the next few days so be on the lookout for a brand new product review coming soon!

I came, I saw, I shopped and had the best afternoon on the town with my mom. There is nothing better than being in our happy place together! ❤

How often do you restock your skin care? Does your skin care routine change in the summer? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah