Tag Archives: maxxinista

Apr26

New Sincerely Jules Pants

Posted on April 26, 2023 by lifewithlilred

Hello everyone!! During my Christmas gift card extravaganza jubilee jamboree at TJMaxx, I didn’t have too much luck in the clothing department. This is, admittedly, a weird time to shop for because you never know if you’re going to get hot or cold in late April and May. It definitely reflected on the racks of clothing with tons of winter items on clearance and random warm weather pieces interspersed throughout. In this mixed bag, I ended up with an amazing new jumpsuit by Japna as well as some pantaloons by Sincerely Jules. They are very simple, but I am obsessed:

Does anyone remember the paper bag pants trend that was super popular a few years ago? You know, the high waisted pants with a gathered waist, slim cut leg and made from really rigid material? I do! I loved those freaking pants and ended up trying a pair on every time I went shopping, but never made the purchase. They looked like garbage on me lol. The shape of them did not compliment my body at all and the gathered waist always made me look ten pounds heavier no matter how many pairs I tried on.

What I needed was something similar, but with tons of modifications haha so different? Basically, whatever I was looking for, I found it in the Sincerely Jules slacks. At first glance, these pants are kind of boring. However, the retro straight leg fit paired with a more defined waist had the possibility of working so I tried them on and am so glad I did! These pants fit perfectly and felt so good as soon as they were on. The material was soft, they hit right below the ankle, and as a bonus – I looked my actual size and finally got the ultra long leg line I was imagining with the paper bag pants. Also, how cute are those cuffs?!

Once I had these pantaloons on, I realized that they were not boring at all because there are so many exciting styling options that come with it, be it for work or play. These slacks would be darling with a tucked in button down and loafers for a day at the office. My work wardrobe consists of lounge clothes, though, so I will be styling them with play, play, play in mind! One of the things that I want to do this summer is visit the botanical gardens in Cleveland and I have just the outfit in mind for it. You will see it soon enough, but spoiler alert these pants will definitely be featured!

Although both of my clothing purchases from TJs were fifty shades of beige, that’s okay! I can’t wait to wear them and just thinking about the outfits that I can build makes me feel very colorful! 😀

What is your favorite neutral color to wear? Do you like to buy pieces that can double for work and play? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr25

New Japna Jumpsuit

Posted on April 25, 2023 by lifewithlilred

Standard

Hello!! Last Tuesday, I enjoyed some much needed retail therapy and had a blast finally spending my Christmas gift cards from TJMaxx. I mainly needed odds and ends like birthday gifts and skin care, but I did manage to find two new pieces of spring clothing that I am loving. Today, we are going to take a closer look at an amazing jumpsuit I found by Japna – the last one on the rack! 😀 Let’s get to it:

I have been a huge fan of the jumpsuit theory for forever. However, in practice as a shorter gal, it has always left me disappointed. At barely over 5’1, ninety-nine percent of the jumpsuits that I have tried left me swimming in them. The other one percent featured other no go’s like random cutouts or a plunging neckline, which does nothing for me either. I had all but given up on finding a jumpsuit that would suit me best, but patience is virtue because this one by Japna is perfect.

What first drew me to this jumpsuit when I saw it was the color. While I often rock bold shades, this piece was bold enough in its shape alone and the crisp linen hue wouldn’t battle against all of my tattoos but enhance them. I also was liking the bustier style top with the gathered back because that style tends to agree with me. On the rack, this jumpsuit had everything that I was looking for, but the true test would come in the fitting room. This could be the best jumpsuit in the world and that would mean nothing if the length was dragging a foot below my feet!

As you probably already guessed because I purchased this jumpsuit, the length was not an issue whatsoever. In bare feet, it fell right at the ground and that is nothing that a killer pair of platforms can’t fix! The shape on my body was also exactly what I was hoping for. The more form fitting top against the breezy pants still offered definition, which is very important because it established a silhouette without having to resort to a belt at the waist.

Another major bonus of this jumpsuit is the extra slip of fabric falling from the waist to the lower thigh, respectively. This was great because I have tried on several jumpsuits that didn’t offer that and the visible panty lines were out of control. I was actually pretty worried about this before I tried it on because you could potentially see undies under the light colored fabric. Happily, this was not a problem and my new jumpsuit checked off every single one of my requirements. It’s like it was made for me!

I cannot wait to wear this fun little number ASAP and I think that it will be one of my staples this spring and summer. I love the ease of this jumpsuit because you basically just have to slip it on and go. Pair with platforms and a huge floppy hat and you have yourself an OOTD, baby! Keep it posted for more from my TJMaxx Haul tomorrow! 🙂

How do you feel about jumpsuits? What is a style of clothing that you love but haven’t had any luck finding? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr23

So Bright I Need Shades

Posted on April 23, 2023 by lifewithlilred

Standard

Hello!! Last Tuesday, I had the morning to myself after working from home and all I wanted to do was shop, shop, shop! Before my afternoon shift, I hit up TJMaxx and Bath & Body Works for some much needed retail therapy and had an absolute blast. At TJMaxx, I spent my Christmas gift cards on a few new things for me, skin care, birthday gifts for my bestie, a new shirt for Johnny, and sunglasses! I have been so sick of wearing Johnny’s plain frames and chose two new pairs; one by Sam Edelman and the other, surprisingly, was by America’s number one baddie, Martha Stewart lol. Check them out:

There was a point in my early twenties when I had sunglasses galore as they were a cheap and fun way for a little pick me up. I had quite the collection of sunnies in various shapes, sizes, and colors and would change out which one I was using often. Of course, sunglasses don’t last forever and all of them had definitely seen better days. Scratches, loose screws, and cracks began to form and one by one my collection ended up in the trash. And, eventually, I had to resort to square black frames a la Johnny when driving and out and about.

The sunglasses that I had been using were probably the most boring thing that Johnny and I own and I decided to check out the sunglasses wall at TJs during my excursion. I was pretty unimpressed with a majority of the options and was drowning in a sea of tortoiseshell! However, I did have luck with two pairs and that’s great because literally anything was better than what I had! I was shocked to see so many Martha Stewart pairs on the shelf, but it all worked out because they were arguably the most fun frames available. I still can’t quite wrap my mind around that. 🙂

The pair of Martha, Martha, Marthas that I selected are really cool and I love the shape; they are huge! One problem that I have found with gigantic frames are how heavy they are and that was not the case with my new pair at all. These are so light but still feel sturdy and that is a major plus. I feel so perfectly posh in these shades and ten dollars isn’t a bad price to pay for a pair by America’s sweetheart! 😀

The other pair I chose was by Sam Edelman, whose accessories I am obsessed with. In fact, I used to have a pair of sunglasses from that designer until they broke! I am all about sunnies with a unique shape and these octagonal frames were an instant must. In fact, I used to have a very similar pair until they broke lol. Noticing a theme here? I have been wearing these sunnies every day since I got them and they are awesome! Like the Marthas, they are nice and light and the protection they offer from the sun without drastically changing the colors of everything makes for an ideal pair for driving. And for also looking fresh to death!

For so long, I focused on clothing and shoes while shopping that I didn’t even think about getting new sunglasses, which I really needed. These new pairs will come in very handy during the sunny days of spring and summer and I might just have to start rebuilding my sunglasses collection again! Keep it posted for more from my TJMaxx Haul coming soon!

Do you have a collection of any accessories? What is your favorite accessory to shop for? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr21

Spring Green OOTD Bloopers

Posted on April 21, 2023 by lifewithlilred

Standard

Hello everyone and welcome to the blooper reel from my Spring Green OOTD! Today, we will take a look at all of the yikes from this shoot that definitely didn’t make the first cut. Then, keep it locked on lifewithlilred for a TJMaxx haul! After months of Christmas gift cards burning a hole in my pocket, I finally got to spend time in my happy place this past week and it was freaking awesome. Not as awesome as how I look in these pictures though. 😉 Let’s get started:

I’ve got my eyes on all of you

Hi, neighbors! Just call me the mayor of Timber Top!

I LOOK GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Losing my balance in three parts: Part 1 – Whoopsie daisy

Part 2: Regain my composure like a pro

Part 3: She sticks the landing!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The blogosphere goes wild.

Short and pale nearing thirty and fairly decent, the girl from Akron, Ohio goes walking

Did anyone go through that phase where they would never be caught dead without a full face of makeup and amazing outfit? This was definitely me from sixteen to twenty or so when I started college. After I was away from constantly working retail and needing to look good as part of the job, I found no problem with jeans and hoodies as I made my way around campus. I then learned that maybe applying my normal makeup just to run to Target wasn’t a necessity after all.

lifewithlilred was just in its early days when I started school and more frequent OOTD posts wouldn’t come until later. And, if you would have told me when I started featuring myself in more posts that I would eventually post bad pictures of myself too, I would have laughed in your face. Why would I publish pictures where I looked anything but my absolute best? Literally no one else does that!

I guess in my young and mid twenties, I couldn’t fathom the idea of showing imperfections online in the little world I had built. But, I had been building up to bloopers all of this time and I hadn’t even realized it. As I would go about my work week in standard lounge clothes and a fresh face, I was always fine with being seen around town – even if it was by people I hadn’t seen since high school. I came to realize that the difference between that dreaded situation and publishing crappy pictures on my blog was nonexistent. When I looked at it that way and was seemingly sitting on a goldmine of content, I said “why not?” and it is now one of my favorite segments on my page.

At almost twenty-nine, I have finally been able to capture the “who cares” frame of mind that I always wanted and the blooper reels helped me achieve that. And, if they help you feel more confident to post a picture, good or bad, then I have done my job!

What makes you feel less than your best? How do you give yourself a confidence boost? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr20

Spring Green OOTD

Posted on April 20, 2023 by lifewithlilred

Standard

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred!! This past week, it was absolutely glorious in Ohio and it finally felt like spring. However, this has since been redacted because the pictures taken on Saturday was the last of the heat wave. It is now cold, rainy, and a little bit snowy here in the 330 and it feels cruel and unusual after days in the sun soaking up that Vitamin D! Let’s reminisce on the spring flowers and warmth by checking out some pics and discussing this look further while I freeze in my apartment:

Who? What? Wear?

Wrap Sweater: Caution To The Wind, TJMaxx

Lace Cami Top: mittoshop, French Rooster

Blue Jean Shorts: American Eagle Outfitters

Hoop Earrings: Argentino Vivo, TJMaxx

Cage Wedges: Juicy Couture, Kohl’s

Rings: PacSun, Target

The first few weeks of spring can be really awkward to dress for because you never know what kind of weather you’re going to get! Chilly mornings can either turn into hot afternoons or just more cold. It was about seventy degrees on OOTD day with crisp winds blowing occasionally, but I still figured that I could get away with shorts. To achieve a bit of balance in the warmth department, I wanted a light, long sleeved top and began building my outfit under those parameters.

I have been creating OOTDs almost weekly since the new year as per my 2023 blogging goals and, I’ll admit, I was feeling fairly uninspired while shopping in my closet. Although I have a decent amount of clothing for any type of weather, my wardrobe favors the fall and winter. The heat wave we experienced was awesome, but my tunnel vision for winter cold still wasn’t lifted quite yet and I needed to clear the fog before proceeding. Once I began thinking spring after a work week in jeans and hoodies, I was ready to see my warmer weather clothing with new eyes.

Most of the long sleeved tops that I have feature a fall palette so I was very happy to have rediscovered my wrap sweater by Caution To The Wind. I had all but forgotten it because this top was meant to be worn with a sports bra while ice skating, then I stopped skating. It was just what I needed, though, so I made some adjustments. I love how light and form fitting this top is and it is an ideal one for spring. The fern green and cream makes for such a rich palette and I paired it with my lace oyster shell cami underneath. Not a perfect match, but the cami was in a similar color family to the cream stripes and it worked while adding a sweet feminine pop.

For shorts, I went with an undistressed pair of midrises from American Eagle Outfitters. I love my distressed shorties, but the pattern on my top was somewhat busy and I didn’t want that conflict of visual interest between the two. A no muss no fuss option was better and I thought the simple blue jean shorts looked adorable with such a cutesy top. Remember, less is nine times out of ten more when building outfits so if you ever feel like any pieces are clashing against each other; you’re probably right. 🙂

In the accessory department, I chose one of my favorite pairs of hoop earrings by Argentino Vivo. The size of these medium hoops was exactly what I wanted. They enhanced the cleavage and long neckline I was working with as they matched up with the length of my hair. As a shorter gal, I am always looking to add length to my looks and, other than killer heels, one of the best ways to do this is through expertly placed jewelry. Accessories are just as important as the top or pants you have on! Once again, to keep my neck uncovered, I went necklace free and chose several statement rings to add some bling. I love the double ring with the rhinestone fern!

Finally, for shoes, I put on my army green cage wedges by Juicy Couture. These shoes are old as dirt, but I just can’t part with them! I had a few other pairs of army green heels in mind, however, all of them hit further up the leg and that wasn’t going to work with short shorts. The Juicy Coutures hit slightly above the ankle, which was much more like it! And, of course, they played to the color palette that I had established.

This Spring Green OOTD got me in the spring state of mind a little too late in the game before the cold hit, but that’s alright; it was nice while it lasted lol. Keep it posted for the blooper reel from this shoot tomorrow!

Which seasons does your wardrobe favor? Do you switch out and store clothing as the seasons change? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr17

A Night On The Town OOTD

Posted on April 17, 2023 by lifewithlilred

Standard

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! During a normal work week, it is a very rare occasion that I get dolled up. Almost ten times out of ten, you can catch me with a fresh face, leggings, and a hoodie. This past Tuesday, however, was different because I went to see Jesus Christ Superstar at EJ Thomas Hall with my mother-in-law! By the time I got home to prepare for our night out, I was exhausted. But, you’re not going to not get dressed up for a trip to the theater! I put this outfit together in my head the night before and it turned out great, if I do say so myself:

Who? What? Wear?

Black sweater: Shrinking Violet, TJMaxx

Floral pleather skirt: BB Dakota, TJMaxx

Kitten heels: Nine West, TJMaxx

Earrings: American Eagle Outfitters

Flower necklace: This was a Sweet 16 gift from my grandma that is from Talbots

When I am styling OOTDs, I plan ahead to an extent but I usually make things up on the fly. I’m sure we have all had those moments when we think an outfit is going to look so good only for it to turn out awful; which is why I was very pleased that this fit looked exactly how it did in my head on the first go. For this particular night at the theater, I wanted to invoke elegance. Once I had that keyword in mind, I built the look from there and I like to think that I hit the nail on the head!

I began styling this look with my pleather BB Dakota skirt in mind. This is one of my favorite pieces because it is not only gorgeous but so fun to wear! The pleats and pretty pattern are all well and good, but this skirt truly shines in the movement department. It swishes and swings with every step and I felt like a princess when I was twirling around in it. This skirt is a one hundred percent staple piece and with it as my focal point, it was very easy to style the rest of this OOTD around it.

For the top, I chose my Shrinking Violet sweater from TJMaxx. This sweater is almost nine years old – I got it when I first started college at Tri-C! While it may be old as dirt, it still looks good and came in very handy for my outfit. I wanted to give the illusion of wearing a dress with a tucked in sweater and this one was perfect. The material is so light and it is form fitting, which is exactly what I wanted since the skirt was so playful in its movement.

Once the base of the outfit was sorted, it was time for accessories! I selected my kitten heels by Nine West specifically for their shape. As I was pretty much covered up in this outfit, I didn’t want to shorten the minimal leg I was showing with an ankle strap. The slip on style was just what I needed and the itty bitty heel still offered some much needed length. Kitten heels are so sweet and charming and the pointed toe and blinged out strap added a cool pop of visual interest.

In the jewelry department, I went with a tiny pair of dangly earrings so it wouldn’t distract from my neck. Remember, when you are showing little skin in an outfit, you want to enhance the parts that are visible and that often means keeping things minimal. With that in mind, I completed the outfit with my flower necklace from my grandma. I think that this necklace is so beautiful and it was an awesome match to the pink in the skirt. It also cradled the collar of the sweater just right which, in turn, drew attention to my exposed neck. Finally, for some additional length, I threw my hair in a top knot and was ready for my night out!

I felt so effortlessly elegant in my Night On The Town OOTD and had the best time seeing my favorite musical with my favorite mother-in-law. Keep it posted tomorrow for the blooper reel from this shoot!

What is your favorite musical? What makes you feel elegant? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr11

Sweaters In Spring OOTD

Posted on April 11, 2023 by lifewithlilred

Standard

Hello!! Ohio is slowly but surely crossing the threshold from winter to spring and I am so there for it! While I am especially partial to warm spring days, I am okay with the chilly ones too as I live for light jacket weather. This time of the year is also fun to dress for because lighter fall pieces can be incorporated into OOTDs to combat the cold in. For my Sweaters In Spring look, I did just that and mixed a few cold weather staples into the mix for an adorable OOTD that can be easily replicated. Check it out:

Who? What? Wear?

Striped Sweater: Cynthia Rowley, TJMaxx

Jean Shorts: American Eagle Outfitters

Snakeskin Print Kitten Heels: Splendid, TJMaxx

Knee Highs: Target

Lightning Bolt Earrings: I got these at Universal Studios forever ago on vacation!

Spring weather in Ohio typically follows the pattern of a cold morning and a warmer afternoon and flip flopping temps can make it hard to decide what to wear! The day I took these pictures, I knew that I wouldn’t be outside other than walking to and from my car so I chose to throw caution to the wind and put on shorts even if it was cooler outside. Of course, the outfit needed a few modifications to make it fully weather appropriate and I was very okay with this; I am SO sick of wearing jeans!

For this Sweaters In Spring OOTD, I began building the look with my Cynthia Rowley striped sweater in mind. I absolutely LOVE this simple but sweet sweater and the red heart makes for an eye catching pop. It is so light but cozy and is such an ideal option for a crisp fall or spring day. This sweater is also a great layering piece because it is nice and form fitting; if it’s a bit too cold out, literally any style of jacket will work well on top of it.

Another reason for selecting my navy striped sweater was because I knew how cute it would pair up with denim shorts. This was a no brainer decision and I selected one of my go to pairs from American Eagle. These shorts feature a midrise fit, which I really appreciate because it is SO hard to find bottoms that aren’t high waisted. I also liked that this particular pair wasn’t distressed as I knew that I would have a few different patterns in this look and didn’t want it to be distracting.

Originally, I planned on wearing tights underneath my shorts but that idea fell short. I tried a few different pairs on, but it was doing nothing for me and I set my sights on knee highs instead. Although tights would have kept me slightly warmer, the knee highs were good enough and still covered up a majority of my legs lol. I have had the pair of argyle knee highs I selected for forever and they were a perfect pair with the navy sweater. The green and cobalt blue in the pattern also provided another little pop of color, which is always fun. 😀

For accessories, I chose to keep things minimal because there were three separate patterns in this look and they served as an accessory in themselves. Since I had an open crew neck on top, I put on a pair of dangly lightning bolt earrings to enhance my neck line. The shape added a playful touch of movement, which was needed as all of the other components of this look fit close to the body.

And, finally, I chose my kitten heel, pointed toe, snakeskin patterned booties by Splendid for the shoe department. These are one of my favorite pairs and they work so well for work or on the go. They looked so darling paired with the knee highs and were a unique addition that worked despite a drastic change in pattern and palette. This was okay, though! It is totally fine to stray from the motif of your look for the shoes; as long as the rest of your OOTD is cohesive, it will look like a decision you made rather than just throwing something on. 🙂

I felt ready to take on the day or at least page through a few novels in a bookstore in this scholarly sweet Sweaters In Spring OOTD! Keep it posted tomorrow for the blooper reel from this look! ❤

What is your favorite pattern to wear? Have you done any spring shopping recently? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr4

Here (Sort Of) Comes The Sun OOTD

Posted on April 4, 2023 by lifewithlilred

Standard

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! This past Saturday was an interesting one; Johnny wasn’t feeling well with a stomach bug so I was left to my own devices when it came time for OOTD pictures. The weather was gorgeous in the morning and was going to change drastically by noon so I knew that I would have to take advantage of the warmth and sun while I could. So, I set up my tripod on our apartment balcony and got to work. I’m glad I did, because a half hour or so after I was done, our power went out for the second weekend in a row due to a massive wind storm. SMH.

While I am pleased with how my tripod shots turned out, I can’t wait for next weekend when Johnny can take my pictures again! Check it out:

^^^ BTW that is not a “Don’t tread on me” flag we have hanging up – ours says “Don’t tread on my uterus”!!

Who? What? Wear?

Crochet Top: Rebellion Again, TJMaxx

Black Shorts: American Eagle Outfitters

Dove Detail Heels: ModCloth

Blue Flower Earrings: Bella Jack, TJMaxx

Ruler Bracelet: Big Blue Moma, Jenks Building

The giraffe cuff is from Target and the gold bracelets are both from American Eagle Outfitters

As always, wintertime in Ohio dragged ass and we still aren’t experiencing true springtime weather yet. I have desperately missed wearing shorts, skirts, and dresses so when the temperature was close to sixty degrees, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to wear warm weather clothes even for a little bit. This OOTD is one that I have been thinking about for a while to welcome the spring with and was super easy to style and can be very easily replicated.

I really enjoy styling fall and winter outfits because I love all of the possibilities that come with it and layering to my heart’s content. Spring and summer outfits definitely requires less think work on my part because you can pretty much just throw on a cute top, shorts, and go. I began styling this outfit with my Rebellion Again crochet top already chosen because I think it is such a perfect spring top. The creamy color, pretty pattern, fit, and scalloping all morph together beautifully to create a top that is great with shorts, patterned pants, or a skirt. I am also very fond of the peek a boo pop you can get with a brightly colored bra for a touch of sex appeal thrown into the mix with such a sweet top.

For shorts, I went with one of my favorite pairs from American Eagle Outfitters. AEO has never steered me wrong in the jeans and shorts department and I will die on the hill that they are the absolute best. My favorite thing about the shorts and jeans from AEO is that they fit so well without ever feeling too tight. I liked how these form fitting shorts paired with the breezy top. Although the top does offer movement, it is quite boxy and the shorts were able to create a defined shape that made me feel so confident!

I’m not going to lie, my toes were in dire need of some nail polish when I took these pictures so an open toed shoe was out of the question. This was fine, though, because I had my pair of ModCloth heels in mind and would have chosen them regardless of painted toes or not. These heels were one of the first things I bought from ModCloth over a decade ago and they are very beloved. While I would never pair a stiletto heel with shorts, these ones were just right with their rounded toe and thick mini heel. They are so comfortable and I feel like I could walk for miles in them! The bold blue on the heel and details also added some visual interest in a fairly minimal palette.

With the base of my OOTD settled, it was time to accessorize. To start, I put on one of my favorite pairs of earrings by Bella Jack. The dangly bluebell flowers are so darling and the color also matched perfectly with the pale base of the heels. Bare arms and legs left lots of open real estate for jewelry so I added a few statement bracelets and called it a day. My favorite one is the ruler bracelet that I got from the Jenks Building in Cuyahoga Falls. I had wanted something similar for forever so that was an awesome find!

Even if it was only momentarily, it felt so good to be in warm weather clothes for my Here (Sort Of) Comes The Sun OOTD! Keep it posted tomorrow for some bloopers and what I did and didn’t like about shooting with a tripod for the first time. See you then!

What is your favorite season to dress for? Are you going to do any spring shopping to update your wardrobe? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar29

On The 6th Day, She Rested OOTD

Posted on March 29, 2023 by lifewithlilred

Standard

Hello! Normally, Johnny and I spend some time on Saturdays taking OOTD pictures during one of our outings. This past Saturday, however, was an incredibly shitty one and by the time we got home around four o’clock, I wanted nothing more than to sink into the couch, watch TV, and play the demo of Diablo IV with my main squeeze. To add salt to the wounds, we came home to no power that didn’t get restored until later the following day. It sucked! On the bright side, it was still bright enough in the apartment to snap some pictures of my too tired to care, makeup free OOTD lol. Check it out:

Who? What? Wear?

The Office Hoodie: TJMaxx

Leggings: Express

Makar Plushie: Best Buy

Sam Plushie: Ordered from Amazon

Obviously, this OOTD required no thought in the slightest so we don’t really have to go into further detail about that! But, we can talk about the evening where Johnny and I time traveled back to the good old days when TV and video games didn’t exist. Wind storms blew trees down in good old Timber Top, which resulted in the power outage that left us to our own devices; all while not even being able to use any of our own devices! See what I did there? 😉

After we took these pictures, we had about two or so hours until the sun started to go down. During that time, we stayed downstairs and called upon Melvin and Penelope to provide us with some evening entertainment. We must have sat there for over an hour just watching them explore and frolic around our bunny proofed area. Honestly, it was great lol. Melvin and Penelope are our babies and it’s hilarious to see what kind of mischief they find themselves in. They have so many toys, but they both prefer Chewy boxes the best and Johnny and I cheered them on as they shredded, climbed, and zoomed around during their “box time”. Johnny even treated us to his charming rendition of a song about leafy greens set to the tune of “Here Comes The Sun”. So cute!

Once the bunnies had tuckered themselves out and went back into their hutch, there wasn’t much left to do. It was getting dark, the power was nowhere close to coming back on, and our options became limited. We toyed with the idea of a board game, then vetoed it since we lacked flashlights and candles. So, we just went upstairs and listened to what I jokingly referred to as our “Fireside Chats”.

Johnny had the ingenious idea to play some stand up comedy shows on our Bluetooth speaker. After about twenty minutes of the first guy we listened to, I expressed my distaste so Johnny put on someone we can always agree on; Patton Oswald. We love him! Despite laughing our heads off, I knew that it would be short lived because Johnny falls asleep as soon as he gets comfortable. Within forty-five minutes, he was fast asleep and since I wasn’t trying to sit alone in the dark, I joined him. I got ready in the bathroom by the light of my phone and thus concludes the tale of how we were both asleep by nine o’clock on a Saturday night!

On The 6th Day, She Rested; mainly because I didn’t have a choice in the matter! I guess going to bed early on a weekend isn’t always so bad, but I’ll be looking forward to an evening set in 2023 next Saturday. Keep it posted for the blooper reel from this mini shoot tomorrow!

How do you entertain yourself during a power outage? Who is your favorite comedian? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar28

Vitamin C Skin Care Routine

Posted on March 28, 2023 by lifewithlilred

Standard

Hello!! My skin type would definitely fall under the “normal” category. I don’t experience oil, acne, or sensitivity and my woes usually only come from dry skin in the winter. Thanks to this, I get a lot of free range to try new skin care products; I can’t think of any adverse reactions my skin has had from testing new skin care and I don’t need specific products for my skin type. As you all know, I love to try new products out and the skin care I use at a given time ranges from brightening and hydrating to firming and fine line repair. However, I literally just noticed a major difference in my current routine after several weeks!

I wouldn’t say my skin has a “dull” appearance, but I can tell when I am feeling more tired than usual, which is basically all the time lol. For the past few weeks, I have found my skin to be much brighter than normal despite being a chronically sleepy gal. After examining my skin care routine, I realized that I have been using three Vitamin C products and I know I have them to tip my cap to for the brightening boost:

It has been a good long while since I stacked like skin care products. Honestly, the last time was probably when I was a teenager and trying to figure out what would work for my skin. Individually, I could see that the Clinical Works cleanser, Spa Cosmetics serum, and Bellyssima moisturizer worked well. Then, after other products got used up and their forces combined, I felt like the sun had nothing on my radiance!

With Vitamin C times three, I feel like a whole new me and it has turned what I used to think was a very solid skin care routine on its head. And, dare I say it, I might just begin limiting myself to like products when I restock at TJMaxx to see what happens! Let’s talk a bit more about the skin care that I am currently using because I think you will love them if you are looking for an extra dose of brightness:

Clinical Works Cleanser: This cleanser is divine! It smells very citrusy and is so invigorating to use every morning. A nickle sized dollop goes a long way and it lathers well, turning into lush bubbles instantly. Not only does this cleanser brighten, but it really does cleanse too. My skin feels squeaky clean after each use and I can feel the grime and yuck scrubbing away, leaving nothing but soft, radiant skin in its wake.

Spa Cosmetics Serum: I have been enjoying this serum a lot. It has a fairly light citrus scent and is thicker in texture. Normally, I don’t like products with a thicker consistency, but I never mind if it’s a serum. Once again, a nickle sized dollop of this product is all you need for full neck and face coverage and the bottle I’m working on is lasting me a long time. It is the perfect serum to activate the work the cleanser put in even more as well as the moisturizer during the next step in my routine.

Bellyssima Moisturizer: This moisturizer is one of the best ones that I have tried in months. I was instantly enamored with the whipped orange scent and the texture is rich and creamy, but absorbs quickly. It also sits so well underneath makeup. The Bellyssima moisturizer locks in all of the good stuff from the cleanser and serum and my skin is left looking like peaches and cream. I can’t get enough of this moisturizer and am keeping my fingers crossed to find it again at TJMaxx!

It has been grey and rainy in my neck of the woods, but my skin feels like sunshine and rainbows with my new Vitamin C routine. I highly recommend each of these products and they are all cruelty free. Check them out if you get the chance!

What is your skin care routine like? Do you stack like products or use a bunch of different things? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

	lifewithlilred on New Lark + Grey Dress
	Stephanie bowerman on New Lark + Grey Dress
	lifewithlilred on New Lark + Grey Dress
	Dear Quiet on New Lark + Grey Dress
	lifewithlilred on Makeup Magic OOTD Blooper…