Tag Archives: maxxinista

Feb3

TJMaxx Winter Haul: Talia Benson Dress

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TJMaxx Winter Haul: Talia Benson Dress

Hello everyone and welcome to the fashion part of my TJMaxx winter haul! Today, we are going to be discussing a gorgeous dress by Talia Benson that is delightfully reminiscent of my wedding dress. The best part? I don’t have to get married to wear it! I cannot wait to wear this dress literally all of the time and it is one of my favorite TJs purchases ever. Check it out:

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I don’t know about you guys, but any articles of clothing with an attached slip or cami drive me nuts. I kid you not, it took me a solid five minutes to figure out the best way to get this dress on properly and I almost just said “forget it” to save me the frustration. However, once it was on and I showed Johnny he told me how much he liked it and that “beauty is pain”. It was just the pep talk I needed because, damnit, I liked it a lot too!

Now that I know how to get this dress on in the easiest way possible, I can’t believe my weakness almost made me return it. It is beautiful!! The polka dot mesh overlay on top of the slip is stunning and I love the tiered bottom, tied back, and ribbons on the sleeves. It is the perfect amount of extra and I am looking forward to wearing it on a date with Johnny when we step out in our goth best. And, yes, I absolutely plan on carrying my black lace parasol with it.

I have no idea what the original price was for this Talia Benson number but I know that it had to be way more expensive than the forty dollars I paid for it. My new dress is of such high quality. The slip is thick so it doesn’t have the sheerness that sometimes comes with that territory and the mesh overlay is delicate without feeling like it’s going to rip every five seconds.

I plan on wearing my new dress with my red Bamboo platforms, bold gold jewelry, and my parasol for the ultimate Princess Of Darkness OOTD. Be sure to keep it posted for pics because that it going to be my outfit when Johnny and I go see Jesus Christ Superstar later this month! 😀

How would you style this dress? Have you ever returned something because it was too difficult to put on? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb2

TJMaxx Winter Haul: So Much Skin Care

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TJMaxx Winter Haul: So Much Skin Care

Hello! If you look at my newly organized beauty hoard, it is very easy to think that I definitely don’t need any more skin or bath and body care. I say FALSE and figured that my TJMaxx gift cards would be perfect to use for fortifying my stock pile and eliminating restock orders for a good long while. When scouring the beauty aisles in TJs, I had my eye open for moisturizer, serum, eye cream, and whatever else tickled my fancy. I ended up walking away with all of the following:

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As I mentioned before, it has been such a long time since I shopped in TJMaxx and I forgot how much fun it was to find new treasures in their beauty section. Prior to the pandemic, I would test out new skin care from TJs every couple of months when I needed a restock. Now, however, I have stuck to using tried and true favorites that I can order easily and have available at home. While this shopping trip would have been much better with my mom or sister there, it was still exciting to browse the aisles by myself!

While I paid full price for several of the products that I purchased, I was happy to find that a few of them were on clearance, which sweetened the deal even more. I am especially thrilled about the Evoluderm micellar water from France. It is, easily, the best micellar water that I have ever used so I had to grab the last two big bottles available.

I am most looking forward to testing out the new serums because I have been using the Tree Of Life ones for a while. They are fine and I have no major complaints but I am always open to trying new products. The same goes for moisturizer and eye cream. The Garnier SkinActive moisturizer and Elf Holy Hydration! eye cream have been staples in my skin care routine for almost a year so I can’t wait to shake things up!

Finally, I just had to buy another St. Ives scrub because they are my absolute favorite as well as one more SkinLab cleanser. I haven’t even used the SkinLab face washes that I have yet but I love that brand so how bad can it be? 😀

When it comes to my beauty stock pile, it never hurts to have extra – obviously! This huge haul will serve me well for many months to come and nothing beats when it was all purchased on a gift card!

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

Feb1

TJMaxx Winter Haul: Go Away Doormat

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TJMaxx Winter Haul: Go Away Doormat

Hello! Thanks to generous Christmas gift cards to TJMaxx, I had an online haul with some darling clothes and shoes which will be discussed later. I did have some returns to make, however, so ended up spending some time shopping in store for the first time in what felt like ages. It was great! I was able to make an exchange for some new skin care, birthday gifts for my niece and mom, a new sweater, and this amazing doormat that I couldn’t pass up on:

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I never go into TJMaxx with set ideas of what I would like to buy, rather, the store tells me what I need. When making my rounds through the home goods section, I wasn’t expecting to find this Fiesta doormat for a whole eight dollars and I just had to have it. I have been looking for something like this since I moved into my apartment and have never seen one in store before. I also didn’t feel like spending twenty plus bucks to order one online.

Not only did I really want this mat, but it was also a necessary purchase. Mine and Johnny’s “Come back with a warrant” doormat has seen better days and basically does nothing to help remove snow from our shoes upon entering the apartment. The nasty slush always ends up making its way into our entryway, which results in a ton of additional cleaning so this was eight dollars well spent. The course bristles and sweet sentiment will go a long way for the rest of winter! 😀

I am so excited about all of my new goodies from TJMaxx so keep it posted for more from my winter haul. Tomorrow, we will be discussing skin care and then all of the fashion afterwards. See you then!

What is one of your favorite TJMaxx purchases? What is your least favorite chore around the house? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan28

Snowy Saturday OOTD Bonus Pictures

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Snowy Saturday OOTD Bonus Pictures

Hello everyone and welcome to some bonus pics from my Snowy Saturday OOTD! This was probably my speediest photo shoot to date because it was freaking freezing outside! It also took my hands several minutes to thaw out afterwards from throwing snowballs… Anything in the name of fashion lol.

My Johnny was such a trooper to snap these pics and, needless to say, the rest of the day was spent hibernating after just five minutes in the cold. I think this is enough winter for me! Check out these extra shots and you might want to sip some hot chocolate while doing so to keep warm:

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As I’ve mentioned before, the past several winters in Ohio have been insanely mild and, although we all knew a massive snow storm was coming, it still took everyone by surprise. In fact, Johnny and I can’t even remember the last time it snowed like this because in one night, Akron was covered in sixteen inches of snow. The winter wonderland is visually beautiful but I am so ready for spring!

While winter has never really bothered me before, that did a complete one eighty with the pandemic. Since Johnny and I have been laying low for the entirety of COVID-19, our activities are severely stunted once the cold weather hits. No hanging out in the fresh air means that most of our days are spent with our programs, board games, video games, and record player. It’s not the most awful thing ever but I have been craving an outdoor date day in the worst way.

Not many outings means no dressing up, either, which is something that I miss desperately. So, when I do brave the outdoors, I have to put my best OOTDs forward. Naturally, my coffee date with a girlfriend fell on the coldest morning ever but fashion called and I just had to pick up the phone! I love the outfit that I came up with but am hoping that the next time I bust it out, it’s at least ten degrees warmer!

What has your winter been like? How do you spend snowy days? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan27

Snowy Saturday OOTD

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Snowy Saturday OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! This past Saturday, I got all dolled up for a coffee date with one of my best girlfriends, Danielle. Upon returning home, my darling husband braved the bitter cold to snap some pics of yours truly. Best blog husband EVER! While Johnny was sporting his cheetah print robe and his moto jacket for a speedy photo shoot, I was wearing this:

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Who? What? Wear?

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^^^ Lol

After a massive snow storm last week, it finally felt like winter in good ol’ Akron, Ohio. While I can’t stand the snow, I have to admit that I am just a little bit happy that I finally get to break out all of my warm jackets that have been sitting sentinel in my closet! Morning coffee with my fellow fashionista, Danielle, meant that I just had to show out in my cold weather best and I love what I came up with.

Prior to my coffee date, I had a pretty good idea of what I wanted to wear as I had been dying to break out my new Wit & Wisdom snakeskin print jeans. The easy route would have been to wear black on top to match with the patterned jeans but where is the fun in that?! For much needed warmth and texture, I went with my teddy bear soft faux fur jacket by Sanctuary, which complimented the touches of taupe on the jeans. This jacket was a sweet surprise from my mom and I seriously could not stop touching it because it is So. Freaking. Soft!

With the base of my outfit taken care of, it was time to accessorize because the neutral palette of my OOTD needed some brightening up. To rectify this, I chose my silk BCBG scarf in a darling Popsicle print. With temperatures in the teens, the cold treat pattern is pretty ironic but it was just what this outfit needed to add more visual interest. And, of course, my all time favorite fingerless gloves by Steve Madden gave a fun pop of color.

Shockingly, the shoes were what I struggled with when it came to this Snowy Saturday OOTD, which is something that I never thought that I would say! Boots were out of the question because it would break up the sleek lines that I was working with. I knew I needed heels, but which ones? Most of my heeled booties have a pattern, which would also be a no go with the patterned jeans.

After scouring my shoe collection, I found the winner with my heeled booties from Target that costed me a whole ten dollars. It was the perfect choice as it provided some extra length and looked just right with the rest of my look. They might not have been the best to trudge through the snow with but I will do anything in the name of fashion!

Once my photo shoot with Johnny was done, we had a long laugh about my Step Brothers T-shirt underneath such a chic coat. This Snowy Saturday OOTD would not be complete without a little dose of Dale and Brennan! 😀

What is your favorite season to dress for? Do you have a favorite silly T-shirt? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan14

Seventies Chic OOTD

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Seventies Chic OOTD

Hello! This past weekend, my entire family took a trip to Wheeling, West Virginia to have Christmas part two at Oglebay. As a gift, my oldest brother and his family rented a lodge for us to stay at and we had the best time. We all arrived mid afternoon last Friday and before the festivities began, Johnny and I were able to snap some quick OOTD pics. It was seriously the fastest shoot ever because with two toddlers staying with us, anarchy soon happened! Lol, check it out:

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Who? What? Wear?

I have been absolutely dying to break out my new super seventies inspired dress by MaxSport LA and I thought that the holiday weekend was the perfect time to wear it – despite the bitter cold! This dress was a steal for ten dollars rather than the original tag price of two hundred and forty and that made the purchase even sweeter… The fact that it is one of my favorite new pieces is the cherry on top.

For this Seventies Chic look, I wanted to invoke the era with some flower power and fun. The knee high floral boots by B.A.I.T. were an obvious choice to go with and the orange flowers matched the orange dots on the dress flawlessly. This made the two very different patterns work, especially since the brown base of the boots acted as a neutral color.

To add some warmth and seventies flare, I added my topper jacket by Lucky Brand. The velvety soft material provided texture to the OOTD and it was another nice retro touch. It is also one of my favorite pieces in my entire wardrobe! As I mentioned before, it was really cold and snowy and my look was still looking a little bare. To rectify this, I topped things off with my smiley face scarf by Nardi & Tagliaferri for some Peace, Love, and Happiness.

Was I done yet? Of course not! Because of the somewhat lower cut of my dress, a necklace was in order and I knew just what I wanted to complete the look – my favorite necklace that belonged to my grandma. I have always loved this necklace and it is so special to wear it. The emerald green and floral painting on the tooth shaped centerpiece added a perfect pop of color and it made my outfit feel runway ready.

While driving to our lodge, I was trying to scope out some nice places for pictures and was coming up short. Thankfully, the problem was solved as soon as we walked into our home for the weekend because it felt like stepping into a time machine. The wood paneling, seventies lounge furniture, and warm lighting provided the ultimate backdrop to shoot this retro look in. This setting definitely did my OOTD justice!

I love fashion because it allows you to be anything you want. Some days I’m punk, other days I feel fashionista, and this past weekend I was Seventies Chic. Keep it posted for bonus pics from this look tomorrow!

How would you describe your personal style? What is your favorite era of fashion? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan5

Houndstooth, Honey OOTD

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Houndstooth, Honey OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! This is a look that I put together for a little date day that Johnny and I had on New Year’s Eve. We walked around Lock 3 in downtown Akron for a photography adventure. Then, we hung out with our niece, picked up some champagne at the grocery store, and played video games and listened to oldies music all night to ring in the new year. It was a blast!

Here are some pics from our stroll around Akron and do be sure to keep it posted for bonus and blooper shots! Check it out:

Who? What? Wear?

One of my all time favorite chick flicks is, easily, The Devil Wears Prada. I saw it in theaters when it came out with my mom, sister, and grandma and it is one of my most treasured memories. I’ll never forget walking out of the theater together and laughing and talking about all of the fabulous fashion. This OOTD is actually inspired by one of the looks that Anne Hathaway wore in her transformation montage where she is sporting a white peacoat and newsboy cap. I think my grandma would have loved it!

It has been quite warm, despite it being winter time, so I haven’t been able to wear all of my beloved coats in my collection as much as I would like. So, needless to say, I was very excited to finally be able to bust out my Vince Camuto blazer, which is one of my absolute faves. I love the houndstooth pattern, the swing style shape, and the faux fur cuffs on the sleeves.

When styling this outfit, I wanted to highlight the blazer through accessories because it really didn’t need much in terms of clothing. This statement maker speaks for itself. I went with my newsboy cap to mix and match patterns, which worked because they were both of a similar color palette. For a fun pop of color in the somewhat muted scheme I was working with, I chose my little red booties to add some length and visual interest.

With these added accessories, my OOTD was fine but it felt like it was still missing something. To rectify this, I added my St. Tropez faux fur collar which is one of my favorite TJMaxx finds. I love it so much and it adds a unique touch to any look. I almost bypassed this option thinking it would be “too much” but it ended up being just right. When I wasn’t wearing the collar, I slung it through the strap of my mustard yellow purse or wore it draped over my shoulder. It incorporated the additional texture that made my OOTD feel complete.

I channeled my inner Anne Hathaway post transformation in The Devil Wears Prada and I felt like a star in my Houndstooth, Honey OOTD. This look made me feel confident and I was so proud of what I had styled. Although I wasn’t walking through the bustling streets of New York City, it was even better to be strolling through Akron with my darling husband. Be sure to tune in tomorrow for more on this look!

What is your favorite chick flick? What was your favorite outfit in The Devil Wears Prada? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec26

TJMaxx Haul: Wit & Wisdom Jeggings Edition

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TJMaxx Haul: Wit & Wisdom Jeggings Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to the last edition from my TJMaxx Haul! Today, we are going to wrap things up by discussing some new jeggings by Wit & Wisdom. And surprise surprise – they’re a taupe snakeskin pattern rather than my traditional black skinnies! These jeggings were a great buy at thirty dollars compared to its original eighty and I am loving them. Check it out:

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While my husband is extremely partial to all things cheetah print, I am a huge fan of anything and everything snakeskin. To me, there is nothing chicer, edgier, and sexier than a snakeskin patterned clothing or accessory. It’s mysterious and sleek while still adding the touch of punk rock that I adore and I can’t get enough of it.

As you all know, these new jeggings are a bit of a branching out for me because I pretty much exclusively wear black skinnies. In fact, I can’t remember the last time that I wore anything differently! I actually love the idea of patterned pants but I have always found that they made me look bottom heavy. When ordering these jeggings, I wasn’t expecting them to work so well but here we are!

Had this Wit & Wisdom number been adorned in bright flowers or polka dots, they definitely would have been a no go. However, the muted pattern spoke to me and I know that it will make a statement even paired with a simple black sweater and ankle boots. Also, how fun are the side zippers? 😀

The pattern is, of course, what sold me on these jeggings but the fit is nothing to sneeze at, either. They are SO comfy and it also features an elastic waist for additional wiggle room. My new jeggings will be perfect for being on the go and running errands or going to work and it offers the potential to be dressed up or down. I am so happy with this purchase!

My TJMaxx Haul accomplished exactly what I set out to do when I began my shopping – expanding my work wardrobe that could double for play. I can’t wait to begin wearing all of these pieces after I return to the outside world from winter break!

What is your favorite animal print? Which brand has the best jeans? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec24

TJMaxx Haul: MaxSport LA Dress Edition

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TJMaxx Haul: MaxSport LA Dress Edition

Hi! Other than the new clothes, the best part about shopping at TJMaxx is the prices, of course. I revel in a good deal and there is nothing better to me than getting name brand prices for the low low. Like the MaxSport LA dress that we will be discussing today, for example. The suggested price on its original tag was two hundred and forty dollars and I paid ten bucks for it on clearance. Talk about an amazing score! Check it out:

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During my online shopping, I saw my new dress and wasn’t so sure about it. I really liked its pattern and balloon sleeves but the tent shape was questionable for me because I prefer something a bit more form fitting. However, when I saw it’s ultra marked down price, I thought that it couldn’t hurt to add it to the cart. If it worked, I got a new dress for a crazy cheap price. If not, no harm no foul and I could return it.

While I do love online shopping more than words can say, I tend to go with “safer” options so I don’t have to go through the hassle of making returns. So, I pick clothes and accessories in shapes and styles that I know will look good on me. Ordering this dress was a caution to the wind buy because I was so uncertain of it. In store shopping gives you the luxury to experiment with styles and adjust sizes. Online? Not so much.

Nevertheless, I was really excited to try this dress on and was so pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it. The tent shape, which I was the most ambivalent about was sweet rather than oversized and combined with the pattern, it felt like the perfect nod to all things retro. I cannot wait to pair my MaxSport number with my knee high floral boots from ModCloth for a three seasons student teacher chic look in the fall, winter, and spring!

Due to the pandemic, a majority of my shopping has turned online. This dress encouraged me to branch out of my “safe” styles when scouring my favorite sites and I am itching for my next haul to throw caution to the wind some more!

What is your favorite style of dress? How would you style this dress? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec23

TJMaxx Haul: Lucky Brand Cardigan Edition

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TJMaxx Haul: Lucky Brand Cardigan Edition

Hi! I have always loved Lucky Brand and pretty much died and went to heaven when I got to shop in one of their actual stores during a vacation to North Carolina. I am always on the lookout for their clothing and accessories at TJMaxx and I was thrilled to find the cardigan we’re going to be discussing today. The price was pretty exciting too – I got it for thirty dollars compared to its original price of one hundred and thirty! Check it out:

Many moons ago when I worked at PacSun, I had what seemed like an infinite amount of Aztec patterned oversized cardigans. I am genuinely unsure as to why I got rid of them all but here we are lol. So, when I saw this Lucky cardi during my online shopping, I just had to add it to my cart. It reminded me so much of all of the cardigans that I have loved and lost and it seemed like everything in my life was leading up to this shopping experience… Okay, that might be a little over dramatic but you know what I mean!

Until my new cardi arrived in the mail, I had no idea of its original price so you could have knocked me over with a feather when I found out. I thought that I was getting the steal of the century. Oh yeah, and it’s cute! I absolutely love its length, the drapery, and the colors reminiscent of a fall sunset. This is a cardigan perfect for curling up in front of a bonfire or just lounging about at home and I am so there for it.

Lucky Brand has always spoke to me because of how classic all of their pieces are. Everything that I own by them from clothes to jewelry is something that I can picture myself wearing now or ten years from now. Lucky combines simple and crisp silhouettes with unique touches making them the ultimate brand of wear now and later. Or, when it comes to my favorite buys from them – wear all of the time! 😀

What is one of your favorite brands? What is one of the best buys you have had at a discount store? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah