Tag Archives: maxxinista

Aug28

It’s In The Bag: Chillx By LeMiel Edition

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It’s In The Bag: Chillx By LeMiel Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a new edition of It’s In The Bag, brought to you by my TJMaxx Fall Haul. I always thought that when it comes to accessories, I am a shoe girl through and through. But, as I venture out on shopping trips or online shopping escapades, I have come to realize that I hold a very special place in my heart for purses.

To me, a good shoe is what completes the outfit. But, now I find that your look is only as good as your best accessories. This has inspired me to branch out and invest in things like jewelry, hair accessories, and yes – purses. During my seasonal shopping hauls, I have noticed that I have bought a purse to fit the changing weather each time this past year. And, I’m so not mad about it, because I wound up with this little Chillx By LeMiel beauty. Check it out:

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For those of you who don’t know, I am a HUGE fan of mustard yellow and will never not purchase something that I like in that color. So, when this gorgeous cross between a hobo and messenger bag caught my eye, I was all in. The perfect for fall palette of mustard yellow and the chocolate brown strap was just too good to pass up. And, the burnished bronze stud and lock detailing took it over the top into a purse that I didn’t just want but needed.

Although the color is what sold me, the shape of this bag also had a big part in the purchase, too. I don’t own any purses that are shaped like this one and I love the idea of carrying it by the small top strap instead of the long one that was included for a collegiate cool look. And, while we’re talking about the shape – can we please talk about all of the compartments?! Yes, please. I am all for a purse with a bunch of different nooks and crannies to keep all of my belongings organized in. All of the zippers and pouches will come in handy for all of my random odds and ends and I am definitely looking forward to utilizing them.

And, speaking of compartments – can we please talk about the two extra goodies that were nestled into them? Yes, please. While emptying the paper filling from the bag, I found a matching wallet and a huge reusable bag. I had known about the wallet when purchasing the purse but it was so nice to have the freebie tote bag included – it will be perfect for taking to the grocery store with my new favorite purse in hand!

What is your favorite fall color? How do you like to accessorize? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug27

TJMaxx Fall Haul: All Of The Skin Care Edition

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TJMaxx Fall Haul: All Of The Skin Care Edition

Howdy! In case you haven’t noticed, skin care is something that is very important to me. I take my beauty routines seriously – everything from shaving to showering is well thought out by yours truly to accommodate my skin type. And, when it comes to my face, AKA: The money maker (lol!), I don’t mess around. Face masks, serums, eye creams, exfoliaters – I use it all and my skin thanks me for it by maintaining a smooth and creamy complexion.

My skin type is extremely normal, which is nice, because that means I don’t necessarily have to stick to one brand of skin care for forever. Rather, I play around and always end up purchasing a new skin care treat when I hit up TJMaxx. And, with colder weather coming in hot, it’s important to have a fully stocked supply of moisturizers and creams to keep your skin hydrated. During my TJMaxx Fall Haul, I took home the following:

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The Haul:

Each product that I purchased above are actually ones that I have used before, minus the SkinLab eye cream. I was so pleased with the performance of the moisturizers and coffee scrub that, instead of trying something new, I stuck with some old favorites. I absolutely loved using the SkinLab moisturizers – especially the gel one, which was nice during the summertime. And, I know that the cream based moisturizer will come in handy once the cold weather strikes.

Both of the moisturizers left my skin feeling hydrated without leaving any type of residue or making me feel greasy – which is really hard to do during the summer. I was happy to buy both of them again and am looking forward to trying out the eye cream. I am always on the hunt for a good one of those ever since The Body Shop discontinued my beloved Nutriganics!

The Wonder Therapy coffee scrub was also a major must because I am obsessed with it. I always exfoliate my skin before shaving and, until recently, I would use a gel scrub. I thought I was getting a close shave with the Satsuma and Strawberry scrubs from The Body Shop but, boy, was I mistaken.

The shave that I get with the cream based coffee scrub is unlike any other. It leaves my skin so smooth and hydrated that I don’t even need to apply lotion afterwards. But, of course I do anyways! The shave is so close that my skin remains smooth for at least three to four days before any stubble appears. Can your shaving cream or scrub do that?

I’m glad that TJMaxx had the products that I was eager to use again when I went shopping because sometimes it’s hit or miss. I’m definitely looking forward to using all of them in the future!

What is your skin care routine? How do you achieve a super close shave? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug26

TJMaxx Fall Haul: K Cup Reup Edition

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TJMaxx Fall Haul: K Cup Reup Edition

Hello, hello! When I moved into my apartment, my parents gave me the most darling little red Keurig for my housewarming present. It’s basically the cutest and it also matches my little red toaster and general lifestyle perfectly, lol. But, with owning a Keurig means needing a supply of K cups, which I was running low on. Luckily, TJMaxx had my back with a delicious fall flavor. Check it out:

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I am and am not a big coffee drinker. I actually still have some K cups leftover from my initial moving in haul and that was way back in April. However, when I want my caffeine fix, I want it bad and it’s also so nice to have a Keurig when it comes to having friends over. And, can we all talk about how much better Keurig coffee is than the regular old drip in a pot coffee? Because it definitely is. 💁

I knew that I wanted a fall flavor for my next K cup purchase, but I didn’t want to dedicate a whole box of them to pumpkin spice. The Maple Brown Sugar that I went with sounded so good with the perfect touch of sweetness to it so into the cart it went. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good PSL from Starbucks more than anything. But, it’s not my favorite by any means and the Maple Brown Sugar will feel fall like without feeling like overkill. I can’t wait to try it out! 😀

What is your favorite K cup flavor? How do you make your coffee at home? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug25

Pajama Party: Tommy Hilfiger Edition

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Pajama Party: Tommy Hilfiger Edition

Hello, hello darlings! With the turn of every season, I usually do one big TJMaxx haul to add some updates to the clothing appropriate for the change of weather. And, as far as I’m concerned, fall is basically here so a shopping trip was definitely necessary. I never really have anything particular in mind to purchase during my seasonal haul, I just go with whatever suits my fancy. This could be accessories like a new purse or jewelry or maybe some chunky sweaters and skinny jeans.

Regardless, after my haul, I feel like I have everything that I need for the season ahead and am content and excited to revamp old outfits with new pieces. The next few posts on lifewithlilred will feature everything bought during my TJ’s haul and we’re going to start that off with some new Tommy Hilfiger pajamas. Check it out:

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I have a big love for PJs, even though I haven’t bought any in a long while. So, I couldn’t pass this darling Tommy Hilfiger short and sweatshirt set up when I saw it. And, getting it for twenty dollars instead of the original seventy-eight didn’t hurt the cause, either! They just looked SO comfy and I had to wear them the day that they came home with me and they ARE so comfy.

There is nothing quite like snuggling up in a cute pair of PJs during a chilly fall evening and that’s exactly why I got these. Wrapping a fleece blanket around bare legs is the ultimate comfort while popping in a movie and the sweatshirt does the job too in a different way. It’s nice and warm while not feeling too heavy and I went with a bigger size than normal so I could just wrap myself completely in it. It really is the perfect PJ set…

And, oh yeah, did I mention it’s cute? I adore the soft and snugly heather grey and the varsity jacket style lettering gives it the classic All American feel that Tommy Hilfiger is so well known for. Even in the sleep and lounge-wear department, TH delivers and I am just as obsessed with my new set as I am with all of my oldie but goodie Calvin Klein PJs.

Although this purchase isn’t something that I can wear out and about during the day, my nights needed an updated look, too, and my new pajama set is just what the doctor ordered to do that with. ❤

What is your favorite brand for sleep and lounge-wear? How do you get comfy cozy during a chilly night? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug14

Pretty In Punk OOTD

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Pretty In Punk OOTD

Hello everyone!! As promised (because I have only been talking about it for forever!), I am here today to present you with my Pretty In Punk OOTD inspired by all things It Brit fashion. From the music to the style and everything in between, I have always been enamored with how things are done across the pond in England. And, this outfit pays homage to a country that I so love and want nothing more than to visit soon! Take a look and let’s discuss. And, do be sure to tune in tomorrow for more pics from the shoot!

 

 

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Who? What? Wear?

Fashion and beauty is always something that I have been passionate about and styling this look was the most fun I’ve had in ages. I have been waiting for the right outfit to come to mind that would do my Ginger Spice style platforms justice since I got them and, after some chance shopping experiences while I was with a client, it all came together.

I was so inspired by the tulle fabric that I impulse bought at Joann’s and, like magic, my shoulder padded plaid blazer popped out at me while at the Goodwill. I knew that I could create something cool when combining all of this and in my head, a vision formed. An industrial location with an OOTD giving a posh update to the 1970s British punk style. And, with that, the shoot above happened.

While styling this outfit, it was really important for me to not make it look like a caricature of the iconic punk fashion and I also didn’t want it to be a carbon copy, either. So, making the look modern while still giving a nod to a style that I adore was key. Punk fashion is so textured, with all different types of fabrics and materials being used – we’re talking leather, wool plaid, flannel, studs, chains, and mesh just to name a few. But, it still manages to look cohesive because the color palette usually revolves around black and pops of color.

I wanted to create a distinct breakup between the shoes and the bottom and top half of my OOTD and, to do this, I used three different materials on each part of the outfit. Glitter on the shoes, pleather on the pants, and a wool style plaid on top. It all tied in together perfectly, though, because the color palette was quite minimal and black was incorporated in almost every part of the look, except the shoes, which was my pop of color.

Once I had my outfit styled, it was all about finding a location that embraced a more punk way of life. Some of the imagery that always stands out to me is a group of concert goers outside of a brick or dilapidated building smoking in front of the venue. I wanted that grittiness reflected in the pictures and an industrial setting was just what the doctor ordered. My photographer and I settled on Steelyard Drive in Cleveland, which is actually a shopping center. But, beyond it is train tracks, construction, and electricity towers. This gave us lots of backgrounds to play with and it was a blast to create distinctive looks in each location.

The last part of creating the pictures you see above was having fun. I always say that if fashion isn’t fun, then that defeats the purpose. And, let me tell you, I had a ball with this. Styling my OOTD was a joy, because I will definitely be sporting this look come fall and it was exactly how I envisioned it to be. Being on location and watching my craft as well as my photographers come to life was exciting and I am looking forward to creating more updates of iconic fashion eras in the future!

What is your favorite era of fashion? How do you incorporate that into your OOTDs? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug5

Beach Babe OOTD

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Beach Babe OOTD

Hi everyone! This past weekend, my parents had the pleasure of watching my sweet niece, Valerie, while her mom and dad were attending a friend’s wedding in Chicago. After running some errands on Saturday, it was a must to break out the kiddie pool to splish splash with Val and have some fun in the sun. And, of course, her TT is extra enough that taking pics was a must. Take a look:

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Who? What? Wear?

To be honest, I wasn’t quite sure if I wanted to post the pictures above because of the visible rolls on my stomach. But, then, I remembered this picture that I saw on Facebook and had the confidence to post my bikini clad pics – and they were a hit!

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^^^ Amazing image from Handful

This picture gave me the friendly reminder that EVERYONE’S stomach rolls when they sit down, no matter what your body type is. So, why was I expecting my sit down pictures to look any different? And, you know what? I love how I look in my kiddie pool pics. I love how happy I look, I love the sunlight on my tattoos, and I love how good my bikini made me feel, because it can be an intimidating thing to wear. And, of course, I love seeing pictures of my niece with her TT!

It’s amazing what a piece of clothing you really like can do for your self esteem. Whether that be a bikini, a dress, or a pair of jeans that fit you like a glove – it just gives you that extra boost to make you feel like the queen of the world. And, my Little Mermaid bikini does that for me.

The first time I wore it this summer, I thought that I would shy away and just stay in my towel instead of enjoying the lake. But, as soon as I took a breath and dropped the towel, I felt a-okay. I remembered how awesome my bikini made me feel just trying it on in the dressing room and let myself feel that way again, even if other people were seeing me in it. This gave me the confidence I needed to strut about the Metro Park lake or even just my open backyard at home without the fear of what other people are going to think.

I feel like an absolute Beach Babe in my two piece and I hope that all of you feel the same way in your swimwear. Remember, a “bikini body” is just a body in a bikini so don’t let whatever makes you feel insecure prevent you from enjoying your swim time. I promise you, the water is fine. ❤

What kind of clothes do you feel the most confident in? How does wearing swimwear make you feel? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul12

City Escape OOTD

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City Escape OOTD

Hello hello and welcome to a new OOTD post here on lifewithlilred! A week or so ago, I enjoyed exploring downtown Akron’s Lock 3 park with my friend Markus, who helps me take pictures for the ol’ blog. Lock 3 is a cool place where summertime concerts happen and an ice skating rink that I love going to is put up in the winter. The bar scene surrounding it isn’t bad, either!

Markus and I hit the pavement to take some pics and just have fun so check it out, enjoy, and read on to find out how I styled this OOTD:

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Who? What? Wear?

Styling summer outfits can be difficult, especially if you’re like me and you always want to go all out with your OOTDs. But, sometimes that’s just not feasible with the extreme heat. Although Markus and I took the pictures seen above in the evening, it was still hot as hell so this is definitely one of my more “basic” looks. I was still really feeling myself, however, because I made sure to follow a few simple rules:

1. Let it flow:

To me, there is nothing more boring than jeans and a t-shirt so if you want to add some visual interest to an outfit, then let it flow. Wear a top or bottom with movement to it and it will instantly add that little something something to any outfit. The billowy sleeves on my Japna top are not only fun, but it certainly gave a nice breeze to my upper half because the fabric wasn’t vacuum sealed to my body.

2. Legs for dayz:

Shorts are necessary in the summer and you can keep it simple or, you can pull a Sarah and go all out with some heels. But, you can’t wear just any heels with shorts. If you want to create some body magic for an illusion of legs for dayz, you must be mindful of what kind of straps are on your shoe.

If the heel must be strapped, make sure that it is a slingback so that there are no lines cutting off the flow from your feet to your hips. This will create the perfect leggy length, even if you’re a vertically challenged chick, like myself. Mules are an excellent way to go to avoid any kinks in your length, which is why I went with my Betsey Johnson pair. Embroidered flowers, a black and white striped heel, and super model style legs? Bye bye, boring!

3. Beat the heat:

I am both pale and extra enough that I have absolutely no problem carrying around my goth Princess Peach style parasol. I hate getting tan, I hate getting burnt, and I hate being hotter than I have to be when it comes to being outdoors. Not only does the parasol add length to my look because it’s not stopping at the tip of my head but it also makes the OOTD a lot more interesting. When it doubt, accessorize, and the outfit will become much more exciting to look at.

We all know that Lil Red thrives when it comes to fall fashion. But, summer has always been a challenge for me. So, I follow the steps above for looks that don’t thrill me as much as my fall OOTDs but certainly help keep me cool in the heat while still being fashion forward. Creating outfits that make someone’s eyes dance when they look at you is the name of the game and I think that my City Escape OOTD definitely achieved that!

How do you style OOTDs to keep yourself cool in? How do you add visual interest to your looks? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul9

New Lucky Brand Sunnies

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New Lucky Brand Sunnies

Howdy! If there’s one thing I’m a sucker for (other than shoes, jewelry, hats, clothing, and accessories lol), it’s sunglasses. My eyes are very sensitive to the light and I always need to wear them when I’m outside to prevent irritation and squinting – which, in turn, prevents premature wrinkling! 😀

Whenever I spy a cute pair of sunnies, I normally always buy them, because I know that I am going to use them. And, a lot of the pairs that I have are older and have been breaking, which puts a lot of empty spaces in my collection. So, I was happy to find these gorgeous bubblegum fun Lucky Brand sunglasses at TJMaxx to fill that gap. Take a look:

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I have never owned a pair of sunglasses like the ones above and I am absolutely obsessed. I love the mini cat eye, the clear frame, and the clear pink color. They are just pure sweet, fun, and sassy and I have been wearing them every day since I bought them this past weekend. Lucky Brand accessories are the best and I have plenty of their jewelry but no sunnies so it was an obvious choice to put them in my shopping cart.

My only qualm is that the lenses are not the most protective to sunlight because of the pale pink color. They still do a half decent job, but you can definitely tell the difference in protection between these and a dark lens. But, they’re cute as can be and that’s a small price to pay, I guess!

What is your favorite brand to shop for accessories? How do you protect sensitive eyes in bright light? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul8

Accessory Story: SJ Pearl Jade Necklace

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Accessory Story: SJ Pearl Jade Necklace

Helloooo everyone and welcome to the next Accessory Story from my TJMaxx haul where we will be discussing another gorgeous piece by SJ Pearl. This longer in length jade necklace features a Laughing Buddha pendent, which we already established yesterday as a symbol for good luck and abundance in life. The beads on my new necklace are made of jade which offers wisdom and compassion among other good stuff. And, as I work with people with special needs, I can always use some of that! Take a look:

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Very much like my beloved grandma, when I find something that I like, I tend to get it in every style and color. So, picking out my second Laughing Buddha necklace by SJ Pearl was a necessary evil that I am so not mad about! I love the rosary style length of this necklace and the subtle but beautiful coloring of the jade stones.

Like the obsidian necklace on yesterday’s post, it feels so nice to have the weight of my new jewelry around my neck because it just feels good, ya know? It makes me feel positive and kind of like the dark clouds that sometimes cover me are lifted ever so slightly. My SJ Pearl necklaces make a statement that’s both stylish and meaningful and it doesn’t get much better than that!

How would you style this necklace? Which symbols mean a lot to you? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul7

Accessory Story: SJ Pearl Obsidian Necklace Edition

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Accessory Story: SJ Pearl Obsidian Necklace Edition

Hellooo! Does anyone remember the Power Bead bracelets? You know, those round bead bracelets that were made with precious stones that each had a different meaning. I used to love those when I was younger and I wish that I still had mine and that they were still being sold because I love wearing jewelry that symbolizes something. But, I think I found the necklace equivalent of them in the following beaded necklace by SJ Pearl as well as the one that you will see on tomorrow’s Accessory Story. Check it out:

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I found this gorgeous Buddha inspired obsidian necklace at TJMaxx (Surprise, surprise!) and I added it to my cart as soon as I saw it. It was love at first sight. The Laughing Buddha pendent, as most of us know, offers good luck, contentment, and abundance in one’s life. While the obsidian beads act as a powerful protector.

The combination of the powers given by each symbol sounded exactly like what I needed and I like how heavy this necklace is. You can definitely feel its weight when you wear it and the stones are smooth to the touch, which makes it nice to clutch onto when you feel like you need that extra boost of strength or inner peace throughout the day.

Not only is this SJ Pearl necklace meaningful but, I find it absolutely beautiful, too. It adds a unique touch to any outfit and it makes me feel good on the inside and out to wear. I can remember putting my first Power Bead bracelet on when I was younger and feeling that little surge of contentment as it went on my wrist and I could definitely feel it as I put this around my neck in the mirror at TJs. I am so looking forward to wearing this necklace often as well as the other one by SJ Pearl that I purchased – so tune in tomorrow to see that!

Does anyone own any symbolic jewelry? What is your favorite symbol of good fortune? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah