Tag Archives: maxxinista

Jan10

TJMaxx Beauty Haul

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TJMaxx Beauty Haul

Howdy! Thanks to some generous gift cards to my favorite store, TJMaxx, which I received for Christmas and some extra spending money compliments of their store credit card, I was able to have quite the beauty haul this past weekend. Whenever I have gift cards for TJ’s, I always try and purchase the things that I am going to need with it, like the products that I use in my skin and hair care routine. I made out like a bandit and got all of the following, which means that I won’t have to restock my hoard for a good long while. Check it out:

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The Haul:

  • Alba Botanica Hawaiian facial wash
  • Evoluderm micellar water
  • Global Beauty Care Glowing Metallic face mask
  • The Body Shop Oils Of Life serum x2
  • Lanoline eye serum
  • Rusk heat protecting serum
  • Danielle Laroche day cream

When it comes to all of my skin care products, I like having the next one that I am going to use handy so I don’t have to make any emergency trips to the store because I ran out of moisturizer. My haul was completely free, and I was able to restock everything that I will need for the next handful of months. And, for the Oils Of Life serums, I’ll be set for at least a half a year. 😀

All of the products that I selected seemed to be of great quality, reasonable prices, and Leaping Bunny Certified. I am looking forward to trying out all of these new brands because, aside from The Body Shop, I’ve never used any of the above before. I am the most excited to try out the moisturizer and face mask. Since purchasing my Azure Lux Rose Gold Sparkling Serum from TJ’s a few months ago, I have been obsessed with products with gold in it. So, be on the lookout for a new Face Mask Festivities post coming soon!

Has anyone used any of the products that I purchased in my haul? What were your thoughts on them? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov26

Holiday Gathering OOTD

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Holiday Gathering OOTD

Hi! With the holiday season in full swing now, it’s important to be able to put together a lovely OOTD for any get togethers that you might be attending. The outfit in this post is actually what I wore for Thanksgiving, and it has given me a good template to follow for a look that’s classy but still fun around your family, friends, or total strangers! Take a look at some pics and let’s discuss:

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Who? What? Wear?

When thinking about what I wanted to wear on Thanksgiving day, my BCBG layered sweater dress seemed like an obvious choice. It’s so cute and comfortable while still looking really chic, and that is a must because Lil Red always tries to show out at family events! Plus, this dress fits a bit looser so I don’t have to worry about busting out of it after eating a huge holiday meal!

But, of course, just this dress would not be warm enough for a late November holiday so I had to enlist the help of some tights to cover my legs. And, cold or not, my legs are pretty hairy so the tights needed to happen, anyways. At first, I was going to just wear some sheer black tights but, I found this charcoal sweater pair in my closet and decided to give them a go. I was a little worried that it would be too much grey, but the heather grey of the dress looked lovely against the charcoal and the two differing sweater textures was also a nice, cozy touch. The sweet blue doves on my heels also paired well with the palette, too, so (For once!) I didn’t choose black and went with All Grey Everything.

To top this look off, literally, I decided to go with one of my favorites: My purple, orange, and navy plaid topper coat from Target. Because everything else was neutral in my OOTD, I could go color crazy and still look put together. The deep, burnt colors in this coat just scream festive fall holiday to me and I loved how it popped against the stark white and soft grey underneath. My topper coat felt like a really necessary part of this overall look, because the dress and tights were so comfortable. It took my OOTD from Thanksgiving Lounge to Thanksgiving Get Down and I absolutely love the end results!

When styling for a cold weather holiday event, it’s important that you dress for the weather without wearing a full blown snowsuit! Knitwear is a great place to start – sweaters, cardigans, cableknit dresses, and thick tights will all keep you nice and warm without breaking out the puffer coats. And, to complete your look, always top it off with a cool coat or jacket to add some pizazz to your comfortably cute OOTD.

How do you style a look for holiday gatherings? How do you stay warm while still looking chic? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov25

November 2018 Finishes

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November 2018 Finishes

Howdy! November is on its way out the door and, with that, December is coming in hot to continue ringing in the holiday season. With yet another month drawing to a close at a crazy fast rate, it’s time for lifewithlilred’s monthly finishes post so that we can talk product reviews. Take a look at my empties for November and let’s discuss:

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Would I Use Again?

Why/Why Not?

Micellar Water: I have been using Garnier’s Micellar Water for close to a year, I’d say, and I plan on using it until it becomes discontinued. And, hopefully, it never will! I use this product every day as a toner and eye makeup remover and it lasts me a month and a half or longer, which is a pretty good value. Although I can’t say that I’ve seen major changes in my skin, I still like the Garnier water well enough and it’s way cheaper than any eye makeup remover and toner on the market.

B&BW Shower Gel: I love me my travel size goodies from Bath & Body Works and I love that I get them FO FREE even more! Japanese Cherry Blossom isn’t my favorite scent but, boy, does it bring me back to my grade school years! It takes me three weeks or longer to finish one mini shower gel and you absolutely can’t beat that. So, B&BW, keep those coupons coming!

Vital C Serum: I live for all things Vitamin C when it comes to my skin care and I will always buy the Vital C serum when I see it at TJMaxx. For seven bucks, I get a bottle of magic that lasts me for two months, which is an amazing deal for something that makes my skin so radiant. Seriously, there’s been days where I’ve been tired as THE DICKENS but still manage to have glowing skin thanks to this product. And, a little goes a long way, which is always a plus.

Although I didn’t finish too many products this month, it was still successful because I liked everything that I used up. And, each item that I used was free or really cheap, which speaks to my ballin’ on a budget lifestyle and simply touches my heart. ❤ 😀

What empties do you have this month? What are your thoughts on any of the above products? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov23

New Kut From The Kloth Starred Skinnies

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New Kut From The Kloth Starred Skinnies

Hello everyone and welcome to the final post in the PANTS PATROL series! This little number by Kut From The Kloth is probably my favorite new pair, because they’re really different than anything I’ve ever owned before. I’ve never had a pair of patterned pants, even though I have always wanted to. But, I would shy away from them because I thought that they would draw more attention to my curvier skater thighs and booty. I liked this pair by Kut From The Kloth so much, though, that I just had to give them a try and I am sure glad that I did! Take a look and let’s discuss:

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In all of my years of searching for a pair of patterned pants that I actually liked, I have never seen a black pair with some visual embellishment. So, when I found these on TJMaxx’s website, I had to give them a go and see if a black pair would suit me better and it definitely did! At the end of the day, Lil Red just isn’t a white pants with flowers on it kind of girl and, it took this starry pair from Kut By The Kloth, to make me realize that I was trying to play the patterned pants game all wrong.

Not only do I adore the charcoal grey stars adorning my new jeans, but I simply love the fit of them, too! I think that in all of my years of pants failures, the shopping gods decided to smile on me and throw a dog a bone by introducing me to several bottoms that actually fit well. This Kut From The Kloth pair is tight and curve hugging but they look more edgy than sexy to me and that’s the look that I always go for. And, if people happen to think that I look sexy in whatever I wear, then that’s just fine!

I cannot wait to pair these skinnies with my red and black faux fur jacket by June & Hudson and my favorite platform boots from Forever 21 for a look that it totally glam rock. But, I can also see myself wearing them with my ladybug button down from Zara and some ankle boots for an OOTD when I have a more laid back day at work. Dressed up or down, these jeans freaking rule, and I am SO happy to have found such a perfect pair for my first patterned skinny jeans. :*)

How would you style these jeans? Which types of clothing do you shy away from wearing? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov21

New Blank NYC Faux Leather Skinnies

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New Blank NYC Faux Leather Skinnies

Hi! While on PANTS PATROL, I was able to invest in a wonderful pair of faux leather skinny jeans by Blank NYC. I have been on the prowl for a good pair of faux leather skinnies for a while now, but they are so hard to find. I don’t want them coated, I don’t want something crazy expensive, and I want something that it going to fit me well. At forty bucks, these new skinnies matched all of the listed criteria and then some! Take a look at some pics and let’s discuss:

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I ordered these bad boys in my actual size off of TJMaxx’s website, but they were SO. FREAKING. TIGHT. that I had to return them and reorder in a bigger size. Once I sized up, they fit perfectly. The fit was tight, but not so tight that I felt like I was vacuum sealed into them! And, I’m sure that after I wear them around for a day or so, they will break in a little more. I am not sure if all Blank NYC bottoms run small or just this one, but Lil Red definitely recommends sizing up.

I adore all of the details that these skinnies have like the zippered ankles, the zippers on each hip, and the ribbed knees and lower thighs. All of these extras add even more edge to an already badass material and, we all know how much Lil Red loves that! The quality of my new pants and the fine attention to detail make the forty dollar price tag so worth it and, although sizing was an issue, I would happily buy Blank NYC clothing again.

Faux leather skinnies are awesome, because you can toughen up a rocker look even more or you can add some spunk to a sweeter garment like a flowy blouse or cardigan. Pairing them with my favorite black moto jacket and boots is an obvious must. But, they will also look just as cool with a peacoat and heels for a holiday get together.

How would you style these jeans? Where do you get the best jeans from? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov20

New Almost Famous Skort

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New Almost Famous Skort

Yo! As we all know, Lil Red has been on PANTS PATROL and I am honestly so happy about it. There’s a few things that I hate shopping for and they go as follows: Bikinis, bras, and PANTS, PANTS, PANTS. Pants are a pain in the ass to shop for and they always have been. Your girl suffers from the figure skater booty and thighs but a tiny waist, which makes getting a pair of pantelones that actually fit well really difficult. The same goes for shorts. Literally anything that you can wear on your bottom half that you have to put both legs through. Lol, so that’s why I was thrilled to snag this adorable Almost Famous skort seen below:

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Hopelessly out of season, I know. But, I just couldn’t help buying this cute as a button skort on TJMaxx’s website. I only own one other pair of shorts, so this actually was a really necessary purchase for when summer rolls around. I thought that this little number would make a really sweet addition to my summer wardrobe, because they are so different than your basic booty shorts, which will definitely add that Lil Red flare to any outfit, even if it’s just paired with a T-shirt or crop top.

Of course, I’m looking forward to wearing this in the summer but, I also plan on incorporating it into my spring wardrobe with some sweater tights underneath. The material of my new skort is nice and thick so it will do just fine. Then, I will pair it with a blazer on top and some cute little booties for a cool look for work or play. Love it!

Which type of clothing do you struggle shopping for? How would you style this skort? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov19

New Free People Pinstripe Pants

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New Free People Pinstripe Pants

Hello! I will tell you what, I have been on PANTS PATROL lately, because all of my black skinnies are fading into grey and I just won’t stand for it. Luckily, TJMaxx has got my back with all of the best fashions and I’ve been able to restock the bottoms department in my wardrobe so I won’t have to run around in my SKIVVIES! Although these new Free People pants seen below are navy instead of my beloved black, I still like them just the same. Take a look at some pics and let’s discuss:

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TJMaxx began carrying Free People shoes and clothing within the past year or so and my quality of life has increased tenfold since this happened. As you can see from the price above, their clothing is nowhere even close to my budget, so I just admire them from afar. But, a new pair of SLACKS for twenty bucks was a deal that I couldn’t pass up on so here we are now chatting about them!

I have been on the prowl for a paper bag style of pants like these for a while now. And, the nice thing about my Free People pair, is that they are made from a cloth material instead of that weird filmy kind that the paper bag style uses. That material does no favors for my body type and I wouldn’t want it close to my skin, anyways! I also like that the fit of my pinstripe pants isn’t high waisted like the paper bag style traditionally is. These are a normal rise pant with a baggy fit and a dipped crotch so they are obviously crazy comfortable but, they still manage to look chic, which is important.

I’m looking forward to pairing my new pantalones with a plain white T-shirt and my black Urban Outfitters boyfriend blazer for a cool and relaxed look. I then plan on dressing up the outfit with a long in length gold necklace and rings for a pop of bling. And, to finish it off, a nice pair of heels will do for a look that is perfect for a day at work or a night out for drinks with the girls.

What is a brand name that you admire from afar? How would you style these pants? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov18

New Eva Franco Maxi Skirt

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New Eva Franco Maxi Skirt

Helloooo! It’s funny how your fashion sense continues to develop year after year. For example, when I was 23, I wore skirts on very rare occasions. And, here we are now one year later, and I can’t stop buying skirts to save my own life. My New Eva Franco Maxi Skirt is one that I have had my eyes on for a while but, I couldn’t justify paying fifty dollars for it. So, imagine how happy I was when I snagged it on clearance for twenty bucks! Take a look and let’s discuss:

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Where do I even begin when it comes to expressing my adoration for this skirt? Should I start with the charming color palette of candy colored embroidery against navy blue? Or how about the whimsical layer of the gauzy fabric flowing against the actual skirt? This Eva Franco piece is total fairground fun and I love every minute of it.

The beauty of this skirt, aside from how darn pretty it is, is the styling opportunities that come with it. I consider navy to be a neutral, so you could pair this with almost any color on top and you would create a stellar outfit. I can’t wait to pair this with a hot pink crop top in the spring and summer for an adorably bright look. But, I can also see this skirt worn during the winter with a pair of thick tights underneath and a warm moto jacket to add some colorful delight to the bleak outdoor weather.

My new Eva Franco skirt makes me smile when I look at it and getting it for a bargain price makes the purchase just as sweet as the pastel polka dots adorning it. Love, love, love!

How would you style this skirt? How has your style developed over time? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov16

First Snow OOTD

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First Snow OOTD

Hi! This past weekend, Ohio treated us to some snow. Although we’re barely in the middle of November, it is full fledged winter temps here and I’m already fed up. But, despite the many things in life that we can control, the weather is not one of them so we all just have to keep on truckin’ – myself included!

When it comes to dressing for the winter, I prefer to layer as opposed to walking around with a huge coat on. I love faux fur, cold weather accessories, and boots and, when worn properly, a well layered outfit can be just as warm as a puffer jacket. Take a look at how I style for the cold months ahead and let’s discuss:

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Who? What? Wear?

Now, I’m sure that for some of you, this outfit looks nowhere near warm enough for a blustery winter day. But, keep in mind, that I have enjoyed spending my free time at a cold skating rink for over a decade and the winter weather really doesn’t phase me any more. So, this OOTD was just right for me to be comfortable outside for the amount of time that I was in and out of different places throughout the day. If I had gone on a hike or something like that, though, trust and believe that I would have bundled up a little better!

Anyways, I like this look because it offers a really unique shape while still looking chic. The fairly tight fitting jacket and sweater along with the jeans and boots look nice and crisp while the kimono that balloons out underneath adds an unexpected element to the look, and I love that. The floppy hat also mimics the shape of the kimono, which adds cohesiveness to the OOTD and keeps my pretty lil’ noggin warm. :*)

Winter accessories are a definite must in any good OOTD during the cold months, so don’t be afraid to go a bit crazy with them. Had it been colder the day that my boyfriend took these pics, I would have opted for a scarf, too. But, the hat and driving gloves did the job just fine. Also, do remember that jewelry is important in the drab winter, as well. With bleak weather and grey days a little pop of bling goes a long way. I love black and gold together, so I went with a long chained pendant from Urban Outfitters to complete my look.

Although winter is a time to be bundled up, it can still look oh so chic so style never has to be sacrificed… Thank gawd! 😀

How do you stay warm in the winter? What is winter weather like where you live? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov9

Poshmark, Please

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Poshmark, Please

Hi! Have you ever thought about a piece of clothing or accessory that you didn’t buy, but really really wish that you did days, months, or years later down the line? No? Maybe it is just me. Anyways, that’s what this blog post is about today and how my memory of an elephant, some help from a blogging friend, and an obsession with getting some cheetah print reunited me with this beautiful Kensie moto jacket:

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^^^ Thank you, @sundaygirlpicks !!

Once upon a time, I found this jacket at TJMaxx and I have no idea why I didn’t buy it. I guess at the time (Say, two years ago) I just wasn’t interested in cheetah print. And, then, a few days ago, I became obsessed with all cheetah print everything. It’s funny how people’s tastes and opinions can do a complete one eighty in time! I began scouring TJMaxx’s website and all I could find was faux fur cheetah print which, sadly, would make me look like a (Very high class) hooker. You may laugh, but it is oh so true.

After inspecting the site further, I realized that, for once, I was out of luck on TJ’s website. And, like magic, a memory of me trying the above coat on in the TJMaxx fitting room went through my head. All I could think about was how I wish that I just bought the damn thing and began a new quest for a moto or denim style cheetah print jacket. It was so on. I looked through Asos, Nasty Gal, Shein, Romwe, Nordstrom Rack, and Zara but I couldn’t find NOTHIN. I was crushed. And I was desperate.

In this state of frenzy, another little ditty popped into my head, because a similar situation has happened to me before. This took place in the form of a faux fur vest that I had bought years ago, but didn’t have the self confidence to wear. And, once I gained an improved self esteem, I wanted that vest back REAL bad. A fellow blogger left a comment on the post that I linked to and recommended that I try Ebay or Poshmark, because they might have it. And that is exactly what I did with my Kensie jacket…

But, at the time, I didn’t know that the brand was Kensie. So how the HECK did I find it, you might ask? Well, my friends, the revelation came to me in a place where I do my best thinking. On the toilet.

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The toilet. The john. The loo. The porcelain throne. Whatever you may call it, is where a vision came to me. Before doing my business, I was typing brands into Poshmark willy nilly hoping that I would strike gold, but it just wasn’t working. I tried Carolina Belle and Sanctuary and a handful of other brands that TJ’s carries and was having absolutely no luck. I thought that my search was nearing its end when, all of a sudden, I had to WHIZ like crazy.

A combination of coffee and Diet Coke that day left my bladder on the fritz, and I ran up the stairs to my bathroom so that I could have some peace and quiet. It was midstream that my final vision of the night came to me. It was crazy because, in my head, I could see the brand tag on the jacket at TJMaxx so clearly and it said KENSIE. I hurriedly finished the task at hand, ran back to the computer, typed my desire into Poshmark’s search bar, and there it was.

I couldn’t believe it. My size. The right price. The right brand. MY jacket. Without a moment’s hesitation, I shot up, grabbed my wallet, created a Poshmark account, and made my purchase. I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of my new Kensie moto jacket and I’m not sure why I felt so inclined to share this story but it was so crazy that I just had to. Yes, this was a rambling post but, goddamnit, I’m so excited that I don’t even care. I DID IT! Long live fashion! Long live TJMaxx! AND MANY THANKS TO POSHMARK!!

Has anyone ever experienced a similar ordeal to mine? Who else uses Poshmark or Ebay to update their wardrobe? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image By: Edena Fashion