Tag Archives: maxxinista

Jun10

Birthday Partay OOTD

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Birthday Partay OOTD

Hello!! June first was my sweet Johnny’s birthday and we had a little get together at chez nous to celebrate. It was nothing major, just a few friends but it was oh so much fun! It was also delightful to have one of our dear friends who officiated our wedding and his fiance join us. For such a monumental occasion, we just had to show out in our birthday best to get our partay on. Who am I kidding, for every occasion, we always show out! Take a look and let’s discuss:

Who? What? Wear?

Lipstick Kiss Cami: A New Day, Target

Coated Skinny Jeans: Seven Jeans, TJMaxx

Speech Bubble Heels: LFL, TJMaxx

Bracelet: Allsaints, TJMaxx

I think the earrings are from Target!!

It has been getting hot, hot, hot in good ol’ Akron, Ohio and TMI but I had finally shaved my armpits lol. So, I started building this outfit by browsing in the cami department. Hey, I just had to show off those silky smooth pits! My eyes landed on the adorable lipstick kiss cami that I purchased at Target for mine and Johnny’s Valentine’s Day date this year. While this pattern might be traditional for V-Day, that doesn’t mean it can’t be worn literally whenever I want and I love this top. It fits like a glove, has a gorgeous sheen, and is sexy without me feeling like it’s too much. With this little number as the focal point, the rest of the outfit built itself from there.

For jeans, I decided to go for a fantastic pair of coated skinnies by Seven Jeans. These pantaloons are my pride and joy and feature the slightest snakeskin pattern. However, it is so minimal that it can be worn with another pattern no harm no foul. Of course, I chose these jeans because they are the freaking coolest, but it was primarily for the sheen from the coating. Because the cami had a similar motif, they worked in tandem rather than clashed against each other. Remember, you can always pair two shiny pieces together and they are going to work especially well if the base color is the same!

Finally, it was onto shoes and accessories. For a pop of pure fun, I went with my word bubble heels by LFL with the bold statement of “Who Cares!”. And, the answer is: I most certainly don’t! These provided a sassy pop of red toenail polish to tie the look together from head to toe. I had plenty of open real estate for jewelry but I didn’t want to overdo it as I was already working with sheen on sheen on sheen. I put on one of my favorite bracelets by Allsaints as well as a pair of dangly black teardrop gem earrings. With that, I was ready to get my partay on with all of my favorite people!

Johnny and I were looking our best and had the best time for his birthday. If you’re going to celebrate, you have to do it in style! ❤

What have you celebrated recently? Have you done any summer clothes shopping? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun2

May 2025 Finishes

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May 2025 Finishes

Hello everyone! Holy moly! We’re in June already and haven’t discussed my beauty finishes for May so let’s get right on that today. The entirety of May was dreary and cold but the products that I used up were red hot and highly successful. I loved using several new to me goodies and cannot wait to visit TJMaxx soon for a skin and bath and body care restock. I don’t want to speak too soon, but I have a feeling I will be getting beaucoup gift cards for my upcoming thirty-first (Ahhh!) birthday! Rather than ruminate on another year older, let’s talk products instead:

Would I Use Again?

Evoluderm Micellar Water: YES

Bath & Body Works Gingham Fragrance Spray: YES

ValJean Labs Hyaluronic Acid + Micellar Water Foaming Cleanser: YES!!!!

Bath & Body Works Pretty As A Peach Lotion: YES

Precision Beauty Glow Up Vitamin C Serum: YES!

Why/Why Not?

B&BW Fragrance Spray: Gingham is one of my all time favorite scents by Bath & Body Works. It is crisp, clean, and just smells fresh. It’s the perfect mixture of fruity and floral and I have used my body spray religiously until the last drop. I couldn’t even tell you how long it took me to finish this bottle because I feel like I have been using it for forever lol. While I am sad to be done with it, I am excited to try a new scent considering it has probably been close to a year of going Gingham! Is the scent from B&BW fragrance sprays long lasting? Hard no. Will I continue to use them? Absolutely.

ValJean Labs Cleanser: This Hyaluronic Acid + Micellar Water Foaming Cleanser by ValJean Labs is, easily, one of the best ones I have used in recent memory. It took well over three months to finish the bottle and I am hoping to find more at TJMaxx because I will be buying the lot. This cleanser is so delightfully reminiscent of the Aloe Foaming Cleanser by The Body Shop and a little of it went such a long way. With every use, my skin felt so clean, soft, and refreshed. It is a phenomenal any time cleanser and I think it would be so great during the hot summer months. If you have a normal or sensitive skin type, I cannot recommend this cleanser enough!!

B&BW Lotion: When it comes to fruity scents, I am ALL about apple and peach. Apple will always reign supreme but peach is a close second and I just love my Pretty As A Peach from B&BW. This scent is just pure, peachy goodness with no bells and whistles. If you, too, are a fan – then go for this fragrance because you will be just as obsessed as I am! It took me one month of daily use to finish the bottle.

Precision Beauty Serum: I had been striking out with serums recently and this Vitamin C gem by Precision Beauty was a game changer. I needed a serum win and this one delivered in a big way! While it was a tad thicker in consistency than what I prefer, it made a big difference in the radiance and glow department. My skin looked so bright, refreshed, and alert even though I am always half asleep lol. Because this serum was fairly thick, half of the dropper was all I needed for full coverage and it took me one month of twice daily use to complete it. I would definitely buy it again!

This month introduced me to two new favorite products and no duds. You can’t beat that!! Stay tuned for more product reviews so we can decide what’s a hit and miss together!

Which products did you use up this month? What are your thoughts on any of the above products if you have used them before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May29

Cute & Comfy OOTD

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Cute & Comfy OOTD

Hello! This past Saturday, my bestie and her beau came over for a dinner party and a wonderful time was had by all. I made my world famous Olive Garden Fettuccine Alfredo taste alike and we ate like kings! As I was going to be cooking and hosting, I didn’t want a fussy OOTD that I was going to worry about getting dirty. So, I went the Cute & Comfy route so I could run around making preparations while still looking (And cooking!) my best. Check it out:

Who? What? Wear?

Color Block Hoodie: Mossimo, Target

Skinny Jeans: 1822 Denim, TJMaxx

Platform Boots: Free People, TJMaxx

Cigarette Earrings: Punk N Junk

The weather in good ol’ Akron, Ohio has been anything but good and it’s getting old lol. It has been rainy and cold and I have been basically living in hoodies to combat the chill and keep my hair dry. The cropped hoodie from Target I picked definitely wouldn’t have kept me toasty outdoors but it was just what I needed to be cooking in a hot kitchen. The material is nice and light, it provides some ventilation in the tummy (lol), and it’s just so darn cute! I absolutely adore the color block palette and it turned a basic staple into something with a bit more pizazz.

Black skinnies were the obvious move, so it was onto shoes and accessories next. Typically, I wear this hoodie with a funky, huge gold necklace that belonged to my grandma. However, I didn’t want the weight of it on me while I cooked so I opted for some funky earrings instead – long, dangly cigarettes! I got these from a local vendor when Johnny and I went to a Punk Rock Flea Market and I think they are the bees knees lol. They also always get a compliment whenever I wear them because they are so unique! For shoes, I picked a pair of platform boots by Free People that I just love, particularly because it reminds me of tying ice skates when I put them on. With that, I was ready to be the hostess with the mostest for out big evening in!

Cute & Comfy was the name of the game and this OOTD had it in spades. I can’t wait to have another dinner party soon!

Do you like to cook for your friends? What is your favorite thing to make? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May21

Black & White OOTD

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Black & White OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! It has been a minute since my last OOTD post but your girl is back at it after a little hiatus and this Sunday was the perfect opportunity to do so. I had the best day with Johnny, our bestie Cliff, and my birthday brother going mini golfing and out to dinner. It was a bit chilly out so I wanted something warmer and comfy while I got my putt putt on and put together this fit in a Black & White motif. Check it out and stay tuned for more from this shoot and the Blooper Reel later this week!

Who? What? Wear?

Flannel: Miami, Francesca’s

Crop Top: Been Trill, PacSun

Skinny Jeans: 1822 Denim, TJMaxx

Heeled Combat Boots: Forever 21

Panama Hat: Gypsy Warrior, PacSun

As I began planning my outfit, the first order of business was determining what to wear for the weather. It wasn’t cold enough for a jacket or sweater but it wasn’t warm enough for just a long sleeved shirt. So, I turned to my trusty flannels. I am a huge flannel fan and they are just right for days like Sunday. They have the warmth factor, yes, but they also can be taken off and still look cute wrapped around the waist if the sun comes out. I decided to go with one of my favorite flannels from Francesca’s because I love it, of course, but also for convenience! I have So. Much. black and white clothing that the outfit essentially built itself based on the flannel’s palette.

For under the flannel, I went with a crop top by Been Trill that is old as the hills. This was bought way back when I worked at PacSun! But, hey, it still looks great and I am all about the fit of the top. While it is cropped, it’s not super short or tight so it was exactly what I needed to swing comfortably for a day on the putt putting greens. Next up was black skinny jeans, obvi, and I am pleased to report that my newest addition to the black skinny jeans collection is still looking crispy AF. There is nothing better!

Finally, it was onto shoes and accessories. I chose a great pair of stark white heeled combat boots from Forever 21 and I just love how they pop. The crispy black skinnies against them was a match made in heaven! As my hair wasn’t behaving, I popped on a Panama hat by Gypsy Warrior and I’m actually glad my hair didn’t want to work with me. Simply adding a hat elevated basic pieces into something special! Last but not least, I put on a pair of long dangly black cross earrings to accentuate my neckline and I was ready for a mini golf adventure!

This Black & White OOTD was ideal for an out and about day and I loved how it turned out. Because, yes, I do have to show out even at mini golf! 😀

What is your favorite outdoor activity? What do you like to wear for an out and about day? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May15

ValJean Labs Radiant Glow Face Scrub Review

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ValJean Labs Radiant Glow Face Scrub Review

Howdy!! I love shopping skin care at TJMaxx because it is such a fun and inexpensive way to try new brands and revisit old favorites. While I do have a few tried and true products that I get whenever they’re available, I will just wing it for the rest and go for whatever sounds good and is cruelty free. A new brand I discovered was ValJean Labs and I have been obsessed with their foaming cleanser. It’s easily one of the best face washes I have used in recent memory! I was so excited to have found a Vitamin C + Hyaluronic Acid Scrub of the same brand at TJs and have been using it daily for the past several weeks. Like the cleanser, this scrub is one of the best I have used in a while:

I don’t use scrubs very often but when I do, I need something that’s extremely gentle. While I enjoy a gritty scrub, my skin type is very normal and the harsher exfoliants can be too much. This ValJean Labs scrub is exactly what I need! It is so rich and creamy in texture and the grit factor is minimal but it still feels like I am getting a deep clean. It is gentle enough to use every day and I follow up by washing my face with the foaming cleanser afterwards. It’s the perfect combination and my skin feels smooth and looks soft and fresh.

Not only is this scrub gentle and effective to the T, but it smells great too! It has the lightest citrus scent which is one of my favorites and always perks me up during my morning shower. A little of this scrub also goes a long way, making it an awesome value because a nickle sized dollop will do just fine. I will say that this scrub is a bit of a pain in the butt to wash off fully. I wouldn’t call it “sticky” but it does cling to the skin and takes longer than you would expect for it to gone completely. I learned this after the first few uses when my micellar water cloth was coming back with the remnants! This is no harm no foul, though, just something to be aware of if you try it too. 🙂

The ValJean Labs Vitamin C + Hyaluronic Acid Scrub is a must if you are on the hunt for a new one. It is an excellent year round product and I will definitely be buying it again if it graces TJMaxx’s skin care department!

Do you use facial scrubs? Which one is your favorite? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May2

Garden Party OOTD

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Garden Party OOTD

Howdy everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred!! Whenever I shoot OOTDs, the amount of time I wear each outfit varies. I might wear the look out, I might be shooting the look before work and will change afterwards, or I shoot the look at home and get back into comfy clothes immediately. The latter was very much the case for the fit you are about to see because I actually had it on on Easter prior to going to chez Johnny. We both agreed that we didn’t want to dress up for the low key gathering so I got into a less showy outfit after taking pictures. While this look didn’t see the light of Easter day, it would still be perfect for a Garden Party on a gorgeous spring afternoon! Check it out:

Who? What? Wear?

Flower Embroidered Sweater: Jessica Simpson, TJMaxx

Cami Top: mittoshop, French Rooster

Faux Leather Pleated Skirt: BB Dakota, TJMaxx

Kitten Heels: Nine West, TJMaxx

As I began building this outfit, I had skirts on the mind. But, which one? When dressing for spring, I always err on the side of the weather being a bit chilly so anything mini was an instant no go. My options for longer skirts were doing nothing for me and then my eyes locked in on the pretty little number by BB Dakota and I knew we were in business. This fantastic faux leather skirt is everything!! The pleats are playful and provide the most delicious movement and the tea length is simply charming. Despite the jet black background, the floral pattern in soft shades of pink felt oh so spring and the rest of the outfit built itself from there.

First, I paired the skirt with a tucked in cami top. However, this was not appropriate for the weather in the slightest as there was a brisk breeze in the air. Although I think this look would be great with a sharp blazer, that was more of a date night vibe than Garden Party. With that aesthetic fully in mind, I selected a darling cream cardigan by Jessica Simpson with raised flower embroidery. It might not have been a perfect match to the cream highlighting shades in the skirt, but it was close enough. And, as always, that’s good enough! This cardi provided such a dreamy pop and I loved the differing textures between the cozy fabric and faux leather skirt.

Finally, it was onto shoes and accessories. Given the tea length of the skirt, I didn’t want to wear any shoes with a strap as it would break up the leg line. Luckily, I had just the pair for the occasion and broke out the cutest kitten heels by Nine West. They kept the outfit flowing and added a touch of shine and bling. With minimal real estate for jewelry, I put on a pair of super dangly black cross earrings to accentuate my neckline and with that, I was ready for my photo op… Only to change immediately after! 😀

This look is incredibly easy to replicate and is ideal for any spring special occasion. How sweet would this OOTD be for afternoon tea?!

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

Apr27

Marvelous Maxi Dress OOTD

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Marvelous Maxi Dress OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! Ever since I got my hair done, all I want to do is show it off and have been having so much fun shooting fashion content for the ol’ blog and TikTok (@lilred6794). Better yet, the weather has been behaving (kind of) and that means I can break out ALL of the dresses for spring. Today, we are going to take a look at a look featuring one of my personal favorites – the maxi dress. And, yes, it’s mainly a personal favorite because no leg shaving is required lol lazy girl win! Check it out:

Who? What? Wear?

Maxi Dress: Hayden Los Angeles, EmLeigh’s and Mama B’s

Heeled Boots: Formentini, TJMaxx

The belt was purchased forever ago from some stand in the mall and I’m ninety-nine percent sure the earrings are from Target!

I am, indeed, dress obsessed. And, yes, you guessed it – it’s another lazy girl win lol. Dress OOTDs are the best because there is literally nothing to it. Dress, shoes, accessories, done. I chose the Hayden Los Angeles dress for this look because I have been waiting on pins and needles to break it out. It is the perfect spring time maxi dress! It offers flowy movement, a gorgeous palette of flowers on a deep navy blue background, and I just love that Western inspired piping. This dress is ideal for a garden party, dinner on the patio, or a springtime special occasion. And, while this dress might seem “dressy” – don’t let it fool you. It is comfy as can be so you can show out in style while feeling like you’re wearing a nightgown. There is, truly, nothing better!

Next, it was time for shoes and accessories. This dress is actually too big for me but it was the only one in the store so I bought it anyways. To add some shape, I put on a belt with the most darling apple clasps. It cinched in my waist and provided a fun pop! I also opted for a pair of long, dangly earrings to accentuate my neckline as the open real estate for showing skin was minimal and I wanted to add length wherever I could. Finally, I chose a beautiful pair of stone grey Formentini boots. As they are a neutral, it was no harm no foul and it gave me the height boost I needed. Who says a five foot one gal can’t wear a maxi dress?!

With that, I was ready to strut my stuff in my Marvelous Maxi Dress OOTD feeling like a Spring Fling Queen!

What is your favorite style of dress? What do you look forward to wearing in the warm weather? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr26

70s Spring OOTD

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70s Spring OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a *sort of* brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! I rarely repeat outfits that I post on my blog, however, there is one particular look that I have been dying to wear since I got my hair done. This OOTD was one of my favorites. It was super retro, super fun, and I thought the color palette would compliment my new do beautifully. And, all I have to say is: When I’m right, I’m right lol! Check it out and be sure to peep the videos from this look on my TikTok @lilred6794 . Now, let’s get to it:

Who? What? Wear?

Dress: MaxSport LA, TJMaxx

Flower Boots: B.A.I.T., ModCloth

The necklace belonged to my grandma ❤

Stud Earrings: American Eagle Outfitters

I originally wore this look during the wintertime on a weekend getaway with my family. This time around, no topper jacket or cozy scarf was needed to keep me warm and I got to fully show off this OOTD in glorious springtime weather. Let’s start by talking about the MaxSport LA dress because I am truly never going to get over it. I purchased this dress for ten dollars on clearance at TJMaxx and it still had the original price tag. Guess how much it was? Did you guess? Okay, I’ll tell you: Two hundred and forty bucks! It was the steal of the century and the fashion gods were shining upon me. I love the colors and the fit is just perfect. It hugs in all of the right places without being clingy, it provides fabulous movement, and those mini bubble sleeves are the cutest! This dress is also fairly light, making it ideal for a warm spring day.

Shoes and accessories were all that was left for this look and I wasn’t going to steer from the original formula aside from excluding boot socks. Even if I wanted to switch up the norm, I couldn’t imagine a different pair of shoes than my floral embroidered babies by B.A.I.T. ! They fit the 70s vibe that the dress invokes to the T and also has a similar clearance story. I admired these one hundred forty dollar boots on ModCloth for forever and got them during a warehouse sale for thirty dolla holla. It was simply thrilling lol. For jewelry, I put on a tiny pair of pearl studs so my favorite necklace from my grandma could do all the talking. It nestled into the U-line of the dress like it was made to be worn with it and it is always so special to wear it. ❤

This repeat OOTD with a few modifications might not be the norm on lifewithlilred but I sure loved wearing it! 😀

Do you have any clothing or jewelry that is special to you? What is an outfit that you have no problem repeating? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr23

Going Green OOTD Bloopers

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Going Green OOTD Bloopers

Hello everyone and welcome to the Blooper Reel from my Going Green OOTD! This green with envy number was created to go see Peter Pan at Playhouse Square with my sister and nieces. The show was take it or leave it but I had the best time with my best girls and I was so happy to see everyone had green in mind when they picked me up. My sister had on a gorgeous forest green sweater and my eldest niece wore her Tinkerbell costume. So cute! Take a look at the yikes shots from this OOTD shoot as well as an intermission story that still cracks me up:

Weebles wobble but they don’t fall down

Trying to take a nice picture and my hair said “hold my beer” lol

Looking like the Hunchback of Notre Dame

Casting a spell on you to follow my TikTok @lilred6794 ! Did it work?

That face parents make on Christmas day when their kids open a gift they said no to

I’m ready for the big show…

If I make it there in one piece!

Story time!!!!

The intermission during Peter Pan couldn’t have come a moment too soon. My little niece was ready to get up and move and we were getting hungry. So, we made our way to the snack counter for soft pretzels and my traditional tiny bottle of champagne that I get every time I see a show at Playhouse Square. Everyone in the theater had this idea too so we got to the end of the line and stretched our legs as we waited patiently. While we chit chatted about the show, we noticed a crowd forming around people dressed as pirates and someone in a crocodile suit. I thought it was so fun that Playhouse Square had character actors come out and encouraged my sister to take the girls to see them while I held our place in line.

After a few minutes or so, my sister returned and said something that shook me to the core: This cosplay group was not hired by the theater but just came to the show dressed in full Peter Pan garb. All I could say was “Wait, what?” lol and I had to go investigate. So, my sister and the girls took up post in the concession line while I played detective. I approached this merry band of enthusiasts and they were so genuinely excited that I went up to them and wanted to know more. The crocodile suit person told me that not only do they have several pirates in their crew but a Peter and Wendy too. In fact, when they were led to their seats in the theater, the usher told them that they were going to be late for curtain call! Character actors they were not but, arguably one of the best parts of the theater experience, they sure were. 😀

I’m still very curious as to how the crocodile sat comfortably during the show but some mysteries are meant to stay that way. Their creativity and clearly excellent sense of humor made my day!

Have you cosplayed before? Do you have a favorite character you would love to dress up as? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr22

Going Green OOTD

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Going Green OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! I spent a wonderful afternoon a couple of weekends a go at Playhouse Square seeing Peter Pan with my sister and nieces. The show was so so but the company can’t be beat! As to be expected, the audience was donned in a sea of green and I just had to follow suit. It was Peter Pan, after all! Take a look and peep that freshly dyed hair too:

Who? What? Wear?

Shawl: This was a Christmas gift from my mom! ❤

Sweater: Shrinking Violet, TJMaxx

Skinny Jeans: 1822 Denim, TJMaxx

Heeled Boots: Bamboo, TJMaxx

The earrings were bought forever ago from Target!

Green is one of my favorite colors but, surprisingly, my options for this look were very limited. I have a lot of spring and summer clothes in green but the weather on the day of the show was anything but warm! And, when I said my options were limited, I meant that there was literally only one thing that I could wear to brave the cold in: My green shawl with a faux fur collar. It really is the perfect shade of forest green, the faux fur added some drama for the theater, and hey – it made styling this outfit a breeze!

With no other weather appropriate green clothes to consider, all that was left to do was build the base and accessorize. The shawl is most definitely a statement piece so to keep that shining, I employed the All Black Everything approach. I put on a black sweater, a crispy new pair of black skinnies, and that was that. With such a minimal palette, it made the shawl even more striking and the collar seemed larger than life. I always love showing out at Playhouse Square and just one eye catching piece had me feeling like a star.

Finally, it was onto shoes and accessories. For shoes, I wanted to add a bit of gold fairy dust and went for one of my favorite pairs of heeled boots by Bamboo. They flowed with the jeans perfectly and I can’t get enough of that shiny gold baroque pattern that provided the most delicious pop of color. As there was no open real estate for jewelry, I put on the prettiest pair of flower earrings that look like stained glass. The color palette mimicked my new hair so closely and gave an extra dose of sparkle and shine. With that, it was off to the show!

I had so much fun stepping out in my Going Green OOTD! It was perfect for a matinee of Peter Pan – not too showy as if it were an evening viewing but just right to show off some fashion flare!

What is your favorite color to wear? What is your favorite shade of green? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah