Tag Archives: mom

Mar3

Accessory Story: Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, And Something Blue Edition

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Accessory Story: Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, And Something Blue Edition

Howdy! Does anyone have an accessory that they wear every day? Maybe it’s your favorite bracelet, the earrings that you never take out, or the anklet that’s too difficult to bother taking off. I actually have four bracelets that I wear every day, compliments of my beloved mom and the beautiful Kate of Ankhor You.

Back in October, you might remember that I spent some time in New York City for the first annual Bloggers Conference between me and Kate. Once I was there, it was fabulous. But, I’ll tell ya what, getting there was a bit of a struggle. I had never traveled alone before and, needless to say, I was freaking the fuck out lol. But, in true mom fashion, my darling JANE always knew just what to say and do to calm me down. She let me pick out one of her pieces of jewelry so it was like she was with me on the trip. It was

SO SWEET

And I ended up selecting the following bracelet set from my mom:

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By the time I arrived home from my NYC extravaganza, I was too attached to the bracelets to give them back and asked my mom if I could keep them. Obviously, she said yes, because I have been wearing them every day since my trip. The bracelets are kind of falling apart now and beads are falling off. But, I plan on wearing them until every single bead is gone. ❤

These bracelets are old, blue, and technically borrowed – so what’s the new one? This here Alex and Ani bracelet from the beautiful Kate, of course:

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This gorgeous Harry Potter themed bracelet was a Christmas surprise from Kate, and I have been wearing it every day since it arrived in the mail. This is my first Alex And Ani bracelet and it couldn’t be more perfect. The theme, the sentiment behind it, the element of surprise from a package in the mail from NYC. I get emotional just thinking about it!!! :*)

When these bracelets combine, I have something old, new, borrowed, and blue and my day wouldn’t feel complete without having them on my wrist. So special thanks to my mom and my darling Kate for gifting me with something that makes me smile every day. I LOVE YOU!!! ❤

Do you own anything that fits the old, new, borrowed, and blue guidelines? Do you have a piece of jewelry that you wear daily or don’t take off? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan10

Accessory Story: Surprise Pick Me Up Edition

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Accessory Story: Surprise Pick Me Up Edition

Hiiiiiiii! My mom is my best friend, partner in crime, and shopping buddy. Our excursions to the shops has given my mom expert knowledge into Lil Red’s fashion sense, and she now seems to know my personal style like the back of her hand. My mom is also an amazing surprise giver and always seems to know when her daughter needs a little pick me up. After a seriously lackluster and downright shitty afternoon, my beloved mom returned home from Target with these gorgeous earrings for little old moi:

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When it comes to earrings, I made the lifestyle choice years ago to only wear dangly ones, because they are extra fun with short hair. I also deeply enjoy loud gold jewelry, but never really buy any for myself because I’m not the biggest accessorizer in the world. I love these earrings that my mom picked out for me, but I don’t know if I would have bought them for myself – which is probably exactly why she chose them!

It doesn’t take much to make me happy. A kind word always will do – but a lovely new pair of earrings definitely helps the cause! Thanks to a sweet surprise, my mom took away the not so stellar parts of my day and replaced it with something good and kind. She really is the best!

I LOVE YOU, MOM!!!! ❤

What is the easiest way for someone to cheer you up? How do you like to surprise a loved one? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug14

Monday Update: Sweet Surprises Edition

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Monday Update: Sweet Surprises Edition

Hello everyone and happy Monday! I hope that all of you had a fabulous weekend and are beginning your week feeling refreshed and ready to go. So, as most of you have gathered by now, I am far from a religious person. This is ironic, considering I spent my years up until high school attending school and church in a Roman Catholic setting. But from as young as five years old, I knew that religion just wasn’t something that I was interested in.

Despite these feelings (which is not what this post is about), I do have a deep appreciation of the beauty of churches as well as religious imagery. Specifically, rosaries. I can remember being really young and loving to wear rosaries and to this day have a special drawing towards them. This has led me to beginning my collection of rosary style jewelry, a la Bono, my U2 front man celebrity crush.

In my collection, I actually have a beautiful black rosary that was blessed by Pope Francis, which was gifted to me by my brother. But the other two in my arsenal are from my beloved mama, who knows my style all too well thanks to hundreds of shopping trips throughout the ages.

My mom knows exactly how to make someone feel special. Whether it be through her kind words, lending an ear to listen to your problems, or picking out a treat just for you when she’s out shopping – my mom does it all. I can’t tell you the amount of times that she’s come home from trips to Target or the grocery store with a box of hair dye for me or a new shade of nail polish for my sister and, of course, a new makeup or polish shade to treat herself with, too.

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Ever since I was little, I can remember mom coming home with her shopping to tell me or one of my siblings that she has a “surprise” in the bag for one of us. As a child, I lived for that. And as a twenty-three year old adult, I still do. Knowing that someone picked something out special for you is a delight that I treasure so deeply. Finding out that someone saw a piece of jewelry or a color that reminded them of you so much as to purchase it for them is a marvel that never gets old to me. Kindness is something that I value beyond all other qualities and, to me, this exudes such divine kindness and generosity.

This past weekend was really rough for yours truly. My mom knew this and saved an afternoon of us running errands last Sunday to tell me that she has a “surprise” for me, which she had been carrying around in her purse. She waited until we were done with our shopping and in the car to leave for home to gift me with the most gorgeous necklace that I’ve ever seen:

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I literally gasped out loud when I opened the small black box that my mom presented me with and saw this amazing rosary necklace sitting inside of it. This Louisa L brand necklace was made in Italy and on the back of the charm with the Blessed Mother features the Italian “Ruega Por Nosotros” or “Pray for us”.

My new rosary necklace has everything that I love – the color, the style, and the thought behind it, which made this the most wonderful gift to receive. My mom had gotten this present days before my unfortunate weekend, but waited until a “rainy day” to give it to me. I am so happy that she did, because it left me feeling infinitely better and so loved. Thank you, mom!! I LOVE YOU! ❤

So there you have it, this week’s Monday Update: Sweet Surprises Edition! What is something that makes you feel better when you’re feeling down? What is the best “just because” present that you have ever received? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul17

Monday Update: Zara Haul Edition

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Monday Update: Zara Haul Edition

Guys. I did something bad……

I spent way too much money at Zara yesterday. But before you all sharpen the pitchforks and yell at me for giving in to my shopping addiction – LET ME EXPLAIN!!! My mom, sister, and I had a GAO (Girls’ Afternoon Out) and ventured out to Beachwood Mall, which is about a thirty-five minute trek for us. This mall is freaking amazing. It’s home to Zara, Lush, a HUGE Forever 21, H&M, Saks, Nordstrom, and the list goes on. So, not only were we in exotic new territory that we never get to go to, BUT Zara was having an incredible sale. You can’t not stock up at your favorite store when you don’t get to go very often, right? RIGHT?!

And stock up, I did. This week will be dedicated to my gorgeous new wardrobe additions compliments of my all on sale Zara Haul. We’ll start with the newest update to my business casual attire with this darling little number seen below:

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Zara button downs give me life and, coincidentally, quirky button downs make up a majority of my business cashe collection. So, obviously, I HAD TO BUY IT!! I snagged this lady bug beauty for twenty bucks. I’m not sure of the original price on this shirt, but the last button down I purchased from Zara was fifty smackers, so I consider this a steal!

This oversized button down is wonderful because it’s versatile. It’s long enough to be worn as a dress with a thick pair of tights underneath and a belted middle or over top of super skinny jeans tucked or untucked for a whimsical work look. I love wearing my other Zara button down as a dress, especially in this summer heat. However, both of these tops look totally darling tucked into pants or a skirt, as well.

Accessories are key when it comes to styling a business casual ensemble, so opt for a chunky necklace, a statement ring or two, and some killer heels to make you queen of the office!

This week on lifewithlilred will be an ode to all things Zara, starting with my Monday Update: Zara Haul Edition! Tune in tomorrow to see another one of my on sale snags. What is your favorite store to shop at? Who else goes a bit credit card happy when their favorite store is far away? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

P.S.: I bought some goodies at Lush for the first time so be on the lookout for some Bath Bomb Blitz posts in the future! 😀

Jul5

New Earrings Surprise

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New Earrings Surprise

Hi everyone and happy Hump Day! I hope that all of you are having a fabulous week so far. So this past weekend my mom surprised me and my sister with new matching earrings and they are SO pretty. She got my new little beauties from Target and I was pleasantly surprised because they are pretty hit or miss with their jewelry selection, in my most humble opinion. My mom hit the nail on the head with these dangling darlings so take a look and let’s discuss:

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^^^ Love.

It’s nice to know that my mom didn’t break the bank with these eight buck beauties for me and my sister. But, it’s even nicer to know that she saw these and thought of us enough to actually buy them. Little gifts and surprises like my new earrings make me so happy because everyone likes to be thought of every once in a while. To come home to my mom saying that she bought something special just for me automatically gave me the warm fuzzies. And I’m even warmer AND fuzzier considering that I’m beyond obsessed with my terrestrial themed earrings! :*)

I LOVE YOU, MOM!!!!!!!! ❤

So there you have it, my New Earrings Surprise compliments of my darling mama! What is your favorite gift that someone has given you? How do you like to surprise your loved ones? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May14

Happy Mother’s Day!!

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Happy Mother’s Day!!

Hello everyone and a Happy Happy Mother’s Day to all of the lovely people celebrating today. I’ll keep this post short and sweet so that you can get on with your brunches, walks in the park, and other Mother’s Day activities. But I just wanted to give a big lifewithlilred thank you to all of the mamas out there. Whether you’re a mom to children, your pets, a foster parent, or are in the process of trying to conceive or adopt – this day is all for you! Thank you for all that you do and for giving the world a dose of the love and care that only a mother can provide! Much love. -Sarah

May1

Monday Update: Take A Walk (Pt. 2!) Edition

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Monday Update: Take A Walk (Pt. 2!) Edition

Hiii everyone and happy Monday!! I hope that all of you had a fabulous and fun weekend. So, if you remember from last week’s Monday Update, I started *gasp* running/walking AKA rawking and it’s going okay! I’m actually feeling pretty happy because I was able to add another lap to my time at the track since last week, meaning that I am now rawking for a mile and a half.

I have still been going to the track with my mom (in fact, we just went last night), but when she can’t go, I have taken to running around my neighborhood. This is actually kind of fun because it gives me a change of scenery, especially when I venture into the neighborhood below mine. I have also decided that even though I don’t have one of those snazzy arm bands to hold my iPod in place, that I am okay with carrying my device as I run so I can have some music to keep me company.

As you guys know, I am an emo kid at heart, so my running soundtrack has consisted of a lot of AFI and My Chemical Romance. But, I also have been enjoying listening to Kendrick Lamar, Kid Cudi, and Kanye West when I’m feeling saucy. Having my music playing while rawking definitely seems to make the time go by faster and even though my hands sweat profusely while carrying my iPod, it’s been worth it!

I’m feeling really proud that I was able to add an additional lap to my little evening jaunts and my next goal is to rawk two miles within this month. Getting my pre ex-boyfriend body back is a big fat pain in the ass, but I kind of like it – so here’s to getting to the two mile mark soon!

^^^ And, as always, I have no rights to this video!

So there you have it, this week’s Monday Update: Take A Walk (Pt. 2!) Edition! How are you getting your beach body in check? What music do you listen to while working out? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr30

TJMaxx Mini Haul

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TJMaxx Mini Haul

Hi everyone and happy Sunday! I hope all of you are having a super fab weekend. So Friday was a wonderful, but boozy time, and your girl spent yesterday nursing a hangover from HELL. Seriously, I was completely miserable and spent a majority of the day in bed watching a Catfish marathon. But, despite feeling like total ass, I ponied up and went with my mom to Home Goods and TJMaxx in the evening so she could pick up a few things and make some returns. And, honestly, when have I ever said no to going to TJMaxx?!

My beloved mom and I haven’t been out shopping together in a while and even though I felt like I got ran over by stampeding elephants, we still had a lot of fun! We browsed around Home Goods, which I’ve grown increasingly more fond of with every trip and ended up with some delightful new home goods. 😉 The TJMaxx trip was awesome, though, because we were in a fancier area than our normal location so it was a nice little change of pace. Take a look at my mini haul and let’s discuss:

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The Haul:

  • The Body Shop Oat & Honey mask
  • Yes To Coconut souffle moisturizer
  • Olive green baseball cap (brand unknown!)

The Price: About twenty bucks total

I am always so, so happy when I can find really good skin care products at TJs on the cheap. I have been absolutely loving face masks as of late so finding a TBS one for FIVE DOLLARS was such a treat! I have used the Oat & Honey mask before and it was nice but nothing that I would ever pay full price for so it was definitely a pleasant surprise to be able to snag it for a price that you couldn’t get at TBS even if it was on sale.

Not only did I get a new mask to add to my collection but I also got a moisturizer that I freaking LOVE! My mom got me the Yes To Coconut souffle moisturizer for my birthday or Christmas, I forget which, and it was so fabulous. Normally, I’m not a huge coconut fan but this moisturizer smells so good to me. It’s definitely coconutty but it also has that rich, creamy scent and texture that I love so very much. And did I mention that it works wonderfully, to boot?! This moisturizer absorbs so quickly, sits well under makeup, and leaves your complexion looking like peaches and cream perfection. So, needless to say, I was thrilled to be able to get my Yes To Coconut moisturizer for a TJMaxx price!

And, finally, my new baseball cap!! I am such a fan of hats. I wouldn’t say that they’re my favorite accessory but they are definitely high on the list. Floppy hats, beanies, baseball caps, Panama hats, sun hats, cold weather wool hats – I love them all. I have two boxes full of hats in my closet thanks to an appreciation that stemmed from my darling grandma who had over one hundred and fifty hats!

But, one style of hat that I have been meaning to give more love to as of late is the baseball cap. I loves me a good ball cap but I always have difficulty finding ones that work in terms of color with my hair. With my bright red locks I want anything that I put on my head to compliment, rather than clash. That’s why I was so attracted to this shiny, olive green cap for ten dolla holla at TJs.

Green, no matter what shade, is a color that always looks good on me. Thanks to red hair and pasty pale skin, fifty shades of green is a color that I know that I can turn to and I will look my best. My new hat just made everything pop. My eyes looked bright, my skin glowed, and my hair (even though I really need to dye it) looked fantastic. And you KNOW that this hat was a winner if I felt that I looked good even with a hangover!! Everything about this hat worked AND it didn’t make me look like Ashton Kutcher so, obviously, this little baby was going home with me!

Even though this was a small haul, I ended up with two skin care products and a hat that I totally love and only paid a whopping twenty bucks for. Sounds like a steal to me!

So there you have it, my TJMaxx Mini Haul! Who else has a deep love for TJMaxx? What is your favorite accessory to rock? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr24

Monday Update: Take A Walk Edition

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Monday Update: Take A Walk Edition

Hi everyone and happy Monday! I hope that all of you had a fantastic and relaxing weekend. So, technically, this Monday Update should be called Take A Walk/Run Edition (a rawk?) but Take A Walk sounds a bit more snazzy so we’ll just go with it. ANYWAYS, this past week, my mom decided that she would like to give walking at the nearby middle school track a go and asked if I would like to join her. Because I am a loving daughter and also because I’m trying to get my beach body in check I said, albeit a little grudgingly, “sure”. ALSO, the “comfort” few pounds gained when I was still with my ex-boyfriend are no joke so, I repeat, I really want to get my beach body in check.

So, my mom and I made our way to the track and because simply walking bores me, I thought that I would try to run as much as I could before taking a walking break. And LET ME TELL YOU, the ol’ smoker’s lungs were on FIRE. Despite this, I walked/ran (rawked) a mile and a quarter and felt pretty happy about it. Granted, it felt like pure and utter torture, but it was sort of fun? Can torture be fun? I guess the answer is YES.

My mom and I have gone to the track five times within the week during the evening and each time, I’ve been able to run a little bit longer than I was able to the last time. This is exciting to me. For those of you who don’t know, I was a competitive figure skater for a long time but gave it up when I was about sixteen (I’m 22 now). I miss doing things that involve athleticism (even though shopping is a sport, damnit), so it felt really good to be able to do something to get the blood pumping again and put my legs of steel to use.

Am I going to be the next Usain Bolt any time soon? Absolutely not. But I would be ecstatic if I could make it around the track once (which is a quarter mile) at a run without stopping to walk. It’s nice to have goals to accomplish even if they’re small and it’s also fun being able to be with my mom even if we’re just waving at each other from our different locations on the track.

I never thought that I’d say that I was actually looking forward to going for a rawk and getting sweaty, but I definitely find myself looking forward to it during the day. I even want to start hitting the ice again, although it would be just for fun. Being motivated in an athletic way for the first time in a long time feels good and I know my beach body goals will be achieved sooner or later. So here’s to bikini shopping not being a total pain this year!

^^^ As always, I have no rights to this song or video (I wish I did!!).

So there you have it, this week’s Monday Update: Take A Walk Edition! How do you plan on achieving your perfect beach bod this year? Who else enjoys a good walk, run, or rawk? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar27

The Body Shop Store Closing Sale

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The Body Shop Store Closing Sale

Hiii everyone and happy Monday! This past week, I learned the unfortunate news that the only Body Shop within a one hundred twenty mile radius of me is closing because of a leasing problem with the mall. Because of this, the ENTIRE store was half off and although I did have a major haul a month ago from TBS, my mom and I just had to stop in because half off. We got so many goodies that I don’t even know what to do with them all and I am so excited for some mom and sister spa nights in the future with all of our new spoils. Take a look:

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The Haul:

  • A new makeup brush
  • Amazonian Acai Energizing Radiance Mask
  • Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow Mask
  • Vitamin E moisturizer
  • 2 bronze eyeshadows
  • Drops Of Youth Bouncy Sleeping Mask
  • Strawberry scrub
  • Vanilla body mist
  • Satsuma bar soap

Grand Total: About ninety dollars (craziness!!!)

Believe me, I had zero intentions of making such a large purchase. In fact, on our way to the store I even told myself in my head that I was not going to buy anything. Well, it was a nice thought, anyways. But I just couldn’t help myself. The deal was so excellent and it only seemed right to stock up on some favorites as well as try out some new items. The Amazonian Acai and Himalayan Charcoal masks, for example, are never included in the online sales so to get them for half off was such a treat because I would have never bought them otherwise.

I am also so hyped for my Drops Of Youth Bouncy Sleeping Mask because it is a personal favorite item that I rarely buy for myself. Normally, when I shop TBS I just stick to the products that I would consider my skin care essentials so to load up a shopping bag full of items that I usually would never buy for myself felt SO good. New makeup brushes, fragrances, and masks are not a high priority for me when I’m shopping TBS – but god knows I want them! To have a total treat yoself moment was just what the doctor ordered but still, it sucks that the store is closing. -_-

Despite the downer of an occasion to shop, my mom and I both got some wonderful products for ourselves (her purchases are not pictured). I think that I am most excited about my Vanilla body mist, actually. I’ve loved their Vanilla scent for as long as I can remember because it’s a fragrance that my mother loves. It’s such a pure, rich fragrance and it seriously smells good enough to eat. I snagged the very last one and it will definitely be a nice change from my Satsuma and apple scented sprays that I’m currently working on. In fact, I think I’ll wear it today!

I wish nothing but the best for the beautiful ladies who were employed at The Body Shop because, unfortunately, they are now all out of work. All of them always made our shopping experiences wonderful every time my mom and I would shop in store. I have no doubt that all of them will find new companies to share their talents with soon! ❤

So there you have it, my haul from The Body Shop Store Closing Sale. Who is lucky enough to have a TBS near them? What is your favorite product from The Body Shop? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah