Tag Archives: pics

Jul12

Face Mask Festivities: Freeman’s Charcoal + Black Sugar Gel Mask & Scrub Edition

Posted on July 12, 2018 by lifewithlilred

Hello darlings and welcome to a riveting new edition of Face Mask Festivities! Today, we are going to be discussing another Freeman mask, which consisted of charcoal and black sugar. We all know that I love all charcoal everything, so this gel mask was an obvious hit for me! Take a look and let’s get to it:

^^^ Peep that freshly dyed hair! 😀

In my humble opinion, charcoal products have been the most major game changer since Vitamin C skin care. It detoxifies, it cleanses, and it leaves the skin simply glowing after all of the gunk that’s been clogging your pores has been rinsed away. And, of course, this Freeman mask did all of that, which left for a really satisfying face mask experience.

The best part about this mask is the texture, because it isn’t your standard clay mask. This Freeman gel mask is a sugar scrub, too, so you got to exfoliate your skin while you were washing it off. And, speaking of texture, this mask literally never over dries. I had my mask on for the entire forty minutes that my hair dye was setting and it stayed the same consistency as when I first applied it until I washed it off. So amazing!

After giving my face a good scrub when rinsing my mask off, my skin felt so good. This Freeman mask gave my face such a deep clean and it was nothing short of invigorating. My pores feel like they can breathe, my blackheads are gone, and I would happily use this mask again.

Who else is a charcoal product fan? How do you keep pesky blackheads at bay? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul8

Face Mask Festivities: Freeman’s Anti-Stress Clay Mask Edition

Posted on July 8, 2018 by lifewithlilred

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Face Mask Festivities: Freeman’s Anti-Stress Clay Mask Edition

Hi everyone and welcome to the newest edition of Face Mask Festivities. Today, we are going to be discussing Freeman’s Anti-Stress Clay Mask. Delightfully reminiscent of Lush’s Don’t Look At Me mask, this blue baby definitely was a hit and was a fraction of the cost at only $3.29. Plus, no refrigerator to keep this mask fresh is required! Check it out:

If there’s one thing that the ballin on a budget lifestyle has taught me, it’s that drugstore brands are equally, if not better, than name brands. This mask by Freeman’s was essentially the exact same thing as Don’t Look At Me by Lush for so much less. And, this made me enjoy it even more, because I felt so pampered completely guilt free.

Using Freeman’s Anti-Stress Clay Mask was the perfect treat after a long day of working and getting caught in the rain during a hike. I ran a bath, applied the mask, and was instantly transported to Relaxation Station. This mask smells awesome, for one. It is so minty and invigorating with the slightest touch of an ocean breeze, thanks to the dead sea minerals in the formula. It also was the perfect texture. It wasn’t too light or too thick, but right in the middle, and it didn’t over dry when my bath took longer than the wash off time.

Because this mask didn’t over dry, it left my skin feeling amazing after washing it off. My pores felt like they got deep cleaned and all of my blackheads were removed, to boot. Once my face was nice and clean, I applied my Vitamin E Sleep Mask from The Body Shop and drifted off into the Land Of Nod feeling like I just spent my evening at the spa. Except this spa costed me less than ten dollars to enjoy, and I can definitely swing that!

What is your favorite face mask to use? How do you create a spa experience at home? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul4

Hand Mask Hullabaloo: Lush’s Golden Handshake Edition

Posted on July 4, 2018 by lifewithlilred

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Hand Mask Hullabaloo: Lush’s Golden Handshake Edition

Helloooo and happy Hump Day! In this post, we will be talking about my last birthday goodie from Lush, a hand mask called Golden Handshake. Before my darling friend, Kate, gifted me with this, I had no idea that hand masks even existed – but here we are now! I really enjoyed using this product and, what’s even better, is that I got to pamper my mom with it, too. Take a look and let’s discuss:

To use the Golden Handshake hand mask, you boiled water and then swirled the product around in it until it melted and changed the H2O consistency into rich, creamy lusciousness. I used a baking pan for my concoction, which was a good move because it was big enough for both mine and my mom’s hands. It was initially a long process to get the mask to melt, so we opted to break it apart, which helped speed it up immensely.

From getting Golden Handshake ready for use to applying it and letting it sit was a totally unique and indulgent pampering experience. First, I loved the way that this product smelled. It had a rich, nutty aroma to it, which is one of my favorite scents for bath products. I also thought that the light dusting of gold glitter was a lovely touch! And, most importantly, Golden Handshake felt so soothing on my hands and left them feeling soft and moisturized. They still feel as smooth as ever even after my shower and multiple hand washes.

Another nice thing about this hand mask is that it’s reusable. My mom and I poured the water through a sieve so that we could catch the chunks of product before it went down the drain. We then put the remainders of the mask in a little container and let it harden in the refrigerator so that we can use it again during our next pampering session. I can’t wait!

What is your favorite way to pamper yourself? Have you ever used a hand mask before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul2

Bath Bomb Blitz: Lush’s Twilight Edition

Posted on July 2, 2018 by lifewithlilred

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Bath Bomb Blitz: Lush’s Twilight Edition

Hi everyone and happy Monday! This will be the last issue of Bath Bomb Blitz for a while until I can restock my supplies from Lush. I told myself that I would try to space out my birthday bath bombs, but we all see how well that worked out, because I used up four in less than a month! The bath bomb from Lush that we’re going to discuss today is called Twilight and it was AIGHT. Take a look:

(I like to call the second pic “Journey To The Center Of The Bath Bomb” haha)

Although I definitely liked Twilight better than the Sakura bomb, it was still a bit of a disappointment. I was looking forward to using it, because I thought that the water was going to turn fully pink. But, because the center of the bath bomb was baby blue, the water turned dish water grey, instead. Not a good look.

Twilight also fizzed out rather quickly, which didn’t help the water color situation, either. The bath bomb had completely disappeared within two minutes, so there wasn’t much of a display aspect to using Twilight – and that’s no fun! The final nail in the coffin, is that I didn’t feel moisturized at all from this product, which sucks, because I’m so used to Lush bath bombs making me feel like I just took a soak in body butter. So, even though Twilight was a step up from the Sakura bomb, I definitely wouldn’t bother with this one again.

Which body care products do you like to use during bath time? What would your perfect bath bomb be like? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun30

Bath Bomb Blitz: Lush’s Sakura Edition

Posted on June 30, 2018 by lifewithlilred

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WARNING:

This post features pictures of my dirty ass bath tub. I apologize in advance. – The Management

Okay! Now that that’s out of the way… Hi everyone! Today, we are going to discuss the first product that I have not been happy with from Lush. Their Sakura bath bomb. In the words of all of my dad joke telling friends, it truly was a “dud”. *Massive eye roll* Take a look and see for yourselves:

Like everyone else on the planet, when I use a bath bomb, I’m expecting to see some action. Fireworks, explosions, at the very least the bath water changing colors! But, unfortunately, none of the above happened with the Sakura bomb. Hell, it didn’t even smell good.

Upon first inspection of the bath bomb, you’ll notice the pale blue and pink incorporated into the color palette. So, I assumed that the water would reflect that with the soft pink and blue and a creamy white for good measure. But, to assume makes an ass of U and me, as the old saying goes! After dropping the bomb in the water, it fizzed out in less than a minute, and left the water a murky, foamy white. And, even that disappeared after being in the tub for about thirty seconds.

One of my favorite things about bath bombs from Lush is how moisturized they leave your skin feeling after using them. And, this bath bomb didn’t have that going for it, either. My skin felt dry and tight after I got out of the tub and I had to use a healthy amount of body butter afterwards to shake away that feeling. Whomp whomp.

If you’re looking for a bath bomb that does literally nothing, then the Sakura bomb is the one for you. But, if you’re looking for a bath bomb that does something, then the Sakura bomb is definitely not the one for you! 😉

Have any products disappointed you lately? What is your least favorite bath bomb that you have used? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun26

Lovely Lingerie: Upbra Edition

Posted on June 26, 2018 by lifewithlilred

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Everyone has those articles of clothing that they just hate shopping for. Some find dread in having to purchase a new pair of jeans, others go ballistic over bikini shopping. And, meanwhile, there’s me – who hates, hates, HATES shopping for bras. My breasts are always something that I have been self conscious about because of their size, and it has brought upon a sense of impending doom when the time comes that I need a new bra.

Will it give me proper support?

Will the larger bras be as pretty as the smaller ones?

Will it fit properly?

Will it give me cleavage that looks appropriate?

All of these thoughts and then some swirl around in my head when a new bra needs to be purchased. But, what if I told you that there was a brand of bras on the market that eliminates literally all of the above problems?

Allow me to introduce Upbra:

Upbra, a California brand, has dedicated over half a decade to designing the technology to bring comfort, support, and perfect cleavage to breasts of every shape and size. These bras aren’t your standard Victoria’s Secret lingerie by any means, because Upbra allows you to customize the amount of cleavage that you get without bulky padding.

Six years of research and design created Active Lift technology, which is featured in every Upbra bra. And, what is Active Lift technology, you might ask? I’m so glad you did! Check it out:

Now, where was I? Oh, yes. Active Lift technology. You might notice a few different things about the Upbra bras in comparison to your lingerie from Victoria’s Secret.

First:

My personal favorite thing about the Upbra bras are the specially formulated vinyl hearts that act as grippers from the inside of your bra. Not only do they look adorable, but they help to keep your cleavage in check all day by keeping your breasts placed inward and upward as soon as you adjust your cleavage control straps.

And, speaking of cleavage:

Perhaps the most important part of Active Lift technology are the cleavage control straps, which you can see on the bottom band of each bra. The locking system in the bra’s band are connected to platforms within the bra cups, which allow your breasts to be moved upward and inward when adjusted for perfect cleavage every time. The amount of cleavage that your bra gives is completely up to you. For a more natural look, pull and lock your straps just a little for a day on the job. But, for a night out, you can pull a lot to lock and load your girls for after work drinks!

The best part about Upbra bras, though, is that they are made with every size in mind. That’s why it was so exciting when their Miraculous Stay-Up Strapless Bra was released. I know. I initially rolled my eyes, too – because whether you have small, medium, or large breasts, it can feel nearly impossible to find a strapless bra that keeps you lifted all day. That’s why you can always see my bra straps when I’m wearing a top or dress that definitely needs a strapless bra.

So annoying, right? But you know what’s even more annoying? Wearing a strapless bra that is falling down every second of every minute of every day!!!! That’s why Upbra created their Miraculous Stay-Up Strapless Bra with a grip around the band so that you stay lifted and supported all day. No bra straps required. Check it out and see how I went from Bra Strap Betty to Strapless Sarah thanks to Upbra:

Upbra’s Miraculous Stay-Up Strapless Bra provided me with the confidence that I needed to go strap free for the first time in my life, and that is so special to me. Say goodbye to straps and hello to support all day and, dare I say, perfect cleavage too!!!

I know that all of my lovelies will be looking forward to getting their own gorgeous lingerie from Upbra, and I’m here to help with that. You can use this coupon code to get ten dollars off of your purchase:

SARUPBRASB10D

How has a good bra changed your life? Where do you do all of your lingerie shopping? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun22

Bath Bomb Blitz: Lush’s Over & Over Edition

Posted on June 22, 2018 by lifewithlilred

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Bath Bomb Blitz: Lush’s Over & Over Edition

Hello! This past weekend, I finally got to enjoy a nice, long soak in the tub with one of the bath bombs from Lush that I received for my birthday. I was feeling so worn out, so I decided to go with the Over & Over bath bomb, because of its bright yellow and orange color to see if it might help energize me. And, after watching it take off in different directions in my tub like a little rocket, it surely did! Take a look:

This is so bad, but my first thought when this bath bomb hit the water was “great, it’s going to look like a tub full of pee”, because of the initial pale yellow color. But, shortly after, I was proven wrong, because the pink coloring from inside the bomb began fizzing out in full force. So much so, that it literally made the bomb whiz off in the opposite direction of the tub like a shooting star. It. Was. Awesome.

From then on, the bomb began fizzing its vivid yellows, oranges, and hot pinks for a solid ten minutes, all the while it was filling my bathroom with a scent that was like freshly squeezed pink lemonade. The swirling colors left the final shade of the water a really pretty sunset orange and it felt like laying in a bubble of sunshine once I finally got into the tub.

Not only was the bath bomb display gorgeous but, because it’s made with cocoa butter (My favorite!), it left my skin feeling so hydrated and good – especially after shaving the Woolly Mammoth legs! 10/10 would use this bomb Over & Over again!

What is your favorite bath bomb from Lush? What is your favorite non bath bomb product from there? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun21

Cleveland Zoo Fun

Posted on June 21, 2018 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! Last week, I got to enjoy some time at the Cleveland Zoo and it was such a blast. This zoo offers at least five major exhibits including the Asian Highlands, Australian Outback, African Savannah, and so much more. There is also a separate building that mimics a tropical rain forest for you to explore. It’s so cool! Here are some of the pictures that I snapped throughout the day for your viewing pleasure:

It is always so amazing to take a trip to the zoo, especially a big one like the Cleveland Zoo, so that you can see all of your favorite animals up close and personal. I am a lover of all creatures big and small, but when I am at the zoo, I am incredibly partial to the monkeys because they all have such distinct personalities. It was a hoot to see one of the monkeys passed out in a cat nap and the tiny black one licking his fingers after a yummy treat. But, the orangutans will always be my number one favorite.

Orangutans are such fascinating creatures to me, and I could seriously watch them all day. You can genuinely see such human like traits in their eyes like empathy and humor and I would give anything to be able to interact with them. The baby orangutan seen in the last two pictures above definitely stole the show, though. You could tell that he or she was having the time of its life just monkeying around and making us humans laugh. He was doing yoga-like poses, snuggling with his mom and dad, and playing dress up with the burlap sack. It doesn’t get much cuter than that!

What is your favorite animal to see at the zoo? Do you have a zoo that you like to frequent in your neck of the woods? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun6

How To Organize Your Photography Portfolio

Posted on June 6, 2018 by lifewithlilred

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How To Organize Your Photography Portfolio

Whether you are a professional photographer or an amateur snapper with ambition, it is sensible to have a portfolio of work that you can show clients, friends, and anyone else who shows an interest. These days, photography is mainly digital, so an online portfolio is the way to go, but even if you still develop your photographs the old-fashioned way, the same tips apply:

Quality Control:

The best thing about digital photography, is that you can take hundreds of photos in a very short time. The bad thing is, that you end up with thousands. Be honest: most of your photos are not worthy of a place in a portfolio. This is not to say that they are no good, but the whole point of creating a portfolio is that you are highlighting your very best work.

The first step in creating a portfolio is to curate your work. Go through your best shots and select the ones that you think are worthy of a place in your portfolio. Don’t just rely on your own judgment, as it will almost certainly be biased. Instead, ask a selection of people to choose their favorite shots based on artistic qualities and technical ability. The photos that make the grade should tick the right boxes for everyone.

Quality control isn’t just about your pictures itself but employing best practices at every shoot so you can continue to grow your portfolio. Come prepared to smile, be engaging, and have fun. Don’t forget backup equipment because nothing halts a photo shoot like technical problems. However, if you forget a spare film camera battery, it’s worth noting that many film cameras can still function, allowing you to take pictures even without a working light meter. Your clients have the potential to review you via word of mouth and online so you always want to put your best, most professional face forward.

Professional Portfolios:

If you are a professional photographer, or you have aspirations to become one, you need to organize your photos to fit your business model. For example, a Suffolk Wedding Photographer wouldn’t include images of edgy urban scenes, as clients are not going to be interested. Instead, he/she would make sure that there were plenty of wedding themed photos in the portfolio so potential clients know exactly what they are getting when they book the photographer.

Organize into Themes and Galleries:

Check out Virtualphotographystudio.Com to see how to organize your work into galleries. Themed galleries are very important, as they help clients and viewers find the images that they want to see.

Using our example of a wedding photographer, we might have separate galleries for couples’ shots, family portraits, and perhaps miscellaneous photos of kids, animals, and even wedding cakes. If you have several existing clients, you might choose to organize your work by the client rather than subject matter. This would be applicable to a fashion photographer. You could also organize by creative theme. For example, if you have a series of images of Tuscan villas or Canadian landscapes, add them in separate folders.

A portfolio needs to be easy to navigate. Use a main menu and sub-menus. The harder it is to find images, the more likely you are to lose a viewer.

Caption Images:

Images should be captioned with key details such as title, the year it was taken, etc. If you have an online portfolio, images also need an image tag so that search engines can identify what they are and include them in search results.

Choose the right portfolio design. There are many themes to choose from if you decide to create an online portfolio, so select the best one for your business model and impress the socks off of potential clients!

Featured Image By: Pexels

May31

Let Me Take A Selfie

Posted on May 31, 2018 by lifewithlilred

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HELLOOOO! In the name of fashion and having more updated pics of me on the ol’ blog and social media, I have been taking a lot of selfies lately. Believe me, I’m even starting to annoy myself, but sometimes the pay off is worth it because I really like the pictures seen below:

As you can tell, I was really FEELING MYSELF in these selfies. I am obsessed with my True Destiny Flower Power Top from TJMaxx and, of course, it wouldn’t be a Sarah Selfie without NYX’s Pure Red Matte Lippie being featured! I was actually in the midst of feeling really emotionally shitty the day that I took these pictures. But, sometimes all it takes is getting dolled up, snapping some pics, and getting compliments from strangers on social media to brighten up the day! 😀

Although taking selfies can be a hit or miss activity for me, when it works it works, and I feel like everything was working in the above pictures. My makeup, my eye color, and my favorite top all combined with the ideal natural lighting outdoors made for a perfect photo op, and I am so glad that I took it. And, trust and believe that I ate hella Mexican food immediately after I took these pictures. #success

What are some of your secrets to taking the perfect selfie? How many selfies do you take per week? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

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