Tag Archives: playhouse square

Feb19

Valentine’s Day Date Night OOTD Bloopers

Posted on February 19, 2023 by lifewithlilred

Hello everyone and welcome to the blooper reel from my Valentine’s Day Date Night OOTD! Johnny and I had the most marvelous V-Day seeing Hadestown at Playhouse Square and there has not been a moment since the show that I haven’t been thinking about it. It was the best and the soundtrack is currently mine and Johnny’s soundtrack for doing just about anything – cleaning, running errands, working from home. It has yet to get old!

Our theater experience was awe inspiring. Now, let me inspire you with these blooper shots that might not invoke awe but somewhere between “woof” and “yikes”! Let’s get to it:

You like me, you really like me!

Had a little moment getting caught up in my skirt but…

I NAILED THE NEXT SHOT! Obvi 😉

I LOOK GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!

About to make some magic happen with this faux fur…

It didn’t go accordingly to plan. -_-

FE FI FO FUM

Coming in hot here…

The phone has been acquired! Great success! 😀

Bloopers bloopers are no fun, unless you share them with everyone! Or however that saying goes! Honestly, mine and Johnny’s whole experience before the show was a blooper in itself. We were going to go to my favorite restaurant, Pepper’s, for dinner and arrived to find it jam packed. I didn’t even think to make a reservation because the last few times I have been, a table was always ready. This was fine, though, because there are plenty of great restaurants in the area we were in so we decided to go to Angelo’s for pizza, instead…

And we couldn’t even find a parking space! At this point, we were both getting annoyed because we were tipping the scales to hangry levels. Every single restaurant I looked up would have been fine for Johnny but not for me because the vegetarian options were so limited. Taco Bell didn’t even sound like a good option because the last thing I wanted was to sit in our fancy-wear at the T-Bell. I wanted an actual sit down dinner with my main squeeze.

By the time all of our options were considered, we were drastically running out of time to eat and make it to the show. We settled for a Tex-Mex restaurant whose name I already forget and it was… Meh. On the bright side, Johnny really enjoyed himself lol! He loved his food and I barely picked at mine so I was still hungry when we got to the theater. Thankfully, Hadestown was so good that I forgot the hunger pangs as soon as it began!

Our mad blooper dash that evening was all but forgotten as we settled into our seats but it was worth remembering now for old time’s sake! Keep it posted for more OOTDs and fun here on lifewithlilred! ❤

What happens when you get hangry? What is your favorite local restaurant? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb18

Valentine’s Day Date Night OOTD

Posted on February 18, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! This past weekend, Johnny and I enjoyed a wonderful Valentine’s Day date night seeing Hadestown at Playhouse Square. Dressing for the theater is one of my favorite things and Playhouse Square is, arguably, one of the fanciest places I have ever been to. This means that it is essential to show out and it is such fun to see what everyone else deems as theater appropriate at the show. For my V-Day/theater OOTD, I wanted to create an ultra sophisticated look with a few sexy surprises to keep things interesting. This is what I came up with and I felt like a star:

Who? What? Wear?

Cami Top: mittoshop, French Rooster
Maxi Skirt: Exhilaration, Target
Kitten Heels: Nine West, TJMaxx
Faux Fur Collar: St. Tropez, TJMaxx
Gold Earrings: American Eagle Outfitters
Lock Necklace: Michael Kors, TJMaxx

To begin styling this look, I started with my maxi skirt from Target. This little number is as old as the hills but it is one of my favorites and I love the slip to sheer set up. The slip cuts off at the mid thigh and the bare legs added some sex appeal without taking away from the overall romance of the skirt. While I love a sweet and cute V-Day OOTD, I wanted a “dark romance” theme for a nighttime look and this skirt as the base allowed me to accomplish it.

I wanted this skirt to read more like a dress and the obvious choice was pairing it with my cami top from French Rooster. Now, I am well aware that I use this top in many an OOTD… And I have yet to see a problem with it! There was a time when I wanted to wear all new to my viewers pieces for each OOTD post and that was fine but not necessarily true to the way I get dressed. I do have a lot of key pieces that I not only love wearing but are easy to build outfits with and the French Rooster top is one of them. Believe me, I rolled my eyes when I selected this top yet again but it’s not a bad thing. Rather, it just shows its versatility as it can compliment a multitude of different styles.

One of the best things about Playhouse Square is that after a brief walk in the parking garage, you aren’t outside at all as a connecting bridge takes you to the theater. Knowing this, I decided to throw caution to the wind and not wear a coat once the base of my outfit was settled. Yes, it was a bit cold out but there are some outfits that I just hate to cover with a coat and this was one of them. I also wanted to let my tattoos air out since they have been covered up all winter! So, all I had to do was move onto accessories.

For the shoes, I went with my pointed toe kitten heels by Nine West. Although these are not the most exciting pair that I own, I think that they are so sweet and the skirt blended effortlessly into them. The bejeweled band going across the top is also everything and added some blingy fun. These heels were the perfect height and got me at the ideal level off of the ground so that my skirt wasn’t dragging. What a faux pas that would have been, amiright?!

To complete the outfit, it was time for final touches. First, I chose my faux fur collar by St. Tropez. There is nothing like some faux fur to elevate a look for the theater. It brings the drama from the stage to the outfit and bonus points if it is in a unique color like this dusty lavender! Since the fur took up a lot of real estate near my neck and shoulders, I went for small dangly earrings to add some movement and bring attention back to my face.

There still felt like there was something missing after most of the accessories had been decided on, though. While the faux fur collar does do a fairly good job of covering things up on top, it still comes open. So, for a peekaboo surprise, I added my gold lock necklace by Michael Kors. It fell at just the right length and the flash of gold was exactly what I needed to feel fully satisfied with this OOTD!

Johnny and I have spent two Valentine’s Days at Playhouse Square and it is my new favorite tradition. Two date nights, two shows, two fabulous looks. So there for it!

How did you celebrate Valentine’s Day? What is your favorite thing to dress for? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb15

Hadestown At Playhouse Square Review

Posted on February 15, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! Last year for Valentine’s Day, Johnny and I went to see Jesus Christ Superstar at Playhouse Square. It looks like a V-Day theater date is becoming our tradition because this weekend, we saw Hadestown. On Saturday night, we got dressed up in our finest to see the show at Playhouse Square’s gorgeous Connor Palace and had what was nothing short of a spiritual experience. Hadestown was, hands down, one of the best shows that I have ever seen in my life. You can peep my date night OOTD later this week but, now, let’s get to my review for this remarkable musical:

Hadestown is a somewhat modern retelling of the tragedy of Orpheus and Eurydice set in 1920s New Orleans. Not familiar with Greek mythology? No worries! You do not need to have an ounce of knowledge about it as the show will tell you everything you need to know. Long story short: Hades and his wife Persephone rule the Underworld together. Persephone spends half of her year with her husband, making fall and winter on Earth. Then, she comes back up to the world of the living to gift the people with spring and summer. As the weather becomes harsher on Earth, young Orpheus is on a mission to bring the seasons back to normality with his music. He also hopes to win the love of the sad runaway, Eurydice. Out of desperation, Eurydice makes a deal with Hades and goes to live in the Underworld, leaving it up to Orpheus to bring her back to Earth… Hopefully!

Absolutely everything and anything about Hadestown was glorious and Johnny and I were in awe the entire time. The music, set, cast, musicians, sound, and lighting worked together in perfect unison to create a show that was unlike anything that I have or will ever see again. Let’s start with the set. As opposed to traveling by boat via the River Styx to get to the Underworld, getting there is only a train ride away in Hadestown. The main set is, essentially, a cafe where people pass the time waiting for spring and summer.

Take a look at the picture of the set – at the top is a balcony where Hades and Persephone can snoop on the humans. To the left of the balcony is an opening that works like a garage door as people enter and exit the Underworld. You can also see the circular center that actually revolves, which was completely mind blowing! The real piece de resistance, however, is when the base of the set came apart to reveal Orpheus’s back way to the Underworld to rescue Eurydice. It. Was. Amazing!

The music style of Hadestown included New Orleans jazz, gospel, folk, and blues, which was fabulous in itself. To make it even better, the musicians were onstage the entire time and, man, could they play. It was also such fun to watch as the characters introduced the musicians and allowed them to solo like an actual concert. The musicians were onstage during Jesus Christ Superstar too and Johnny and I are now convinced that this is the only way to watch a musical.

Every single song from Hadestown is a straight up banger and their casting was so well done. The cast is pretty small with only thirteen members (five of which are chorus), and if anyone wasn’t pulling their weight during the show, you would most definitely know. This wasn’t the case with the cast we saw of Hadestown at all, which is surprising because I can usually pinpoint at least something that I don’t like about someone lol.

My favorite songs from the show are “Wedding Song”, “Livin’ It Up On Top” “Way Down Hadestown”, “Wait For Me”, and “Our Lady of the Underground”. It’s hard to narrow it down, though, because I liked everything so much! This was, easily, one of the strongest casts that I have ever seen and every single member was phenomenal. The incomparable Nathan Lee Graham as our narrator, Hermes, was sublime. Brit West as Persephone was mesmerizing and every song she had was my favorite. Matthew Patrick Quinn as Hades was everything with his deep voice and looming presence. Chibueze Ihuoma, who played Orpheus, had the voice of a literal angel and young Hannah Whitley had the sweetest voice as Eurydice. And, of course, the Fates and the chorus can’t be ignored and enhanced every scene beautifully.

During Hadestown, I laughed – but I mainly cried lol. I am quite familiar with Greek mythology and know the story of Orpheus and Eurydice well. Having this prior knowledge made every song between Orpheus and Eurydice even sadder and more haunting and I was SOBBING during “Wait For Me”. Throughout the performance, I was mentally willing for it to end differently and I reacted to it as if I had heard the story for the first time. I think I was so engrossed in the show that it made me forget everything I knew already and that is how you know that it was incredible.

Do not walk. RUN to see Hadestown if you have the opportunity. I promise you that it will be an experience you will never, ever forget.

What is your favorite song from Hadestown? What is your favorite thing about live theater? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan26

A Night At The Theater Pt. 5 OOTD

Posted on January 26, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! My sister, Kristen, and I saw Beetlejuice at Playhouse Square this past Saturday and you know your girl had to show out for it! Unfortunately, there are not too many pictures from this look because this was Kristen’s first go at taking OOTD shots and she did alright for a first timer haha it’s just me being picky. 🙂 For this outfit, I wanted to create a modern night on the town look inspired by Beetlejuice’s iconic black and white striped duds. I think I succeeded:

Who? What? Wear?

Black Blazer: Express, Goodwill
Silk Tie Back Top: Japna, TJMaxx
Striped Skinny Jeans: Hot Topic (These are Johnny’s!)
Faux Fur Collar: Modena, TJMaxx
Vertebrae Heels: Show Story
Rosary Necklace: Target
Dagger Earrings: Spirit Halloween

For the very first time in my life, I was happy that Johnny didn’t attend an event with me because I could borrow his black and white striped skinny jeans! And, let me just say, it is so great to have a husband whose clothes I can wear. 😀 I absolutely needed Johnny’s emo kid essential from Hot Topic for my Beetlejuice 2.0 look and I am thrilled with what I came up with. In fact, when I returned home from the theater, our friend who was over called me “Bougiejuice” and it was exactly what I was going for. ❤

Since the pants for this OOTD were already set in stone, all I had to do was build the remainder of the outfit and it was actually really easy. A few days before the show, I spent some time before bed piecing together my look and I knew that I wanted to incorporate a blazer and faux fur. To keep things simple beneath the blazer, I wore my tie back Japna top. The silky material added some texture and, although you can’t see it well, it has a snakeskin pattern which felt perfect to wear when attending a horror/comedy show.

For the blazer, I went with my Goodwill’s best that costed me four dollars and is from Express. Yes, I have worn this on a recent OOTD but all of my other black blazers are somewhat faded and that wouldn’t do! I love the inky black color of this blazer and it is just what I needed for my retelling of Beetlejuice’s suit. It made me feel chic as opposed to being in a costume and it was the cherry on top when I added the green faux fur collar. The collar tipped the cap to Beetlejuice’s green mop and it made the look go from standard to special instantly.

Once the base of my outfit was settled, it was time to accessorize. I wore my dangle dagger earrings to give some length back to my neck since it was mostly covered. I also chose one of my favorite rosary necklaces that was a gift from my mom to fill in the blank space of the blazer’s V-neck. The delicate chain and small beads were dainty enough to enhance rather than take away from the rest of the look and it was an ideal add-on.

Finally, it was time for heels and I knew exactly what I wanted to wear – the pumps from my wedding! These heels were a pain in the ass to acquire but they are the coolest. The vertebrae backing on the heel brought a touch of the macabre to the OOTD, which was a must for seeing Beetlejuice in. Trust and believe that I wore my slippers while driving, though, which was a genius move on my part. 😀

I felt like a celebrity in my Night At The Theater OOTD and it made me proud to receive so many compliments on it. It always feels good when an outfit comes together as planned and I think I gave Beetlejuice a run for his money!

Do you have a celebrity style icon? Do you plan outfits in advance or make them up on the fly? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan25

Beetlejuice At Playhouse Square Review

Posted on January 25, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! My sister, Kristen, and I enjoyed an evening on the town this past Saturday to see Beetlejuice at Playhouse Square. As a busy mother of two, it has been so long since Kristen and I have been able to hang out alone and it was awesome to spend that quality time with her. We were both really excited to see Beetlejuice and the musical was pretty good but the sisters night out was even better. Take a look at some pics and let’s get into the review:

If you go to Beetlejuice expecting a musical directly from the plot of the beloved film, then don’t. Lol this show definitely took some liberties to the story line and turned it into something way more convoluted than it had to be. Long story short: The show opens with Lydia’s mom dying, Adam and Barbara Maitland die via electric shock, Lydia’s broken family moves into the Maitland home, and cue Beetlejuice.

As the play continues, we learn that Lydia is desperate to see her mom again and uses her new friends, the Maitlands, to “haunt” the house so she can move back into her family home. We also find out that Beetlejuice is sick of being dead and is using Lydia and the Maitlands to return to the land of the living. The plot moves forward as one character outsmarts the other until the end of the show, ending with happily ever after.

To be honest, the plot left a lot to be desired and what could have been a fairly straightforward show felt bogged down with all of the extra. It was also difficult to keep tabs on everything that was happening because the songs weren’t particularly memorable. There were some numbers like “Say My Name” and “That Beautiful Sound” that were fun enough but they were mainly poppy songs and ballads that were entertaining to watch but just didn’t stick.

Where Beetlejuice shined and kept my attention was the production value, which, as to be expected with any Playhouse Square show, was amazing. Although the lights were at times blinding, the rock n’ roll show motif of green, purple, and white lighting looked very cool. The set for the Maitland home was great and the sandworms weren’t bad, either! Dancing skeletons, horror gags, fire, and smoke throughout the show also assisted in keeping me on my toes.

In terms of acting, there were some stand out performances and others that have already been forgotten. Adam and Barbara (Will Burton, Britney Coleman), for example, didn’t get as much time on stage as I had hoped for as they are such a special part of the movie. The running joke in the musical is that they are “boring” and they seriously were lol. Their two or so songs were cute enough but that was about it.

A thorn in my side throughout the show was Delia (Kate Marilley) who sang well but was just so annoying! In the musical, she is Lydia’s life coach and is, unbeknownst to Lydia, sleeping with her dad as opposed to being her new step mom in the movie. Kate Marilley could sing really well but participated in all of the pet peeves I have for a newer musical. She was definitely the character who was there specifically to use lingo like “woke” and dab for laughs and that is something I truly can’t stand. I would have much preferred to see Delia as the snooty step mom rather than Lydia’s wannabe bestie.

Recent high school graduate, Isabella Esler, did fantastic as Lydia on her Broadway debut. She had a great voice and was able to hold her own on stage well enough. I thought she was a bit stronger when performing with others as opposed to her solo numbers. Justin Collette as Beetlejuice was certainly the glue that held the show together and his songs with Lydia were adorable. Collette was brash, crass, and hilarious as the title character. Thankfully, he was on stage almost the entire time because the scenes where he lacked were lackluster, at best.

This seems like a bad review and in some ways it is and it isn’t. I still had fun watching the show and I thought it was worth seeing. It just wasn’t what I was expecting and I think diehard fans of the movie might feel disappointed by it. Was Beetlejuice the best show I have seen at Playhouse Square? No. However, it made for a perfect sisters night out and that is what’s most important at the end of the day!

Have you seen the Beetlejuice musical? What did you think of it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov16

Cats At Playhouse Square (Partial) Review

Posted on November 16, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Cats At Playhouse Square (Partial) Review

Hello! Every year, my dad gifts the family with season tickets to Playhouse Square and we divide the shows up accordingly. This month, Cats was playing at the Connor Palace and I had a difficult time finding anyone to go with me due to massive lack of interest lol. Thankfully, my brother, Andrew, stepped in in the clutch as long as we left at intermission. This was fine by me because I was just happy to go period!

I wasn’t expecting to like Cats as much as I did, especially considering how much I made fun of it prior to. However, I thought it was spectacular and am going to buy nosebleed tickets so I can see it in its entirety this weekend. The songs, production, dancing, and orchestra accompanying the cast were so amazing and I have spent my time since Saturday night being disappointed at not seeing the whole thing. Take a look at some pics and let’s discuss:

Cats begs the question of what was Andrew Lloyd Webber smoking when he made it and where can I get some lol. The whole point of the show, as I understand it, is that a group of alley cats are preparing for the Jellicle Ball. During this one special night of the year, the wise Old Deuteronomy will choose one cat to make use of one of their nine lives and come back as something different. So, the musical is basically each cat introducing themselves in a song about what makes them unique.

As I said, it was not in my plans to freaking LOVE this show but I was hooked from the jump. At the beginning of the show, the stage was completely dark. Then, small green eyes began popping up throughout the stage as the cats began to prepare for their opening number of Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats. And, can we please talk about what a bop that song is?! It is so catchy and fun and trust and believe that I have had it stuck in my head ever since.

The first few numbers of Cats were dedicated to explaining the show and then it was time for each cat to begin their introductory songs. In Act I, these songs were for the Old Gumbie Cat (Michelle E. Carter), Rum Tum Tugger (Hank Santos), Bustopher Jones (John Anker Bow) , Mungojerrie (Brian Craig Nelson) and Rumpleteazer (Taryn Smithson), and Old Deuteronomy (Cameron Schutza). Andrew was a fan of the portly Cat About Town, Bustopher Jones. We also both really enjoyed the Old Gumbie Cat, a prim and proper lady who could tap dance like nobody’s business. I love a good tap dancing number and this one was incredible. Her rhinestone tap shoes were also everything!

My personal favorite of what I saw was Rum Tum Tugger, a rock n’ roll bad boy of a cat who had an Elvis inspired number. His song has also been playing on a loop in my head and I’m looking forward to seeing it again! My favorite part of his song was when some cats brought out and assembled pieces of broken mirror and Rum Tum was dancing in front of it. Cat burglars, Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer, also had a great song and offered mind blowing acrobatics including tandem cartwheels. It was hard to tell where Mungojerrie ended and Rumpleteazer began lol.

Not only was the music and feline like dancing sublime but the set and lighting were also formidable displays of theater production. The alley setting was filled with tunnels and nooks that the cats could pop in and out of and it was so neat to literally blink and see a cat go from one end of the stage to the other. The lighting also helped set the mood for the special night of the Jellicle Ball with a sky of stars and a huge full moon.

As thankful as I am that I got to see half of Cats at the gorgeous Connor Palace, it just wasn’t enough! I want the whole enchilada and am keeping my fingers crossed that Johnny will accompany me in the nosebleeds this weekend. If you have the opportunity to see this show and can relate to my initial ambivalence, trust me when I say that you are going to have a blast. Cats might not be your cup of tea but it is going to be impossible to not appreciate it for what it is – a fantastic production!

Have you seen Cats before? What did you think of it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct22

A Night At The Theater OOTD Pt. 4 Bloopers

Posted on October 22, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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A Night At The Theater OOTD Pt. 4 Bloopers

Hello everyone and welcome to the blooper reel from my Night At The Theater OOTD! Johnny and I had a great time during our date night of dinner at The Haunted House Restaurant and a not so great time seeing Les Mis at Playhouse Square. Talk about a snooze fest lol. Regardless, it’s always a blast to step out in a carefully styled OOTD with my husband. ❤

On occasion, my phone will do this weird thing that makes all of the pictures look blurry. It happened to be one of those occasions on Saturday night, making some blooper shots look like horror movie stills. I’m not mad about it because it’s perfect for spooky season! Check it out:

Slowly draining Johnny’s life force

I look terrifying lol

Just working what my mama gave me

Your classic “I just got engaged” pose

Johnny told me I looked like a bearded dragon when I lifted my coat’s collar and this is my interpretation of what a bearded dragon looks like:

Looking like Bette Midler in Hocus Pocus

My face when Johnny asks if we’re done yet lol

Creature of the night

Straight YIKES dude

I LOOK GREAT!!!!!!!!

Just talking to Eugene……

EUGENE!!!!!!!!!!!

Eugene is a kindly usher at Playhouse Square who noticed Johnny and I taking pictures when we straight ditched Les Mis. With pictures like the above, it’s hard to see why he asked if I modeled professionally!! He was a total angel, though, and insisted on taking mine and Johnny’s pictures and we couldn’t resist a selfie with him. Just a couple of fashionistas on the town! 😀

As I was going through the pictures of me that Johnny took, I was honestly fearful for my life lol I look so scary in some of them!! (Note that if my sweet husband saw what I just typed he would say I look scary in all of them haha) This batch of bloopers definitely lived up to the “yikes” portion of the good, the bad, and the yikes. I always fancied myself a horror movie scream queen but now I think that my calling is as the villainess!

With another fabulous date night and OOTD in the books, Johnny and I have truly been living our best lives this fall. I can’t wait to continue thriving together in the joy of spooky season! ❤

What is your favorite scary movie? Do you have any selfies with strangers on your phone? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct21

A Night At The Theater OOTD Pt. 4

Posted on October 21, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! This past weekend, Johnny and I went on a date night to The Haunted House Restaurant and Playhouse Square for a showing of Les Miserables. We had a great time despite Les Mis being a total snooze fest lol. No matter what the occasion, I love to step out in a great outfit but it feels even more important to do so for A Night At The Theater. Going to a play or a musical is an event where everyone wants to look their best and I felt my best in this look:

Who? What? Wear?

Emerald Green Coat: Nine West, Blue Boutique (A thrift store in my area)
Mustard Yellow Button Down: Notations, Goodwill (This is Johnny’s shirt!)
Snakeskin Pattern Coated Jeans: Seven, TJMaxx
Platform Boots: Forever 21
Heart Earrings: SugarFix By BaubleBar, Target
Stud Embellished Purse: Foley + Corinna, TJMaxx

When I am styling an OOTD for a theater production, I want it to be both chic and unique. Of course, I want to look sophisticated but I also don’t want to wear what everyone else has on. I think that this outfit was very successful because I felt classy AF and was sporting pieces that all had cool details to them to make the look pop. If you notice, each key component in this fit has a lovely sheen to it that only enhanced the “look at me vibes” and made me feel like a star without being on stage.

I started styling this outfit with Johnny’s blouse by Notations in mind because I am obsessed with it and never had an occasion to wear it to. As you all know, I love me some mustard yellow and jewel tones like that and the emerald green in the coat just hit different in the fall! This blouse reminds me of a sexy bowling shirt in the best way possible and I love that I can borrow my husband’s clothes! 😀

To keep going with the sheen in the top, the logical next step was a coated pair of snakeskin patterned skinnies. These jeans by Seven are one of my absolute favorites and it created such a nice, lean silhouette when paired with the blouse. When you’re creating outfits, it is so important for each piece to flow together to form a cohesive look. The shine in both the pants and top blended seamlessly and made me feel ten feet tall rather than barely 5’1. You just wouldn’t get that same effect with a plain black pair of skinnies.

A coat was a must because it has been freaking freezing in my neck of the woods. While the Nine West one is, admittedly, not the warmest, it served its purpose well in this look. I thought that the emerald green looked beautiful over top of the mustard yellow and it was fun to wear two of my favorite colors at once. This coat is such a classic piece but the striking color makes it really special. It also had some sheen to it to keep the likeness that I was working with in tact.

With the base of the outfit sorted, it was time to accessorize. You can all call me out on featuring my Forever 21 platforms in yet another OOTD but I just can’t help myself – they are the best! I love a platform boot because they offer an incredible boost in height and a fabulous touch of retro. I have several pairs in different colors but I didn’t want to introduce anything too crazy against the palette that was already created. These platforms were the way to go and the peek-a-boo of gold and red further complimented the jewel tones in the outfit.

For earrings, I chose my red heart dangly pair to tie the look together from head to toe thanks to the red in the platforms. With neck tattoos, colorful hair, and five nose piercings, I have began to shy away from dangly earrings because it can be a bit much. However, I had my hair pulled back and it gave me the perfect canvas for a longer pair of earrings since my neck was so exposed. Not to mention how freaking cute they are!

Finally, I decided to swap my Union Jack studded purse with my white Foley + Corinna one. I tend to change my purse every month or two and this was the right time for a new one. This bag is one of my favorites and the black spikes pop so well against the stark white base. I also liked how it added another color to this outfit’s palette without interference since it is a neutral. The only dislike is that it’s a bit small so I’ll constantly be having to empty out my Taco Bell receipts lol.

I had an absolute blast styling this date night at the theater look and it made me feel like a billion bucks. This OOTD also featured two pieces found at secondhand stores, which is a true testament to the power of thrifting!

What is the best thing that you have found at a thrift shop? Which events do you deem worthy to dress up for? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

PS: Keep it posted for bloopers from this OOTD tomorrow!

Oct20

Les Miserables At Playhouse Square (Partial) Review

Posted on October 20, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Les Miserables At Playhouse Square (Partial) Review

Hello! This past Saturday, Johnny and I went on a date night to The Haunted House Restaurant and Playhouse Square. Les Miserables was being performed at the KeyBank State Theater and Johnny and I decided to go since my parents couldn’t. Were we both chomping at the bit to see Les Mis? Not really. I love the theater more than the average bear and I have never had any desire to see it, despite its popularity. And, of course, Johnny didn’t care either way lol.

Because we were feeling wishy washy about attending in general, I told Johnny that we would make it to the intermission and leave. We were both tired after a long week and were also not trying to get stuck in traffic on the way home because the Cleveland Guardians was playing that night. Satisfied with this plan, we headed to Playhouse Square after a great meal. However, we ended up leaving after hearing “Castle On A Cloud” performed because it is my fave. Check out some pics and let’s discuss:

EUGENE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Let me preface our chit chat with the following: I freaking LOVE going to Playhouse Square and there is nothing better to me than a night at the theater. I have been to many a show there and have always had a blast, even with productions I wasn’t overly excited about because I can still admire the production value. For the life of me, though, I just could not get into Les Mis!

Johnny and I both had absolutely no idea of what Les Mis was about and we still don’t have the foggiest. BUT, when the show began we were both really feeling it. The beginning was set on a boat and it felt like you were rocking away on the stormy seas with the cast. Then… everyone started singing lol.

At first, I thought it was just a fluke but I couldn’t understand a word of what anyone was saying. In fact, I found myself wishing that the show had subtitles! I recalled to myself when I saw Frozen at the KeyBank State Theater in August and while I had some problems hearing/understanding the actors, it was nowhere near as bad as Les Mis. It almost made things worse that I have a bit of familiarity with the music of the show and still couldn’t understand NOTHIN.

As we sat through song after song (Because, let’s be real, the whole play is just one long song!), things were not getting any better. Yes, the set was spectacular and it always is at a Playhouse Square show but was it good enough to sit through the whole show in confusion? No, lol. Johnny and I had a loose understanding of what was going on from the phrases that we could make out but that was about it.

After close to an hour of attempting to give the show a chance to get better, we decided to call it a loss and head home – especially since we had an hour drive back. Honestly, on any other occasion, I would never consider leaving a play early. I was enjoying myself a little but Johnny most definitely wasn’t and we were exhausted – so much so that we were both yawning in our seats. The intermission was also a ways away and I was worried one of us was going to fall asleep! Sometimes, it’s best to just leave and this was one of those times.

I am a bit sad that Les Mis wasn’t this groundbreaking theatrical experience for myself and Johnny. But, we gave it a shot and no one can say that we didn’t try. Had we been able to understand even a little more of what was being sang, this post probably would have been totally different!

What are your thoughts on Les Mis? Have you ever left a movie or production early? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug25

Frozen At Playhouse Square Review

Posted on August 25, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! This past weekend, I went to Playhouse Square with my dad, brother, and Val Gal to see a matinee showing of Frozen at the KeyBank State Theatre. I have never seen the movie the whole way through but it’s my niece’s favorite and Playhouse Square always puts on amazing shows so I was excited! There were things about Frozen that blew me away and other parts that were… not so much.

Regardless, it was SO special to accompany Val to her first ever live theater performance, which she loved. In fact, she asked if we could go again tomorrow! She was also dressed up in her Elsa costume and it was adorable seeing all of the little Anna and Elsas walking around. 🙂 Now, let’s get to this review starting with the good:

Although a majority of the acting and singing in Frozen was great, the best thing about the show was, easily, all of the wonderful special effects. The lighting, set design, and flying pieces was true theater magic. This production used techniques that I had never seen before and, honestly, didn’t even think were possible. I had no idea how they were going to create the eternal winter landscape that Elsa created but it really did look like the entire stage was encompassed in snow and ice.

A huge credit should be given to the production team because this show would not have been nearly as good without everything that was accomplished by them. The set was so elaborate and visually beautiful and the lighting and soundscape enhanced everything tenfold. Now that I think of it, the only things that “wowed” me were all production related.

While some of the actors kind of missed the mark for me, there were a few performances that really stood out. F. Michael Haynie who played Olaf was spectacular and a formidable puppeteer too. I didn’t know how they were going to create the talking snowman and a to scale version puppet was cleverly used. It worked perfectly and Haynie played the part so well.

Evan Strand played Sven, Kristoff’s reindeer, and this was also another head scratcher for me. It’s not like they could have used a real reindeer for the show and most animal portrayals by actors can be kind of lame. However, the costume that was used for Sven was one of the best that I have ever seen and I almost thought that it was an actual reindeer at first! His physicality was spot on and I was very impressed – I think he outshined Kristoff completely.

Caroline Bowman as Elsa was pretty good, although I felt like she was a bit boring. Her time on stage was kind of lackluster and what shined during “Let It Go” wasn’t her but the incredible production behind it. Lauren Nicole Chapman as Anna also left A LOT to be desired. She was SO. Freaking. Annoying. Her voice was also very shrill. Granted, I haven’t seen bits and pieces of the movie in a while but I definitely don’t remember Anna being like that – maybe I’m wrong!

Because there aren’t too many original songs in the movie Frozen, a majority of the numbers had to be created for the stage. I liked a fair amount of them and enjoyed “Let It Go”, “In Summer”, “Fixer Upper”, and “Monster” the most. I will say that there were times when it was difficult to hear/understand the actors so that took away from some numbers that I could have potentially enjoyed.

Some of the songs really dragged the show on for longer than I thought was necessary, though. For example “Hygge” sung by Oaken and company was kind of a hot mess. I get that productions more geared towards children have to throw some things in for the adults BUT it felt inappropriate for the kids in the audience. It was, hands down, the cringiest part of the performance.

There were times when Frozen was hit or miss and that’s fine because the biggest success of the show was how much fun Val had. I am thrilled to have been able to share in my love of live theater with her and can’t wait to do something like this again!

What is your favorite musical? Have you seen any good shows lately? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

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