Tag Archives: polka dots

Dec3

Thxgiving OOTD

Posted on December 3, 2025 by lifewithlilred

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred. I hope all of you had a fabulous Thanksgiving. I sure did! Thanksgiving is a funny holiday because you literally just get dressed up to eat a bunch of food and then change into clothes that stretch. At least that’s how my Thanksgivings always go anyways. I couldn’t wait to break out the dress in this OOTD for the occasion of standing around my parents’ kitchen so let’s take a looksee:

Who? What? Wear?

Dress: Blu Pepper, TJMaxx

Kitten Heels: Nine West, TJMaxx

The earrings were purchased forever ago from PacSun!

My mom and I had a TJMaxx shopping trip a month or so ago and I fell in love with this beautiful little number by Blu Pepper. As soon as I saw it, I had visions of wearing it to Thanksgiving and it came true! This dress looks like something a doll would wear and I just can’t get enough of it. That rich caramel color, polka dots, bib collar, AND bow? Forget about it! It just feels like the perfect Thanksgiving dress and I can’t explain that any further. It just is!

I stayed very true to my original plan for this look and paired my dress with a cozy pair of charcoal grey cable knit tights. I’m glad I did because it was snowing when Johnny and I left the house! The tights added to the doll vibe of my dress and to keep with that theme, I chose the sweetest pair of kitten heels by Nine West. That tiny heel and blingy strap is too cute and as much as I adore a big, chunky heel these are one of my favorite pairs. Last but not least I popped on a pair of brooch style earrings that feel oh so vintage. They kind of are, I guess. They were bought over fifteen years ago lol. Pretend you didn’t just read that. 😀

My Thxgiving OOTD turned out exactly how I pictured it and I can’t wait to wear my Blu Pepper dress again. One of my favorite TJs purchases!

How was your Thanksgiving? What are some of your holiday traditions? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov12

New Blu Pepper Dress

Posted on November 12, 2025 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! A few weeks ago I went on a fabulous TJMaxx shopping trip with my mom. Hitting up our favorite store together is one of my favorite things to do. Of course, I love a solo shopping adventure but it’s SO much better with my mom. ❤ We were on the hunt for birthday and Christmas prezzies and, of course, I couldn’t resist taking a look at the clothes too! I’m glad I did because I found the absolute perfect dress to wear for Thanksgiving. I think it’s going to be great for showing out then sitting down and eating lol. Take a look:

This Blu Pepper frock was bought for a song at fifteen dollars and I just can’t get enough of it. That rich caramel color, those sweet as can be polka dots, and a darling A-line skirt to twirl in. This dress looks like it belongs to a doll and, as I am one, it had to come home with me! As an early twenty something, I adored shopping at Urban Outfitters and my new dress reminds me so much of the duds from there. Just way less expensive and even more adorable! In fact, I’m pretty sure UO carried the Blu Pepper brand at one point or another which made both my younger and thirty something year old self swoon!

I cannot wait to play around with styling this dress and my Thanksgiving fit came to me in a vision. I’m thinking cable knit grey tights, a cream colored cardi, and my heeled oxfords. Talk about a collegiate chic OOTD! This dress would also look amazing with a sleek black blazer which I definitely plan on rocking too! As I was scrolling through Facebook, I caught a glimpse of my cousin’s story and was delighted to see that she had on the exact same dress. What can I say, my family has great taste and I think we both wore it best. 😀

I have been fantasizing about Thanksgiving since last Thanksgiving and will be eagerly awaiting filling up my plate while sporting this little beauty!

What is your favorite Thanksgiving dish? Do you have your outfit picked out already? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec9

Thanksgiving Pt. 2 OOTD

Posted on December 9, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello everyone and welcome to my Thanksgiving OOTD from my family celebration! Before we begin, if it looks like I am sweaty in these pictures, it’s because I was lol. I had literally JUST gotten done cooking five or so minutes prior to taking them and let’s just say it was really steamy in the kitchen!! The sweater I was wearing probably didn’t help matters, but all was well once the house started cooling down. 🙂 Check it out:

Who? What? Wear?

Polka Dot Sweater: Lucky Brand

Skinny Jeans: 1822 Denim, TJMaxx

Snakeskin Pattern Boots: Vince Camuto, TJMaxx

The earrings were purchased forever ago at PacSun!

When celebrating with Johnny’s family, they handle all of the cooking and all I need to do is sit back and enjoy. At my family’s home, I love being able to prepare dinner with my mom so I didn’t want to wear any clothes that I was worried about ruining but, of course, still looked cute. Because I didn’t learn from being WAY too hot in the cardigan I wore to Chez Miller’s the day before, I decided a sweater was the way to go at my mom and dad’s. Makes sense, right? 😀

As I browsed through my sweaters, I wasn’t really sure what to choose. I had several that I would be devastated if they got stained and a lot of light colored options which wouldn’t work either. Then, I remembered my polka dot sweater by Lucky Brand and we were in business. The reasoning behind it, other than being absolutely adorable? It’s basically just a prettier color of Thanksgiving food lol. I managed to avoid cooking without any spills but I truly believe that if I did, it wouldn’t have been that noticeable!

Black skinnies were the way to go since the sweater already featured a bold, fun pattern. So, it was onto shoes and accessories. For shoes, I went with one of my favorite pairs of heeled boots by Vince Camuto. As you all know, I am a fan of anything snakeskin and the unique combination of chocolate brown and black fit so well with the look. The black skinnies blended perfectly and the brown was a nice pairing with the mustard yellow sweater. I didn’t want to be bothered with necklaces or bracelets while cooking so I popped on a lovely pair of antique-vibe studs with roses on them and was ready to create some culinary delight!

I didn’t break a sweat while putting this look together but I certainly did while getting dinner together. Keep it locked for the Blooper Reel coming soon!!

Who prepares holiday dinners at your celebrations? What is your go to dish to bring to a get together? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May19

Sweet Surprises: Fresh Ink Edition

Posted on May 19, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! Ever since becoming Tim Misny’s social media manager, I have received SO much support and encouragement and it makes me feel SO good. Everyone from immediate family and friends to random people online have shared their excitement with me and I appreciate it more than words can say. I have felt so celebrated and it’s not even mine and Johnny’s birthaversary yet! This past Monday, we visited Johnny’s parents for a belated Mother’s Day dinner. As a Sweet Surprise, Johnny’s mom didn’t gift me with tattoos – but something else that involves some Fresh Ink! Check it out:

Ever since I was little, I remember my mom having a few pens in her purse. She always kept that thang on her and when I first started my big girl jobs a decade ago, pens were the first thing I added to my work bag. The pens we had handy were never anything special, but they wrote and that was the most important thing. I used to think about getting fun pens with pompoms and streamers because I am that extra and ten years later I still don’t own any lol. Until now, anyways!

For my new job gift, my amazing mother-in-law gave me the cutest set of polka dot pens with huge diamonds on the top. Pompoms and streamers, who? Because diamonds truly are a girl’s best friend! I was so touched by this kind gesture and can’t help but smile every time I see my new ink. I, of course, have one in my purse, one at my computer station, and one in my desk upstairs for safe keeping. These adorable pens were the perfect little something for a writer and I love that my mother-in-law thought of me immediately when she saw them. ❤

More often than not, the best Sweet Surprises come in small packages. I am thrilled to finally have some pens with personality – it only took ten years to get them! 😀

Have you gotten any sweet surprises recently? How do you like to celebrate your loved ones? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr25

Polka Dots, Please OOTD Bloopers

Posted on April 25, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello everyone and welcome to the blooper reel from my Polka Dots, Please OOTD shoot! Today, we are going to be looking at the bad, the yikes, and the “what was she thinking?” that definitely didn’t make the cut… Until now, that is! For every good picture I take, there are probably ten preceding it that just make me shake my head lol. Let’s take a peek at some of these not so muches:

Something apparently really took me by surprise!

Lol, this one is so funny to me! When motion shots just don’t work out!

For obvious reasons, this one didn’t make the cut.

Always putting my best face forward, obviously!

Upsy daisy! The classic dismount shots.

Give me my phoooooone

I love me a blooper reel at the end of a movie and sometimes they are the funniest parts! That’s kind of how I feel about my blooper posts. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy showing off a fabulous OOTD and pictures as much as the next person. However, you can’t have the good without a bit of the bad and ugly too lol.

When I first started doing OOTD shoots, I would have never dreamed of posting the “yikes” shots. But, finally, my self confidence is in an excellent place and I realized that I had content amidst the shots that ended up in the “delete” section of my phone. These pictures that automatically got trashed are all an important part of the OOTD process so why not share them? Johnny and I get a huge kick out of these behind the scenes pics and I hope you do too!

That about does it for my Polka Dots, Please OOTD but keep checking in for more fun looks from yours truly. I feel a lot more OOTD posts happening soon!

What makes you laugh? What makes you feel confident? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr24

Polka Dots, Please OOTD Bonus Pictures

Posted on April 24, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello everyone and welcome to some bonus pictures from my Polka Dots, Please OOTD! As you will see in tomorrow’s post, there are way more bloopers from this shoot than there were winners. The lighting was wonky, Johnny and I were insanely full from Easter dinner, and it was a bit chilly so we were more concerned about just getting things done!

In true Ohio fashion, it’s going from snowing and freezing rain this past week to summer level hot so be on the lookout for more OOTD shoots soon! But now, let’s look at a few extra shots that didn’t quite make the first cut:

Have you ever had one of those days when you look into a mirror and you look even more fabulous than normal? You then think that it’s the perfect opportunity to take some pictures but can’t take a good one to save your own life? That’s kind of what this shoot was like! Despite a full stomach and cold temps, your girl was feeling herself. Then, I scrolled through the final results and I was just like “oh” lol.

No one ever said a blogger’s job was easy and with each passing shot, my commentary in my head was “blooper, blooper, yikes, DAYUM, blooper, etc”. Haha but I promised bonus shots and bonus shots is what you’re all gonna get! The hardest part of OOTD pictures is not taking the pictures themselves but finding the good in them after it’s all said and done. Kind of like finding the needle in the haystack of one hundred selfies that all look the same!

Were these my favorite pictures of all time? Not in the slightest. But, I didn’t have much to work with from this shoot so what can you do? When my confidence was barely above ground level, I would never post pictures that were nothing short of amazing. I don’t consider these bonus pictures to be my best work but that’s okay!

OOTD pics are not always home runs and, sometimes, you end up with a billion pictures that do nothing for you. That was the case with this shoot and I am posting them anyways. No matter how your pics turn out, I encourage you all to get in front of the camera, try it out, and post away. It will help build your confidence, you’ll have some fun, and see that it is still your best self even if the final result might not reflect it. ❤

How do you build your confidence? What are some of your picture taking pro tips? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr23

Polka Dots, Please OOTD

Posted on April 23, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! Today, we’re going to be taking a look at some pics from my look while celebrating Easter with the in laws. And, as always, stay tuned for bonus shots and a plethora of bloopers from the shoot! Johnny and I had a lovely Easter weekend and I hope that all of you did too. 🙂 Now, let’s get to it:

Who? What? Wear?

Unicorn Sweater: Loft
Polka Dot Skirt: Eva Franco, TJMaxx
Floral Pumps: Elle, Kohl’s
The pearl necklace was my grandma’s

Nothing says “celebrate spring” like some polka dots and floral prints! While I would have loved to sport a cute little sundress for Easter, it was frickin freezing and it was gonna be a no from me. Instead, I went with the springiest cold weather option I had, which was my polka dot maxi skirt by Eva Franco. This choice was, obviously, a yes from me!

I remember lusting over my Eva Franco number for months on TJMaxx’s website and snagged it on clearance. It was the steal of a lifetime but I never broke it out as often as I imagined so I’m glad it got its moment in the sun… or lack thereof. This skirt is so festive and fun and the bright dots gave a perfect pop of spring without going the floral route.

As you all know, I am a huge fan of making a skirt and top combo look like a dress. To achieve this and add some extra warmth, I went with my Loft unicorn sweater. This was a Christmas gift from my mom and I love it so much. Also note how the blue stitching matches to the T with the blue polka dots! 😀

Since navy is a neutral and the skirt and sweater paired so well together, this gave me the opportunity to have some fun with the shoes. I will be the first to admit that these Elle pumps are, easily, the least comfortable pair of shoes that I own. I have some crazy pairs in my collection and none of them bother me except for these pumps.

My Elle pumps pinch, they hurt, and are so uncomfortable to walk in but I will do anything in the name of FASHION. In fact, one time I made the grave mistake of wearing these to the mall and I had to stuff them full of loose Taco Bell receipts from my purse to keep the blisters from getting worse. But, that’s neither here nor there and since I literally was just walking into my in law’s home, it was a risk I was willing to take. I think it paid off!

Finally, for accessories, I topped this OOTD off with my absolute favorite necklace – my grandma’s pearls. Although there was a lot happening in my look, it didn’t feel complete until I put my necklace on. Pearls are so elegant and I believe that they are an ideal neutral when it comes to jewelry. They don’t distract from the overall outfit but enhance and I love how they tied this OOTD together.

Other than the wicked uncomfortable heels that I absolutely refuse to get rid of, I felt like Spring Fling Queen in my Polka Dots, Please OOTD! Now, can actual spring weather happen now or…?

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

Jan11

New Ralph Lauren Polka Dot Button Down

Posted on January 11, 2020 by lifewithlilred

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Howdy! As I get older, I become less worried about buying trendy clothing as opposed to classic pieces that I will have for forever. While shopping, I look for quality as well as timeless shapes with a little bit of that Lil Rid pizazz to keep it interesting. I am a huge fan of button down tops for that reason, because you can dress them up or down, they fit well, and you can always find them in a fun pattern. Like this Ralph Lauren button down, for example:

I absolutely love this top for a few reasons. The navy blue base with the bright green polka dots definitely makes a statement. And, the fit of it is form fitting without being too tight as to leave spaces in between the buttons. This is definitely a problem for me as a more busty girl and it’s hard to find a button down that I can buy in my actual size as opposed to one larger, making it loose and less flattering. I felt good and downright sexy in my button down because I didn’t have to worry about button bulges or it being too tight over my breasts.

I also am excited about all of the styling possibilities that come with this shirt. Obviously, it is super appropriate for business casual work meetings. But, the real fun will come in styling this top for play. I can see myself wearing this little RL number tucked into shorts during the summer time along with a fun pair of espadrilles and a floppy hat for an OOTD perfect for hitting the outdoor farmers markets with. Don’t forget the big sunglasses!

How do you dress a button down up or down? What are some timeless pieces that you have in your closet? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct4

Lucky Brand Haul: Spot On Sweater Edition

Posted on October 4, 2019 by lifewithlilred

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Hello hello! Despite saying that I was going to save money while on vacation, the outlet malls in Asheville were calling my name and I ended up with a haul from Lucky that I am very happy with. In fact, I daresay that I got a better deal at the outlet store than I ever would have shopping with TJMaxx – and that’s really saying something because I swear by that store. Because ya’ll have never known Lil Red to pass up on a deal, I ended up with some beautiful new pieces for my fall wardrobe like this darling polka dot sweater:

Blah, blah, blah mustard yellow.

Blah, blah, blah excellent deal.

Blah, blah, blah perfect fall staple.

Ugh, but seriously – mustard yellow, excellent deal, and PERFECT fall staple! I cannot say enough good things about this sweater. From the gorgeous fallen leaves hue and the charming pattern to the chunky but fitted shape and keyhole cutout on the back, this sweater has got it going on. It has just the right amount of give to keep me comfy cozy during the cooler weather but it is fitted enough that it doesn’t look like I’m drowning in it or am as wide as a house. Spoiler Alert: Both looks are not cute.

Nope, this lovely little sweater is the epitome of slouchy chic and is going to look simply flawless paired with some faux leather skinnies, thigh high boots, and a great big statement bag to complete the look. Throw on a huge floppy hat and don’t look at me sunnies and you are ready to strut about the pumpkin patch or apple orchard like you own the joint. Hello, stunner!

What is your favorite pattern to wear? How do you rock a slouchy sweater? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul1

Orange You Glad For An OOTD?

Posted on July 1, 2019 by lifewithlilred

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Hellloooo everyone and welcome to an OOTD post brought to you by my BFF birthday outing at Sarah’s Vineyard. When it comes to summer OOTDs, it is so important to dress appropriately for the heat. And, for some, that just means shorts and a t-shirt. Not that there’s anything wrong with that! But, why settle for shorts when you can bust out a skirt or dress without wearing tights underneath! So easy with a breezy above AND below the kneesies, skirts and dresses are perfect for staying cool and still looking oh so chic.

The outfit below features my favorite summer staple that really packs a punch for styling made simple. Take a look:

^^^ I had to throw that last picture in there! 😉

Who? What? Wear?

Black crop top: Target
Orange & floral skort: Zac & Rachel, TJMaxx
Black wedges: Carlos Santana, TJMaxx
Turquoise purse: Urban Expressions, TJMaxx

The great thing about a staple skirt is that you just throw it on, pair it with a crop top and killer shoes, and go. I absolutely adore my body con skort by Zac & Rachel featuring oranges, flowers, and polka dots for a combination that’s totally sweet and summer approved. The stark white fabric against such a bright pattern creates a delightful contrast and it screams fun in the sun… or at the winery!

Because the Zac & Rachel number is a statement in itself, the rest of the outfit didn’t need much for it to work. My go to black crop from Target hit just the right spot above the higher rise of the skirt for an enhanced hourglass shape. And, to create some more body magic, a pair of wedges were a must to give legs for days. I love my Carlos Santana wedges for a more leggy look because of the slingback strap, which doesn’t make an awkward cut off line and provides all the length, even on us short girls.

With a pattern as bold as the one on my skort, I didn’t want to go overboard with accessories. However, I loved the color combo of the oranges with my turquoise purse by Urban Expressions for a sunset style pairing. Big hoops, huge sunnies, and BOOM – you’ve got yourself a slammin summer OOTD.

How do you style a simple but chic summer look? How do you stay cool in your outfits when the warm weather hits? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

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	lifewithlilred on Thxgiving OOTD Bloopers
	Simon on Thxgiving OOTD Bloopers