Tag Archives: pretty

May7

Floral Fierce OOTD

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Floral Fierce OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! It has been such a joy to break out warm weather clothing again and I have been having a blast styling spring OOTDs. While I love dressing for fall the best, spring is a very close second! Give me all of the light jackets and sweaters, skirts, and dresses!! I am obsessed with how this Floral Fierce look turned out and was excited to sport a new top compliments of my last TJMaxx trip. This outfit turned out exactly how I pictured it in the fitting room and that is always a feather in my cap! Check it out:

Who? What? Wear?

Embroidered Blouse: Democracy, TJMaxx

Bodycon Skirt: Originality, Dry Goods

Lace Up Heels: BCBG, TJMaxx

Face Silhouette Earrings: Cynthia Rowley, TJMaxx

Outside of black and red, I am extremely partial to the color yellow because it was my grandma’s favorite and it always reminds me of her. As soon as my eyes locked on the pretty, flax yellow blouse by Democracy when I was at TJs, it was like an instant hug from her and it instantly went into the cart! This lovely little number is decked out in sweet surprises from the embroidered flowers and scooped neck to the ruffle sleeves and delicate oyster hued buttons. The material is oh so soft and light and it just feels perfect for spring!

As per my OOTD vision in the TJMaxx dressing room, I paired my blouse with a bodycon skirt by Originality. I am very fond of a good bodycon skirt and this is, hands down, one of my faves. It fits like a glove and I love the funky 70s colors in the flower power pattern. With the blouse tucked in, a pseudo dress was formed and these two pieces together are magic. The yellow of the blouse closely mimics some of the flowers in the skirt for a fully cohesive combination. I felt like the star of a garden party, or my apartment complex at least, when I was rocking it lol.

In the shoes department, I opted for a darling pair of lace up heels by BCBG. These saddle brown heels were a neutral which is exactly what I needed for this look as there were already a lot of colors and patterns. They also provided the length for mile long legs which is a must with a bodycon skirt! For accessories, I kept things minimal for the same reason as the neutral shoes. There was a lot going on! I went for an ultra cool pair of face silhouette earrings by Cynthia Rowley for a pop of bling and with that, I was ready to go!

This Floral Fierce OOTD is one of my favorite spring looks yet. Stay tuned for more fashion fun here on lifewithlilred!

What color makes you think of a loved one? What is your favorite spring staple? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May5

New Polka Dot Princess Dress

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New Polka Dot Princess Dress

Hi!! During my last shopping trip to TJMaxx, I was hoping to find a new dress to wear to my cousin’s wedding later this month. I did find a dress and it was glorious. However, it was much too big and there were no other sizes available. I was really bummed out because it was absolutely perfect and made it my mission to find it online as soon as I got home. I scoured the websites of TJMaxx and Marshall’s and came up blank. I found the exact same dress on Poshmark and it was seventy bucks which was a hard pass. Then, I landed upon a lookalike dress on Shein. Did I feel great about ordering off of the fast fashion website? Not in the slightest. But I needed this damn dress and will never shop on it again. In my defense, it really is pretty! Check it out:

Minus the drastic drop in quality, this dress is an exact replica to the one I swooned over at TJMaxx. The dupe is thinner and pretty sheer but that was nothing that a slip couldn’t solve and I feel like an absolute star in it. I am very partial to a polka dot and this bold pattern paired with the dreamy lace and silk is the stuff that dreams are made of. This dress runneth over with delightful details like the the keyhole opening, the buttons up the lower back, and the butterfly lace at the bottom. Everywhere you look features something exciting and sweet and I am freaking obsessed!

As I had already been burned by the size of this dress once, I decided to order a medium and a large to avoid having to make a reorder. I was ambivalent about Shein sizes and couldn’t get a straight answer from the reviews. I am pleased to report that the medium was very true to size and my new dress fit like a glove. I plan on wearing it with a pair of vintage gloves a la my wedding OOTD when my sister and I were in New Orleans and am thinking a darling pair of Barbie pink platform heels in the shoe department. I cannot wait to show you all the end result because, I hate to toot my own horn, it is going to be good! 😀

This was a one off Shein purchase but I couldn’t imagine wearing anything different to a very special occasion!

Have you ordered off of Shein before? What did you think of your purchase? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr17

New Strawberry And Purple Nails

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New Strawberry And Purple Nails

Hi! This past week couldn’t have gone fast enough because I was in desperate need of a full set STAT. My appointment the week prior had to be rescheduled and my nails were an absolute wreck. They were lifting like the dickens and I had to do everything in my power to not take them off my damn self. Blessedly, I saw the week through because lifted nails are better than no nails at all, amiright?! Thanks to my amazing nail tech, my claws are back in working order and I love how they turned out. Take a looksee:

When I approached the nail polish book, I wasn’t sure which colors to choose. I knew I was over pastels from the month before but didn’t want to transition to zippy and bright summer colors just yet. So, I decided to go for something in between and opted for a sweet strawberry red and purple. These shades pop, for sure, but they still manage to feel spring so it was a perfect compromise. These candy colored hues are darling, fun, and look good enough to eat in a strictly metaphorical sense!

Once my colors were selected, I almost ran towards my nail tech’s station so she could begin working her magic. I had been loosening up my nails to pop off literally all day and was able to get three off before my appointment. I felt so naked! When I am getting a full set, I always get a soak off because I’m a huge baby. However, my acrylics were so loosey goosey that I knew I could handle a pop off and it was as easy as one, two, three. They came off like it was nothing and put me one step closer to having my talons back.

Normally, I schedule my nail appointments during a break in my work day. For full sets I like to go after work on Friday and it is just SO nice. To sit back in my tech’s chair, be pampered, and not worry about a time crunch is a gift. I always enjoy my appointments but it just hits different when you have nowhere else to be but at the salon! In a little over an hour, my nails were back baby and they felt wonderful. So sturdy, pointed to perfection, and ready to wow all April long. GREAT SUCCESS. 😀

I am very much looking forward to my next fill because my mom is coming with to get a mani. Girls day!!

What are your favorite colors for spring? How often do you get your nails done? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul1

Stanley Surprise

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Stanley Surprise

Hello and holy wow! Johnny and I have had an extremely busy month celebrating our birthaversary and we spent another weekend living it up. My bestie, Lea, came over last Friday for dinner and my birthday hangout and Johnny and I went to Outlaw Fest on Saturday! Lea and I both share summer birthdays and this is our seventeenth year having a special get together for our big days. That alone is such a beautiful gift and I treasure the time with my best girl so much! When it comes to gift giving, Lea and I are very similar. We get our ideas from simply listening when people are talking and store them away for later use. That is exactly what she did for my prezzie and I can pinpoint the precise moment when she decided on my perfect gift. Take a look and let’s discuss:

The last time Lea was over a month or so ago, she came walking in with a gorgeous lavender Stanley mug. I complimented the color immediately and showed off my Halloween tumbler I was using after Johnny threw out my beloved sea green Stanley because he didn’t wash it and there was mold in it. SMH. I told Lea that my main qualm with my current mug was that I was refilling it constantly and wanted to replace it with something bigger, perhaps with some birthday cash. Looking back on that moment after Lea gifted me with my pastel pink Stanley, I just know she was like “noted” in her head! ❤ I felt so special and loved that she remembered this and it made receiving the cup even more special.

The funny thing is, the Tuesday before our hang out, I actually did end up replacing my old Halloween tumbler with a forty ounce beast by Manna from TJMaxx. When Lea walked into the apartment this time, she clocked the mug and realized she was gifting me with something I already had. The thing is, what she gave me was infinitely better. There were Stanley cups at TJs that I was going to get, but the one I purchased was cheaper and I didn’t want to go overboard as I was buying new clothes too. She gave me exactly what I wanted and would have bought for myself and there was also the BFF sentiment behind it, which makes it the absolute best. I am now the proud owner of a mom and baby tumbler lol:

Shout out to my darling Lea for helping me stay hydrated all summer long with the replacement of my fallen Stanley. I love it and I love YOU so much, my sweet angel! ❤

Have you had to replace anything recently? How do you like to celebrate your birthday? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun19

Sweet Surprises: Birthday Bouquet Edition

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Sweet Surprises: Birthday Bouquet Edition

Hello!! Johnny and I have had such an awesome birthaversary celebration so far and the good times are going to continue rolling all month long. We still have plans for a concert, a baseball game, and hang outs with all of our nearest and dearest and it is such fun to take over the entire month of June with Johnny! I have been surprised with so many wonderful messages and gifts already and had a “but wait – there’s more!” moment when Johnny brought home this gorgeous bouquet that his aunt sent for my birthday:

When Johnny walked through the door, I could barely see him over the huge bouquet bursting with the most beautiful blooms. Of course, I was surprised by the sheer enormity of it, but what really blew me away were the colors! Burnt orange, pale peach, purple, and pink flowers worked in tandem to create a display that is truly stunning. I can’t help but to smile every time I look at it because it’s just so pretty and thoughtful. Johnny’s aunt doesn’t live in Ohio so it’s like getting a great big hug from her!

I absolutely love being gifted with flowers because bouquets are something that I don’t buy for myself and they always remind me of my dad. Whether it’s a bouquet he picks up from the store or one he created on his own from the garden, he frequently surprises my mom with flowers. I think it is the sweetest thing and look forward to seeing his masterpieces front and center on the kitchen table. A bouquet is like a little ray of sunshine just for you and I am so appreciative for the flowers in both mine and my parents’ home. ❤

My birthday and apartment got so much brighter from this Sweet Surprise. I am in awe of this bouquet and it was the most lovely gift!

What is your favorite flower? Do you have fresh flowers in your home? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar14

Spring Flower Surprise

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Spring Flower Surprise

Hello! The weather in Ohio these past few weeks has been crazy. It went from single digit temperatures and snow to a full fledged heat wave this entire week. Since Sunday, we have been experiencing blessedly warm temperatures in the high fifties and low sixties. It might even get up to seventy degrees this weekend! I have been loving it and it feels so weird to not be bundling up in a million layers every time I step foot outside. The sunshine alone has put a huge pep back in my step because my seasonal depression has kicked rocks and left me with plain old depression lol. But, hey, that’s manageable! 😀

Because the weather did a complete one eighty, spring flowers weren’t anywhere on my mind because it just seemed too early. However, I had an amazing surprise when I worked at chez mom and dad on Tuesday. My dad let me know that a patch of pretty yellow flowers had bloomed! Check it out:

When I visited the backyard before heading home, I was expecting to see a couple of flowers bravely peeking out of the ground. I was so shocked to see a huge patch of yellow flowers, instead! It took my breath away to see the petals dancing in the wind and was just what I needed after having a lot of recent stress. It felt so good to see these beautiful blooms, gulp down the fresh air, and have a big smile on my face. I think I could have stood out there all day. I always look forward to the first flowers of spring and these ones were there when I needed it most – I am so appreciative for that. ❤

I hope these flowers brightened your day as much as it did mine. Here’s to warm weather and all the spring flowers!

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

Jan9

New Lavender & Plum Nails

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New Lavender & Plum Nails

Hello!! My beloved salon, Elysian Nails, takes a well deserved week long break during the first week of the New Year. I am so happy that they do that because all of the techs work incredibly hard and are incredibly skilled. I could not imagine how exhausted they all are after the big holiday rush! I have to admit, I was very excited for the salon to reopen because mama needed a fill and I was able to get a spot with my go to girl on Tuesday. This made for five weeks in between my last fill and I was surprised at how good my nails were looking until my tech took a better look lol. After some repairs for almost popped off nails, shaping, and sharpening, my talons are back to their former glory. Check it out:

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I’m not sure why, but I was in a very purple mood for my nail polish selection. It probably has to do with the fact that I was with my niece this weekend and she always let’s it be known that purple is her favorite color lol. I was in a rush to get to my appointment so with no time to consider other options, purple it was! I went for a pretty, deep plum that is oh so chic for winter and rather than fiddle around with a compatible combo color, I went with more purple! I thought it would look nice to do a dark and light variation with the plum and lavender. And, I hate to toot my own horn, but TOOT TOOT because I love it!

Once my old polish was off, my tech was properly able to assess the damage of five weeks sans fill. I couldn’t believe how loose three of the acrylics were because they still felt so sturdy to me. A true testament to how amazing she is! As quickly as the worn nails were off, three new ones were placed in what felt like no time at all. Even with this extra step on top of all of the detail work my tech does to keep my stilettos on point, I STILL made it to work on time. My appointments are kind of a mad dash and my tech knows I am in between shifts. No problem with my nails is ever too big to not be handled and I have yet to be back to work late. Once again, I am in the best, most skilled, capable, and speedy hands to boot. ❤

A full set is next on my agenda at Elysian Nails and I am so looking forward to a lengthier, evening appointment so that I can sit back, relax, and enjoy. This fill was an excellent way to treat myself now that it’s back to the grind after the holidays, though!

What are your favorite colors for the winter? How often do you get your nails done? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb9

New Glitter Garnet & Ballet Slipper Nails

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New Glitter Garnet & Ballet Slipper Nails

Hello!! This past Tuesday, I spent some wonderful time getting pampered at Elysian Nails. They had to push my appointment back because my normal gal was having wisdom tooth pain and I could totally sympathize. I definitely know a thing or two about that! This actually ended up working beautifully because I was able to make a quick pop in for a client and run a few errands beforehand. The best part, though, was that I was in and out of the salon in forty-five minutes flat thanks to the super speedy tech who filled in for my fill. I am loving how my nails turned out:

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^^^ Also very aware that my right middle finger is still swollen from my tumble, but it’s getting better!

Since Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, I decided to use a traditional V-Day palette of red, pink, and all of the glitter. Normally, I shy away from holiday themed nails because they don’t seem very appropriate the day after the fact. However, Valentine’s Day colors look cute anytime and I would use these colors again outside of February. They are so pretty! The garnet is called University Red and it spoke to me immediately. It was exactly the deep shade I wanted to add some edge against the lighter pink I planned on using. I chose Forgotten Pink for that in a soft ballet slipper hue and thought the colors look dynamite together.

Amazingly enough, I didn’t break any nails when I fell and trust and believe that was the first thing that I clocked afterwards lol. I did end up having a nail lift completely off weeks later, though, and that sucked massively! Despite having to do some repairs, my nail tech, Shelly, got me in and out with ample time to spare. She has done my nails several times before and knows exactly how I like them. Her speed and skill will never not amaze me when I’m in her chair and she turned my grown out, janky nails back into a work of art. In record timing to boot!

I feel like a whole new woman with my new hair and nails! It was so nice to get some back to back pampering and here’s to hoping my middle finger will be back to normal next time I get a fill lol SMH.

Do you like to wear traditional holiday colors when they roll around? What color of polish are you rocking? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec8

New Glitter Gold & Ruby Nails

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New Glitter Gold & Ruby Nails

Hello!! This past week hasn’t been the best for yours truly so it was super nice to take a pause on Tuesday afternoon to get my nails done. I needed a new full set in the worst way and, as always, my nail tech hooked it up! Prior to my appointment, my acrylics felt dangerously close to a break with one wrong move. Now, they feel sturdy and durable and look amazing too. I am loving the glitter color combo I selected and my claws look perfect for the holiday season! Check it out:

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When I get my nails done around the winter holidays, I like to do something seasonal without being too obvious about it. I have never been one for nail art (way too expensive!) and the only holiday I go all out for is Halloween. To give a subtle tip of the cap to the holiday season, I wanted to steer clear of the traditional red and green motif. That’s not to say that red couldn’t be in the color palette, however, and I opted for a gorgeous glitter ruby and gold, instead. The ruby red had me feeling all of The Wizard of Oz vibes a la Dorothy’s slippers and the gold was like tinsel for a Christmas tree. This color combo feels festive without being too in your face about it and that is exactly what I was going for.

I spent a wonderful almost two hours at Elysian Nails getting all of the pampering done. It always takes a bit longer when I get a full set because soaking my nails off beforehand is an absolute must. I am a huge baby and I cannot stand it when my nails are taken off without a soak. It hurts!! Once my nails were soaked off, it was so weird to see my real nails beneath the acrylics. At this point, acrylics are my real nails so that will forever come as a shock lol. Thankfully, it wasn’t long until my nail tech created brand new nails for me and she crushed. They are strong, shaped to perfection, and I couldn’t be happier with the end result!

These Glitter Gold & Ruby Nails are about as festive as it gets for Lil Red, but I would be a liar if I said they didn’t make me think of Christmas every time I look at them. I can’t wait to celebrate with my family! ❤

Do you get nail art when you get your nails done? How do you incorporate the holiday season into your personal style? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov13

New 7 For All Mankind Dress

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New 7 For All Mankind Dress

Hello!!! This past Tuesday, I spent a wonderful afternoon shopping with my mom at TJMaxx. We went with the intention of holiday shopping but, of course, we had to pick out some goodies for ourselves too!! My mom walked away with two adorable new sweaters and I had a fun haul with some new winter accessories and the 7 For All Mankind dress that we are discussing today. I was very happy to have found this dress because I had an upcoming event (on Friday the 10th) with a local celebrity thanks to this OOTD. I wanted to go all out for it fashion-wise and I knew that this dress would wow:

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At the end of the day, I could have worn something to my Friday event (Which you will hear more about later!) that I already own. But where is the fun in that?! This was going to be my first time rubbing shoulders with someone famous for more than one minute and I wanted to look my best. Our gracious host is a HUGE deal in Ohio and I wanted the pictures I was going to take to not only speak to that, but my fashion too. After piling my shopping cart full of Christmas prezzies, it was onto browsing the clothing department for anything that spoke to me. I couldn’t believe the stroke of good fortune from the fashion gods themselves when I laid eyes on my new dress! There was only one in my size and it was drop dead gorgeous.

My New 7 For All Mankind Dress is everything that I love when it comes to clothing. Snakeskin is my favorite pattern, I live for faux leather, the shape was flattering, and it was an all around unique piece. I knew for a fact that no one at the event would be wearing something similar and that in itself was good enough for me. But, was it going to look good on me? Thankfully and obviously, the answer was YES lol! As soon as this dress was on, I was sold in a heartbeat. The tea length A-line skirt offered so much playful movement and the pattern was to die for. It looked amazing against my hair – especially with the navy in it. OOTD ideas began swirling through my head at a rapid pace and I always know that I have found a winner if I am being inspired that much in a TJMaxx fitting room!

I will leave my outfit musings out because you will all be seeing the end result very soon and I want it to be a surprise. Keep it locked here on lifewithlilred for all the deets on my celebrity schmooze fest coming this week!

How do you know if a piece of clothing is something you want to buy? Have you ever met a celebrity before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah