Tag Archives: pretty

Dec10

Oh, Christmas Tree

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Oh, Christmas Tree

Hiiii! With the holidays right around the corner, I thought that I would share with all of you what my family Christmas tree looks like. Fortunately for me, I get to see it year round, because we never take our tree down. In fact, my family has gotten into the habit of putting other holiday themed decor on it like Easter eggs and Happy Harvest gear for fall. So, don’t be surprised if you see some ornaments that don’t quite belong! Haha, take a look:

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As you can see, we have a very large collection of ornaments on the Mushenheim family tree! My dad loves travel themed ornaments and I always try and get him one on every vacation we go on or any trips that I take by myself. Most of my siblings have followed suit on that tradition, so my dad has ornaments from all of our travels. So fun!

Other than the vacation ornaments, many of the ones that are on our tree date back to decor from both sets of my grandparents and from when my siblings and I were little. I think that, despite it being a little quirky, all of us like having the tree up at home, because it’s just one of our “things”. And, it’s nice to feel some holiday cheer no matter what the season is. 🙂

Do you have any travel themed ornaments on your tree? Do you have a favorite ornament in your collection? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec9

New (Short!) Glitter & Black Nails

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New (Short!) Glitter & Black Nails

Hiiii everyone! After a disastrous trip to LT Nails last month, I changed salons to Elysian Nails and had a most pampering few hours getting my nails worked on. And *gasp* they’re short! It was due time to give them a cut down and begin the growing out process again so now I have cutesy tiny daggers instead of my normal long claws. Annnnd, my new nail tech, Sam, convinced me to change my color palette up so check out my New (Short!) Glitter & Black Nails:

short

Ahhh! So crazy, right?! Originally, I was just going to do a glitter nail for the accent color and my normal all black everything for the rest. But, Sam (Who is such a doll!) encouraged me to try something new. We both agreed that the glittery white is perfect for an Ohio winter, especially since it was snowing fairly hard out while we were tucked away in the salon. And, for good measure, Sam let me have a black accent nail on a different finger, no less! Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes!

Elysian Nails definitely proved to be worth the hype, because it got amazing reviews on Facebook and every opinion giving platform that I could find. The salon was decorated beautifully, it was spacious, and all of the nail techs were as nice as can be. The prices were good, the service was fabulous, and I can’t wait to go back next month. 🙂

What color of nail polish do you have on right now? How do you deck your nails out for the holidays? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

 

Dec7

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Swatch In Snakebite

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Urban Decay Eyeshadow Swatch In Snakebite

Hi everyone and welcome to my final swatch from the Urban Decay Naked 2 palette! Today, I saved the best for last because this shade is definitely what I would consider my number one fave. The color that we’re going to be looking at is called Snakebite and, in my opinion, it is the perfect combination of sexy and edgy. And, I want to send an extra special thanks to my sister for so generously donating the Smoky and Naked 2 palettes to the Lil Red Foundation! Now, take a look at some pics and let’s discuss:

snakebitesnakebite1snakebite2

^^^ The first heart is the color wet and the second one is when it’s dry.

When you first look at Snakebite, you might think that it’s typical Sarah because of the bronze hues that you immediately see. But, upon further inspection, you can really see more brown undertones with this cool filmy green mixed in, like algae. The bronze is just added in for good measure and that is more apparent when the eyeshadow is wet, as you can see above.

The metallic pop in this color gives it some sex appeal but, the overall look feels much more edgy. Snakebite reminds me a lot of my Furless eyeshadow in Sinister and that is an excellent word for my new hue. The color feels foreboding and wicked but, damn, is it chic! I have already worn Snakebite quite a bit since I’ve acquired it on Thanksgiving and I am so looking forward to wearing it more. Spooky chic is my style and there’s nothing like a new eyeshadow that embodies it to add an extra confidence boost!

What has been your favorite shade from the Urban Decay palettes? Are there any other colors that you would like for me to swatch? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec6

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Swatch In Verve

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Urban Decay Eyeshadow Swatch In Verve

Hi everyone and welcome to another eyeshadow swatch here on lifewithlilred! The color that we will be chatting about today is from the Urban Decay Naked 2 palette and it is a lovely champagne shimmer shade that makes me want to pop some bubbly and be bougie all day long. But, then again, when do I not want to do that?! Take a look at Verve and let’s discuss:

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^^^ The first heart is the color wet and the second one is when it’s dry.

While the Urban Decay Smoky palette is all about sultry sex appeal, the Naked 2 palette gets its kicks with sweet touches of glitz. The champagne pop color of Verve is the perfect shade to apply on your eye’s inner corner as well as a little below the bottom lid to brighten up your peepers with every use. It is also a versatile color, too. Because it’s so light and shimmery, Verve can absolutely be used as a highlighter, if need be.

Now, normally, I only wear my eyeshadows wet, because I love a deeper more saturated color. And, when wet, Verve is stunning. But, I’d be a liar if I said that I didn’t love the pixie dust feel of the shadow when it’s dry! Use this color to apply over your eye makeup to make it look like Tinkerbell danced across your lids. A perfect little trick for all of the upcoming New Year’s Eve parties!

Do you prefer a more sweet or sultry eye makeup look? What color of eyeshadow do you wear most frequently? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec5

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Swatch In Chopper

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Urban Decay Eyeshadow Swatch In Chopper

Hi everyone! Today, we are moving on to Urban Decay’s Naked 2 palette and taking a look at some of my favorites. This palette was a hand me down from my sister, Kristen, and I really like it. But, I’m pleased to say that I definitely own the drugstore dupe of it! For ten dollars, the Nude Rose Gold palette by Elf featured a lot of the same shades for a fraction of the cost. So, that’s a little pro tip for you if you love this Naked palette but don’t want to spend the cash on it. In case you forgot what the Naked 2 eyeshadow set looks like, here it is:

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And, the color that I am going to feature today is the charming rose gold shade called Chopper. Check it out:

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^^^ The top heart is Chopper wet and the second one is when it’s dry.

I bet you guys thought that I was going to go for the bronze shades in this post, huh? Haha, although I do deeply love my gold and bronze shadows, this past year has been about all rose gold everything in the beauty and fashion world. So, it only seemed fitting to showcase the lovely shade, Chopper, as we talk about the Naked 2 palette.

Rose gold is a fantastic color, because it’s flattering on literally any person no matter their skin tone. It’s a shade that looks universally good whether it be used on makeup, clothing, or accessories and it’s just darn right chic and sweet. I do love this shade from the Naked palette but, it did not apply well when it was dry at all. It was flaky, the color was dusty, and it didn’t do anything for me. But, when it was wet, it applied like BUTTAH so that’s something to remember if you’re interested in these palettes.

Despite some application issues, Chopper is still a beautiful shade and I can definitely see myself wearing it. The fact that it doesn’t stray far from my favorite golden color palette doesn’t hurt, either!

Do you like the Urban Decay Smoky or Naked 2 palette better? What is your favorite color from the Naked 2 palette? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

 

Dec3

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Swatch In Whiskey

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Urban Decay Eyeshadow Swatch In Whiskey

Hi! My final favorite from my Smoky Naked palette by Urban Decay is a delicious chocolate brown called Whiskey. A yummy drink and an even more enticing shade, this color lives up to its namesake and is a perfect blender shade or a cool new substitute for plain old black. Take a look at some pics and let’s discuss:

whiskeywhiskey1whiskey2

^^^ The first heart is the color wet and the second is when it’s dry.

I used to shy away from eyeshadow shades in brown back in the day, because I dubbed it as a “boring” color. But, now, I use it fairly frequently when I’m doing my makeup. I love how a rich, chocolate brown looks when paired with a deep purple or a pale pink, which are also colors that I use often. When worn together, these colors create a fresh take on a standard smoky eye and it looks just as come hither as it would when done with traditional colors.

I also like using brown eyeshadows as an eyeliner on my top lid to change things up from time to time. I never wear black eyeliner on top, because it looks too harsh on me but, chocolate brown is a softer alternative that is much more flattering. Whiskey is a great eyeliner shade, too, because it offers that little hint of sparkle but the color is still deep enough to line your lid thoroughly to make your MOTD pop.

Be sure to tune in tomorrow as we move on to the Naked 2 palette!

What eye makeup color do you use as an alternative to black? What is your favorite shade in the Naked Smoky palette? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec2

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Swatch In Armor

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Urban Decay Eyeshadow Swatch In Armor

Hello everyone and welcome back to some more swatches from the Urban Decay Naked palettes. The metallic silver seen below called “Armor” is from the Smoky palette and I am a huge fan. Once upon a time, I used to use a metallic silver eyeliner from The Body Shop and it was the best. I used this eyeliner all of the time and, then, out of nowhere it gave my eyes an awful reaction. They must have changed the formula or something, because both of my peepers turned red and grossly swollen within minutes. It was disgusting! Ever since then, I’ve never bought a silver eyeliner or shadow to compensate for my TBS one, so it’s nice to have Armor in my arsenal. Take a look:

armorarmor1armor2

^^^ The big heart is the eyeshadow wet and the smaller one is when it’s dry.

Although Armor is pretty when its dry, the wet color is where it’s at. The striking, metallic silver with that slightest hint of gunmetal grey makes for a shade that will give your eyes a pop with an unexpected color. Silver is a very underrated eye makeup color, so I’m looking forward to bringing it back after all of those years of not using my TBS eyeliner.

When it comes to wearing any eyeshadow, I always wet my Q-tip applicator before I apply. I love the saturated pigment when the shadow is wet and the dry color just doesn’t cut it. Through my swatching research, I am finding that the Urban Decay colors don’t apply very well when dry, but the application is like BUTTAH when it’s wet. Although this might be annoying to some, it’s great for me, especially because I love this shade when it’s wet oh so much!

Do you prefer your eyeshadow wet or dry? What is the best drugstore or high end brand of eyeshadow? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

 

Nov30

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Swatch In Smolder

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Urban Decay Eyeshadow Swatch In Smolder

Helloooo! My sister recently bequeathed her Urban Decay Naked palettes onto me, so we are going to go through the Naked 2 and Smoky palettes and swatch some of my favorite colors. Today, we are going to look at one of the standout shades from the Smoky palette – a lovely deep purple called Smolder. Take a gander at these pics and let’s discuss:

^^^ The first heart is the eyeshadow when its wet and the second one is when its dry.

As we all know, I don’t change it up very often when it comes to my eye makeup. I like what I like, I know what shades work for me, and I stick to them like glue. However, one shade that I do like to apply when I’m feeling saucy is purple. Not ultra bright or metallic purple, but a nice, deep shade like the one seen above. Anything too bright looks crazy with my hair, and Smolder is just right. The dark, smoky shade makes my hazel eyes change to green, as purple and green are complimentary colors, and I love using it to make my peepers pop.

What I also like about Smolder is that the purple becomes really evident when the lighting is good. As you can see from the pictures, the eyeshadow looks almost brown in my yellow-ish bathroom lighting. But, as soon as the flash came on, you could really see that sexy, smoldering purple, which is a fun surprise. So, in a darker setting like a candle lit dinner, you get a delicious chocolate brown and, as soon as the flickering candles catch your eyes, you get a striking jewel tone. So cool!

What is your favorite shade of eyeshadow to wear? Which color compliments your eyes the best? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov29

New(ish) Urban Decay Naked Palettes

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New(ish) Urban Decay Naked Palettes

Hiii! On Thanksgiving, I was in for a treat because my sister had some hand me down makeup palettes for me. Kristen is a makeup guru and loves shopping Sephora and Ulta for high end cosmetics. Although there are a few things from Sephora that I couldn’t live without, I tend to stick to the drugstore brands, myself. So, it’s always extra special when Kristen has some makeup that she’s ready to part with because that means I get to reap the rewards! Take a look at my New(ish) Urban Decay Naked Palettes and let’s discuss:

Smoky Palette:

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Naked 2 Palette:

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When it comes to eyeshadow, I wear a minimal amount, at best. I stick to the colors that I like and that’s about it. I don’t know how to cut crease, I’m not the best blender, and doing a proper smoky eye? Forget about it! But, that’s what is going to make having these palettes a lot of fun because I can play around and practice. Plus, having actual makeup brushes instead of Q-tips will be sure to help, too!

Obviously, I’m partial to the Naked 2 palette, because I love gold, bronze, and pink colors on my eyes. In fact, if I felt the urge to spend a decent amount of coin on a palette, this would probably be the one that I would purchase. So, having the Naked 2 palette is nice because all of the shades are basically old standbys. Although, I like to think that I have the drugstore dupe of this palette, already. The Elf Nude Rose Gold palette is an excellent compromise for a ten dollar price tag and I love using it! If you are a fan of the Urban Decay Naked 2 palette, definitely check the Elf dupe out if you’re not looking to spend a lot of cash.

And, as far as the Smoky palette goes…. Well, it will be a learning experience. I actually quite like all of the colors in it, it’s just going to be more of a matter of applying them well. I rarely wear darker colors on my eyelids, so I’m not really sure what it will look like but, I’m kind of excited to try it out. I don’t even think that I would give this palette a second look in stores, so it was nice that Kristen gave it to me so I can test out some new MOTDs!

In the next few daily posts, I’ll be highlighting some of my favorite colors from each palette so keep your eyes out for that!

Which colors would you like to see swatched from my new(ish) palettes? Do you have a favorite palette or eyeshadow brand? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov27

Making Your Home Feel Christmasy On A Budget

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Making Your Home Feel Christmasy On A Budget

Christmas is just around the corner so it’s about that time where we begin to decorate our homes in a manner that St. Nick would be proud of. Unfortunately, we all know that Christmas decorations can be a bit pricey, which might make you want to say “bah humbug” and promise to decorate next year. But, instead of throwing in the towel, you should get creative and find new ways to still make your home feel like it’s worthy of having Santa Claus and his reindeer park on your roof. Decorating your home can be done on a budget and it doesn’t have to feel tacky or last minute. As long as you stick to the fundamentals, you’ll always find some kind of deal and items that will suit the occasion:

Sparkling light:


What are the most recognized colors of Christmas? Looking at any Christmas tree that is in the center of any notable major city you will see red and green along with gold or yellow. But there’s one hidden color that can make all the difference in the world, and that’s silver. Silver is the unsung hero of Christmas dĂ©cor, because it tends to blend in and, rather than just look pretty on it’s own, it helps all the other colors come to life; especially red. So consider buying a silver candle holder which you can use to create an effect of sparkling light. It’s cheap, but it’s very eloquent in the way that it spreads natural and manmade light around.

Something for leisure:

Infusing Christmas into otherwise un-Christmasy items can also be a fun way to go when it comes to decorating. Using the ibotta app, you can go onto Etsy and choose a personalized Christmas cushion that has your family name written in the middle of an artistic wreath. If you do, you can stand to get a 6% cash back coupon which can be used as extra pocket money or towards another purchase. It helps to keep informed about these things so that you’re not spending more than you have to.

A tartan home:

Thinking of Christmas clothing, one of the key items we tend to look over is the tartan ribbon. The tartan pattern and style are used in many kids’ clothing such as coats, mittens, socks and scarves around this time of year as well as for adults. Get some tartan ribbons and tie them in a bow all around your home such as around the stairs, around the door handle of the front door or hanging off the kitchen cupboard door.

If you’re on a budget this year for Christmas, then consider style over accessories. Then, use a little imagination, and you’ll have a house decked out for the holidays!