Tag Archives: pretty

Mar7

Spring Surprise

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Spring Surprise

Hiiiii! This morning as I was leaving the house, I caught a little pretty something out of the corner of my eye while I was in the car. Among all of the brown leaves and dry grass, a little yellow crocus was popping out to say an early spring hello. I didn’t have time to snap a quick pic then but as I was taking the dogs out this afternoon I just had to take one! It was so cute and wittle and it made me so happy to see! Take a look:

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After kind of a blah few days, it was so nice to see a tiny pop of color as a Spring Surprise and a preview of hopefully some lovely blooms to come. There’s nothing like a brave little crocus showing off its petals to brighten your day and get you hyped for warmer weather, all floral everything, and a new spring season here on lifewithlilred!

Happy Tuesday!

Mar2

Make Your Bedroom Stylish and Sleep-Friendly

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Make Your Bedroom Stylish and Sleep-Friendly

Hiiii everyone and welcome to a guest post by my favorite home decor guru, Chloe! Miss Chloe has been featured on my page quite a few times and it is always such a treat to have her. Take a look at her latest post, where she will help you create a perfectly styled and sleep worthy bedroom:

Make Your Bedroom Stylish and Sleep-Friendly:

The quality of your sleep can highly influence your energy levels, mood, and productivity during the day. In that respect, the way you decorate and organize your sleep chamber can be of immense importance when it comes to providing yourself with a good night of rest. If you’re experiencing trouble sleeping, make sure to take a good look at your bedroom. Its design may be the key for your perfect comfort.

1. Is there a lot of clutter?

There has been plenty of research on the negative influence of clutter on the human mind and this can be especially obvious in the bedroom. This is a place where you need to relax and drift off to a dream land and clutter can only cause problems. The first and easiest thing that you can do is to create a chore list so that you can keep your bedroom neat and tidy. That way, you will prevent mental pressure and stress caused by your own personal environment.

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Also, is there a cat?

2. Do you have enough space?

This step is linked to the clutter issue. Sometimes, it’s not enough to simply tidy up your bedroom. If you don’t have room for all of your stuff, the first thing that you should do is declutter. This means that apart from putting everything in its respective place, you should also get rid of things that you don’t need.

If you have clothes that you haven’t worn for more than six months, it’s probably wise to give them away. On the other hand, your problem might be related to the lack of storage. Make sure to utilize your wardrobe doors to the fullest. Wall cabinets can really come in handy in a bedroom as well as a chest of drawers. Chests of drawers are not only functional for clothing storage but housing decor like photographs, reed diffusers, and jewelry boxes. You can search Bespoke Furniture for storage inspiration to keep your bedroom clutter free and stylish with statement pieces.

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^ I would love a hanging rack like this!

3. Do you enjoy the color scheme?

You may not even be aware of just how much the choice of colors can influence your ability to relax and fall asleep. In general, you should introduce colors that feel pleasant to you into your bedroom. But, this doesn’t mean that you should go overboard with vibrant shades and intricate patterns.

A stylish and functional bedroom should feature soothing tones and hues. You should also keep things relatively minimal when color combos are concerned. The best way to achieve a nice, calming look is to opt for a soft wall shade, an equally soft, warm shade for furniture, and then spice things up just a little with slightly bolder colors for sheets, covers, and cushions.

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Pexels Image

4. Do you feel comfortable?

The appearance of your bedroom is not the only thing that has effect on your sleep. There are also some technical questions that need to be dealt with. For example, if your lighting is too bright and strong, you will struggle more to relax and drift off to sleep. This is especially true for those of you who like to read or check your smartphones in bed.

Make sure to use mood lighting and, if possible, install dimmer switches. Air quality is another essential factor ensuring you a proper sleep schedule. If dust bothers you or you suffer from seasonal allergies, you should install a quality air purifier for allergies in your bedroom. Not only will this improve your sleep but the quality of your lifestyle altogether, too.

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Pretty!

5. Is the decor pleasing?

The bedroom is the most intimate area of one’s home but that doesn’t mean that you should overload it with personal decor and other sentimental bits and pieces. On the contrary, it is said that you should avoid using photographs of your friends and family and go for soothing scenery paintings, instead. A scented candle, plants, warm rugs, and interesting curtains are perfectly fine, but anything more than that can actually disrupt your sleep schedule and prevent you from dozing off properly.

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Also pretty!

Remember, you don’t need too much stuff or color for your bedroom to be stylish and cozy. By keeping things relatively minimal yet sticking to your personal taste, you’ll be able to enjoy a good night of rest and wake up motivated for a new day, every day.

^^^ Thank you again for such a wonderful post, Chloe girl! How does your bedroom reflect your personality? What is a funny or weird item that you keep in your room? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Mar1

Accessory Story: Sparkling Snakes Edition

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Accessory Story: Sparkling Snakes Edition

Hellooo everyone and happy Hump Day! I hope all of you are having a wonderful week so far and are looking forward to an exciting weekend ahead. When it comes to fashion, Lil Red loves it all. Beauty, makeup, clothes, shoes, purses, hats, and of course – jewelry. I have quite a staggering jewelry collection that I am just now beginning to appreciate. I’ve grown to love layering necklaces, throwing rings on multiple fingers, and stacking bracelets and bangles on my arms. This Accessory Story is an ode to two of my personal favorite pieces – my Sparkling Snake arm cuffs. Take a look:

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One of these bracelets is Betsey Johnson and one of these pieces is from the gift shop at the Akron Zoo. Can you guess which is which? Lol, don’t worry – I’ll tell you! The gold snake with the pink toned gems is a Betsey Johnson cuff that my mom gave me a few Christmases ago and the blue gem snake is from the zoo (which sounds so weird saying!). I am an avid lover of all of the fun, quirky, sassiness that is Betsey Johnson so my mom was spot on in gifting me with this cuff. I actually think she might have gotten me the bracelet from the zoo, as well, as a birthday present. So shout out to my beloved mama AGAIN!

When it comes to jewelry, I don’t do subtle and soft. I want loud, in your face pieces that really make a statement. And, honestly, what better way is there to make a cool, glam rock impression than a couple of gem stoned snakes coiled around your arm? I normally like to wear one snake for each arm and love breaking them out in the summer time when they can be fully appreciated thanks to tanks, tees, and crop tops. Not only that, but in the intense summer sun, you can only imagine how gorgeously these cuffs glisten!

So, how did my mom land on gifting me with snake themed bracelets? Do I like snakes? Not particularly. I don’t dislike any animal but it’s not like I’m going to go out of my way to get a pet snake any time soon! And also – HOW DO THEY PEE?! I wish that I could say that jokingly but I REALLY WANT TO KNOW!! But I digress. I actually think I pointed out the zoo snake bracelet to my mom and told her how much I liked it. Then, it must have been the same year that she gifted me with the Betsey Johnson one at Christmas because she had to have remembered how much I liked my birthday prezzie. Oh, mom! What a darling, perfect gal! ❤

So there you have it, my latest Accessory Story: Sparkling Snakes Edition! Does anyone else own any animal themed jewelry? Where is the strangest place that you have ever bought jewelry from? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb20

Shopaholic Does Spring OOTD

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Shopaholic Does Spring OOTD

Hi everyone and welcome to a beautiful spring OOTD brought to you by everyone’s favorite, Nida, from Shopaholic Blogs! Nida was the very first guest blogger that I ever had on lifewithlilred and from the beginning, I have always just adored her. I relish when I can have her back on my blog because her amazing work really does speak for itself. Not only that, but she is an amazing friend, too! Please be sure to check out her fantastic page and enjoy this OOTD that she created special for my Think Spring guest bloggers series:

Shopaholic Does Spring OOTD

Hello Lovelies 💞

I am so excited and honored to be guest blogging for the lovely Sarah from lifewithlilred again. In fact, this year also marks the one year anniversary of our friendship and our blogging collaborations. 🎉 For this post, Sarah picked the “Spring” theme and after many deliberations I decided to opt for an OOTD given that the weather this past week has been simply beautiful!

So here is a special spring guest post for my blogging BFF and I am looking forward to many more successful collaborations in the future.✨

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For this outfit I went back and forth several times before deciding on this combination. Normally, I would have chosen a dress given that we are heading towards warmer weather soon. However, I am not a huge fan of floral prints in general so I usually stick to neutral colors. But, lucky for me, I just happened to come across a floral top that didn’t make me look like a walking bouquet! 💐 😁

I paired the top with a pair of chambray pants, which I think is such a perfect color for spring and summer. I’ve worn this top two ways to show you it’s versatility. I hope you guys enjoy this look and do share your favorite spring styles with me and Sarah! 😘

Until next time xoxo 💋

^^^ SO PRETTY!! Thank you again to Nida for creating a Shopaholic Does Spring OOTD for lifewithlilred. You are simply the best! What is your favorite spring flower? How do you incorporate florals or bright colors into your spring wardrobe? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb16

Sweet Spring MOTD

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Sweet Spring MOTD

Hii everyone and welcome to the next post in my Think Spring guest bloggers series by my darling friend, Jackie, from Makeup and Beyond. I am so excited to have her share her makeup expertise with all of you because you and I both know that I wear the same makeup literally every day! Jackie is going to teach you guys how to create a soft and sweet look perfect for a spring afternoon with the girls. For more fabulous MOTDs and beauty advice, please be sure to check out her page and give it some love!

Sweet Spring MOTD

Hey Guys!!

My name is Jackie from the blog Makeup and Beyond. My usual posts are about makeup/beauty products and this blog is no different apart from…being a guest blogger. The lovely lifewithlilred is doing a series on guest bloggers and I am honored to be a part of it. Spring is in the air, which brings new makeup looks and a fresh color palette to compliment the season. I have put together a look that I would use for going out for a coffee with mates or a stroll through the park if the weather permits!

First, I want to apologize for the bad photo quality, I took about 40 photos to try and get this look perfect, but I just couldn’t get the quality through the pictures. These were the best that I could do and any tips would be much appreciated. (I think they look great! -Sarah)

I always start with moisturizer first. I personally use Clinique Dramatically Cream, but whatever you use will be fine, this is just my preference at the moment. I let that settle into my skin for a couple of minutes to make sure that it all seeps in nicely. I then move on to my primer. I love using the Benefit POREfessional, this is great for disguising pores, which I have on my cheeks, nose, and forehead. I tend to use this all over my face, though, as it gives a smooth base to apply my foundation.

That’s the prep work done for my base and now I am just going to list the products I used and how I used them:

  • Foundation – Estee Lauder Double Wear (2N1 Desert Beige) – I apply this with a damp Real Techniques sponge all over my face.
  • Concealer – Maybelline Eye Eraser (Light) – I apply this under my eyes and blend out with the damp sponge used to apply my foundation.
  • Powder – Rimmel Stay Matte (Translucent) –  I apply this all over my face to set my foundation and concealer.
  • Bronzer – Makeup Revolution Ultra Bronze – I do a slight contour with this on my cheeks and blend into my forehead and under my chin
  • Blush – Milani Baked Blush (Luminoso) – I apply this to the apple of my cheeks, just to give a nice healthy glow.
  • Highlighter – I Heart Makeup Goddess of Love (Goddess of Faith) – I used this to highlight my cheek bones, down my nose and my cupids bow
  • Eye Primer – Urban Decay Original Primer Potion – I apply this all over my lid to ensure that it’s blended well and then apply my face powder over the top. I do this as the primer is quite tacky and powder makes it easier to blend the eyeshadows.
  • Eyeshadow – Morphe 350 – I used numerous colors from this palette, so I have numbered them below:

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I used 1,2 and 3, all separately, but all blended into my crease. Layering them on top of each other to create a good gradient. I then applied 4 to the center and inner part of my eyelid, then used 3 to apply to my outer corner and blended this together to create a smokey effect.

Over the top of color 4, this being a quite pinky, glittery shade, I wanted to make it pop more. I decided to apply the Maybelline Eyeshadow Color Tattoo in Pink Gold over the top, just to make it stand out more and have a more creamy look to it. I would really recommend this, it’s great to work with and the color is absolutely gorgeous. It definitely gave this look the spring feel that I was looking for.

I then used color 2 and 3 on my lower lash line, to warm up under my eyes.

Eyeliners can be applied if you were looking to turn this into a more evening look, but I think for during the day, smoking out an eyeshadow on your lower lash line is the best option for creating an approachable and soft look for day time wear.

And, finally, here are the products that I used to complete the look:

  • Mascara – Benefit Roller Lash – I used this on my upper and lower lashes. This is one of my new favorites, as it’s made my lashes look longer but also helps them look fluffier by separating them.
  • Eyebrows – Sleep Eyebrow Stylist (Medium) and Benefit Gimme Brow (3)
  • Lips – Sexy Mother Pucker Lip Gloss (Rose & Shine) – I’m not much of a gloss person, but as I was going for a spring look, I thought that the matte lipsticks I have were too bold and I wanted something more subtle.

I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I did making it and hopefully this will inspire you to create a soft and smokey spring time look of your own! Please visit my page and give me a follow at Makeup and Beyond and thank you to Sarah at lifewithlilred for allowing me to share my passion on her blog.

^^^ Thank you so much again to Jackie for creating this drop dead gorgeous Sweet Spring MOTD! Make sure to tune in tomorrow for some super helpful spring cleaning tips by Christie Adams Writer. Until then, how do you sport a soft makeup look for spring? Do any of you have some of the same products as Jackie in your arsenal? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb2

Forever 21 Purchases

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Forever 21 Purchases

Howdy! So as I mentioned in my last post, my previous trip to the mall this week allowed me the time to use up my Forever 21 Christmas gift cards. I was really excited about this because the spring clothing in the store was in full bloom and I couldn’t wait to add something pretty and new into my wardrobe. I don’t have a lot of clothes that I would classify as “spring” worthy. My niche really is in cold weather clothing so I was looking forward to adding something that isn’t a peacoat, moto jacket, or skinny jeans into my collection! Take a look at what I ended up with:

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^^^ So cute!

My new jersey and dress costed only thirty five dollars which I thought was a steal and the rest of my gift cards went towards a sweater that I purchased about a month ago. I was really happy that I was able to buy three things with my fifty dollars in gift card cash and barely had to pay anything out of my own pocket! It was really a Christmas gift that gave a lot to me!

I am SO thrilled with my leopard print baseball jersey because I have a confession to make…I secretly love leopard print…when it’s done right, of course. Leopard print is one of those animal patterns that walks the thin line of either looking chic and cool or totally tacky depending on the colors used and the style of the clothing. I personally stray away from any leopard print that uses brighter colors and appears to be more for wearing for a night out. That’s why I loved that this jersey used a darker shade of leopard and had some lettering and numbers on the front and back to break the pattern up. The boyish shape of the top also helped this leopard print go from a night in the club to urban and hip and I really just adore it.

I plan on wearing this top a lot this summer with a pair of black shorts, Nike sneakers, a backwards baseball cap (which I’ve grown increasingly fond of), and some chunky gold jewelry for a fun urban chic daytime look. Then, come evening time, I’ll trade in the Nikes for a pair of wedge heels for drinks with friends or a late afternoon of shopping at my favorite outdoor mall. This top will also look so cute with a long sleeved shirt layered underneath for a chillier spring or summer night.

And finally, I really love my new dress! I have been trying to incorporate clothing that I can wear for both work and play into my wardrobe and I’ve found that dresses are the best way to do this. They’re easy, pretty, and can be quickly transformed from work to play by simply removing your tights and changing your shoes. Normally, I’m not the biggest floral kind of girl but the colors used in this dress are ones that suit me so well. Dark shades like the navy, burgundy, and deep yellow used are ones that always pop nicely with my pale skin and red hair and always has such a lovely overall effect on my look for the day.

This button down dress was something that I was able to look at and know that there is a 99% chance that it will look nice on me but it still felt so good to have that “yes!” moment in the fitting room! This dress will be perfect for wearing to work with tights and a little heel and then for play I plan on ditching the tights, heightening the heel, and adding a big floppy sunhat into the mix.

Fifty dollars at Forever 21 went a long way for me and I was happy to have had such good luck during my last shopping trip because sometimes you don’t always get so lucky at F21! I can’t wait for the weather to warm up so I can wear my new purchases but, until then, it will be nice to daydream of a sunnier, super fashionable new season!

So there you have it, my newest Forever 21 Purchases! What are you most looking forward to wearing in the spring? What season is your wardrobe the most accommodating to? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan26

Bath & Body Works January Freebie

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Bath & Body Works January Freebie

Hii everyone and happy Thursday! So this month I was growing increasingly wary that Bath & Body Works was finally on to the fact that whenever I come into the store, it’s usually just to cash in my freebie coupons. I had not received anything in December so by late January, I assumed that my free ride was over. But, as they say, assume makes an ass out of you and me because this past week I received some of my beloved freebie coupons in the mail. I was really happy about this because after the holiday season, my hoard was beginning to run dry thanks to peppering many a gift with a few travel sized goodies. Lucky for me, I was able to add to the stock pile with these two lotions:

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On Tuesday, I picked up a travel size Pink Cashmere and Magic In The Air lotion. I really like the Pink Cashmere scent because it smells so barely there light which is perfect for someone who doesn’t like an overpowering fragrance. I am one of those people so if I decide to keep this one for myself or gift it, I know that it will be a hit either way. I also LOVE, love, love the packaging for this lotion. It is so girly, soft, and pretty which was the perfect way to go for such a delicate scent.

Magic In The Air is one of B&BW’s winter fragrances and will definitely be one that I’ll be saving for the next holiday season (or perhaps a giveaway!). It won’t do much good to gift someone with a wintery floral scent for a summer birthday! Regardless, I think that this lotion smells really pretty! It has a lovely winter berry scent layered with some sweet florals, which is all combined with the freshness in the air that comes with a crisp winter wind. Normally, I’m not one for floral fragrances but Magic In The Air is one that I can get down with!

I am so #blessed that Bath & Body Works decided to bestow more freebie coupons onto me and am looking forward to refilling my stock pile with lots of wonderful smell goods!

So there you have it, my Bath & Body Works January Freebie! Who thinks that I should do a lotion giveaway? What is your favorite B&BW scent? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct12

Hair Glitter Trend

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Hair Glitter Trend

Heyyy everyone and happy Hump Day! So a couple of months ago I saw a picture on Facebook of a girl who had the most GORGEOUS hair I had ever seen. It was a deep, rich midnight blue and in her hair was the lightest, most glorious dusting of silver glitter. After seeing that picture and lusting over the beautiful blue color that I will never have because I’ll be Lil Red 4 lyfe, I made a mental note to buy hair glitter if I ever come across it.

The day for my hair glitter purchase took place this past weekend at Target. With Halloween on the horizon, Target has pulled out all the stops with costumes, home decor, and costume makeup. And lucky for me, hair glitter was included in the Target Halloween extravaganza! Take a look:

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This spray is manufactured by Rosie’s Costume Co. and it is literally the best product EVER. So much so, that my very capable and brilliant hair stylist was extremely impressed. The beauty of this spray is that it’s not a spray but I don’t know what word to describe it with. When I think of hair spray, the first word that comes to mind instantly is “sticky” and this hair glitter is far from it. After my hair stylist sprayed a ton in my hair, it still felt touchable and sleek and looked mighty cute to boot!

Target offers this glitter spray in blue, green, silver, and gold and there are also cans of color without glitter like pink, red, green, and yellow. I was debating off and on whether to get just the silver or gold spray but it was too tough of a decision so I just bought both. At two dollars a can, it wasn’t particularly breaking my bank but I was pleased to see that it rung up as buy one get one half off so I got both cans for three bucks. Not bad!

I love how the gold spray compliments my bright red hair and I am looking forward to testing out the silver for a more glam look. My only regret is not buying more cans of the spray so next time I am at Target I will have to stock up for a year round of glitter hair because it’s not just for Halloween anymore! I wish that I had pictures of just how gorgeous this glitter is but unfortunately, my camera couldn’t capture the look very well on film. But, rest assured, that it really is fabulous and I can’t recommend this product enough!

How do you feel about the Hair Glitter Trend? What do you plan on dressing up as for Halloween? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep9

One Top, Five Fall Looks

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One Top, Five Fall Looks

Hi everyone and welcome to Miss Danielle’s OOTD post for my fall guest bloggers series! Danielle from Ride The Waves is going to teach us how to style five gorgeous fall looks with one simple top. This post takes the hassle out of getting ready and will have you on your way to being a fall fashionista in no time. Take a look and TGIF:

One Top, Five Fall Looks:

These looks feature an off white neutral top that can be worn five different ways to achieve five very unique fall looks. The looks go from casual to semi formal. Something for a day at the park, a nice dinner, and a night of dancing. Mix and match without the hassle of piles and piles of clothing…which later leads to a very messy room. (I know from personal experience!) Have fun with your fall looks – it’ll be here before we know it!

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^^^ Thank you so much again to the beautiful Danielle for showing us some fabulous looks for the fall. Once again, please check out her blog at Ride The Waves! What is your favorite outfit that Danielle created? Which look can you see yourself sporting this fall? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep2

Hello, It’s Me

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Hello, It’s Me

Hi everyone and TGIF! Welcome to the month of September here on lifewithlilred! My first week of the fall semester went as good as it can get but I am so looking forward to the three day Labor Day weekend! With summer coming to a close, I had to squeeze in wearing as many dresses as I can sans tights before the cold weather begins. Because I was feeling pretty, witty, and gay I enlisted the help of my lovely mother to take some new pictures of yours truly. I feel like I haven’t posted some Lil Red pics on here in a while so it was long overdue! Check them out and have an awesome weekend! Also, be on the look out for my fall guest bloggers series that premieres this week. The posts are amazing and I am so excited! Much love. -Sarah

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