Tag Archives: pretty

Nov7

Londontown Unboxing

Posted on by
Standard
Londontown Unboxing

Hi! As we all know, Lil Red is a nail girl. I would be nowhere without my talon style acrylics and am only in my truest form when they are eye poking sharp! Getting my nails done is such a treat and I look forward to my monthly visit to the salon to get myself right. There is nothing better than taking an hour or two to yourself to get pampered and I always leave my stomping grounds of Elysian Nails feeling like a million bucks.

I am especially excited for my next trip to get a fill because I have some amazing new goodies from Londontown to test out. Boasting a vegan, 9-free formula and a stunning array of colors to choose from, my nails are never going to look better compliments of the products below. Check it out:

ltlt2lt3

Seen From Top To Bottom:

  • Buckingham Blue polish
  • Summer Fling polish
  • Electric Avenue polish
  • Restorative Nail Cream
  • Nourishing Cuticle Oil

In the next few days, you can see all of my nail care adventures including an outing to the salon and a girls night in with my darling mom to test out the cuticle oil and nail cream. It’s going to be a lot of fun and the end results are sure to be gorgeous so keep it posted on lifewithlilred!

How do you care for your nails? What is your favorite nail polish color from Londontown? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov5

Accessory Story: Seed & Sage Necklace Edition

Posted on by
Standard
Accessory Story: Seed & Sage Necklace Edition

Hello! This is the last of my most recent haul from TJMaxx – leave it to me to only need one thing and come out with an armful of stuff! But, damnit, I just couldn’t help myself. You all know that Lil Red loves her cold weather shopping! And, this necklace by Seed & Sage is one that I am particularly excited about because for 1) it’s gorgeous and for 2) I have had my eye on it for a while and I purchased it at a clearance price. Score! Check it out:

ss1ss2ss3

Despite being an atheist to the max, I grew up in the Roman Catholic church and have always loved religious iconography. I have a beautiful collection of rosary style necklaces and I even have a rosary blessed by Pope Francis from when my brother and sister in law honeymooned in Italy. TJMaxx often seems to have religious themed necklaces in stock and I find myself swooning over them with every shopping trip.

The Virgin Mary necklace by Seed & Sage that I bought has been at the store for quite some time in a variety of sizes. I never felt a strong urge to try it on until it was in the clearance section and I just had to give it a go. Once it was out of the case, it was even more stunning up close and I saw that it had images on the front and back, which made it feel more unique.

Although I had a bit of a difficult time getting the necklace clasp to work because of my claws, it was a small price to pay for such a lovely piece. The length of the necklace is perfect and it will hit right at the end of a V-neckline. But, more importantly, the images on both sides are lovely and the colors are stunning, especially when it hits the light! I am definitely looking forward to wearing my new Seed & Sage necklace soon and am happy to have added it into my jewelry collection for well under twenty bucks! 😀

Where do you like to purchase jewelry from? How do you rock a funky necklace? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct22

Hair Tinsel Help

Posted on by
Standard
Hair Tinsel Help

Hellooooo everyone! While on vacation, we were wandering around downtown Hendersonville in North Carolina and I stumbled upon a little boutique advertising “fairy hair”. Naturally, I was intrigued and ended up with ten strands of colored tinsel in my hair, which you can kind of see in my featured image. I loved my fairy hair so much that I decided to order a hair tinsel kit on Amazon but, unfortunately, it is much harder than the lady made it seem in the shop!

hair

^^^ So fun!

While attempting to put some blue tinsel in my sister’s hair, we read directions and watched YouTube videos and I could not for the life of me figure out how to tie a slip knot to get the process started. I seriously must have tried for a half hour and just when I thought I got it, I was sadly mistaken.

I plan on having my hair stylist put my tinsel in because there is no way in hell I will be able to do it on my own. But, I would like to be able to do it for my friends so I am open to any and all advice to make the hair tinseling easier! Simple slip knots, a step by step guide, the best way to separate the hair. Basically, I really need help lol so if you have any blog posts or videos that could be of service be sure to put them in my comments!

What is your favorite trend for hair? How do you rock bling in your hair? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct16

New Black & Red Matte Nails

Posted on by
Standard
New Black & Red Matte Nails

Hello hello! During the car accident, two of my nails broke. I was in such a state of shock that I didn’t realize how much pain I was actually in and just thought about how I’d like to get my nails fixed up. But, unfortunately, I ended up in the hospital instead of the nail salon. Luckily for me, I always keep super glue on me for occasions such as this when a nail breaks or lifts and was able to fix the damage in the hospital bed. It looked janky as hell, though, so I was so happy to be able to get my claws right after a week of recovery! Check it out:

matte

As I made my rounds of visiting people once I was well enough after the accident, I noticed that my neighbor’s son’s girlfriend had matte nails and I was obsessed. So, I decided to get some for myself this time around. Since spooky season is upon us, I went for a black and red combination for ultimate slasher vibes on my talons.

All of my friends who work at Elysian Nails knew about the car accident and were so kind and attentive to me. My girl, Mary, who has now become my usual nail tech did such a wonderful job, as per ushe. She takes her time, which I love, and was able to repair all of the damage and sharpen my claws to perfection – just how I like it.

It was so nice to be able to take an evening to myself to relax after everything that had happened. I had a blast girl talking with my favorite nail techs and the lovely ladies who were sitting beside me and I left the salon feeling like a million bucks. Thanks to the team at Elysian Nails and to Mary for helping me feel like myself again! ❤

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

Sep29

If The Shoe Fits: Formentini Heeled Boots Edition

Posted on by
Standard
If The Shoe Fits: Formentini Heeled Boots Edition

Hello! It wouldn’t be the fall season without purchasing a new pair of boots, which was the last item on my list during my fall haul at TJMaxx. Despite a few pairs that I sort of liked, none of them did it for me so returns were made and, although I have a ton of boots, I felt like I was empty handed. That is, until my beautiful new taupe suede darlings by Formentini came along. Check it out:

formform3form1form2

Although the light colored suede of these boots might not be the most practical come winter time, I am totally okay with only sporting them in the fall. They include everything that I love in a boot like the high shaft, a bit of rocker embellishment, a good heel, and *most importantly*, the fact that the heel is covered with suede as opposed to plain old rubber.

I absolutely despise when a gorgeous shoe is destroyed by a thick, chunky rubber heel and refuse to buy the boots if they have that major character flaw. I am obsessed with creating long lines when it comes to dressing my bottom half and such an abrupt breakup in the flow from color to rubber definitely ruins the illusion of legs for days.

At one hundred smackers, these boots hit right at my cut off point for when I am buying a new pair. I believe in shelling out for clothes, shoes, and accessories of high quality as well as for things that I really like. And, these Formentini knee highs met all of these requirements and then some because of all of the exciting styling possibilities.

I am very much looking forward to wearing my new boots over knitted tights along with sweet long sleeved dresses this fall. They will also look charming with A-line skirts and a peacoat or topper jacket that will hit just at the top of the shaft for an OOTD perfect for keeping you warm but still chic once the cold weather strikes. Love it!

How do you prep your wardrobe for a change in the weather? What is your favorite type of boot? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep21

Lil Red’s Art Gallery: This Is Halloween Edition

Posted on by
Standard
Lil Red’s Art Gallery: This Is Halloween Edition

Howdy! So, while shopping at Walmart with a client, I went a bit too hard in the Halloween department and picked out some new wall art and knick knacks for the apartment. What can I say, I just couldn’t help myself! It may be mid September but, in my humble opinion, spooky season is officially among us and I couldn’t be more excited if I tried! And, although I still have none of the paintings that I got compliments of Goodwill in my apartment, I couldn’t say no to these beauties. Check it out:

walmarttwalmartt1walmartt2

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that as soon as I saw the skeleton pop out picture, it went right into my cart. And, it was a wonderful surprise to me to find the ghoulishly gorgeous butterflies behind the skeleton one. So, into the cart it went. These pictures combine creepy with pretty (My own personal aesthetic!) and I am deeply looking forward to eventually getting them hung up in my apartment.

Normally, I am not one to fill my living space with all Halloween everything and I liked that these pictures were a little dark and disturbing without a giant Frankenstein being plastered on it. However, I guess if it was done in the style of the pictures above, it could be kind of cool! 😉

What is your favorite holiday to decorate for? Which stores have the best Halloween decor? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep20

Sweet Surprises: I LOVE YOU, MOM! Edition

Posted on by
Standard
Sweet Surprises: I LOVE YOU, MOM! Edition

Salutations! I’m sure that all of you know by now that my parents are kind of amazing. And, by kind of, I mean very. In their own way, they are constantly doing for their children, even though we are all grown ass adults now. For example, when I was in college, my dad would always have coffee ready for me before class in the morning. It’s always the simple things that mean the most to me and that particularly touched me and I’ve been graduated for three years now.

My mom is also an excellent surpriser and recently treated me to this gorgeous headband from TJMaxx. She ordered it online while doing some shopping of her own and I am in love. Check it out:

headband1headband2

My mom is my shopping partner in crime and it has been that way for as long as I can remember. I wouldn’t want it any other way and it is so much fun enabling each other with our TJMaxx shopping hauls both in store and online. Because my mom has been with me during literally every shopping trip ever, she knows my style like the back of her hand so she is always picking things out for me that she knows I would like it.

This headband is no exception and my mom was spot on because she knows that I have developed a slight obsession with hair accessories. Clips, hats, veils, and ribbons I love it all and this headband just might be my new favorite. The thick woven texture and the perfect for fall color palette with the gold, cream, and olive green not only compliments my style, complexion, and hair to the T but will also be a fantastic add on to my autumn OOTDs.

I am so appreciative to my parents for their continued love and support for all I do in my life and Sweet Surprises like this make me feel even closer to them. So, thanks mom and dad for being you! ❤

What do your loved ones surprise you with? Who is your shopping partner in crime? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep17

Scarf Series: Grandma’s Hand Me Downs Edition

Posted on by
Standard
Scarf Series: Grandma’s Hand Me Downs Edition

Hellooo everyone! We all know that I love dressing for colder weather and one of my favorite things in doing so are the accessories. I love hats, scarves, fingerless gloves, and faux fur to keep myself cute and cozy all fall and winter long. I adore my knitwear and there’s no denying that but there is also something so very chic about a silk scarf tied in a knot around your neck while sporting your best peacoat. So, I was very excited when my dad bestowed some of my grandma’s (his mom’s) scarves onto me. Check them out:

scarfscarf1scarf2scarf3

I have plenty of hats from my mom’s mom but I really have nothing like that from my dad’s mom, so I was incredibly happy to have something of hers that I can wear. These vintage scarves will be the perfect accessory with blazers and moto jackets to add a unique touch as well as making me feel like I’m getting a hug from a loved one all day.

My favorite scarf above is definitely the last one with the flowers in bright, springy colors to bring some sunshine during the grey winter months. You’re talking to the girl who wears black ninety-nine percent of the time BUT, even I’m not opposed to some pops of color every now and then! I am so thankful to have these scarves in my collection and am looking forward to wearing them all very soon. 🙂

Do you have any hand me downs from a loved one? How do you sport a silk scarf? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep15

New Cotton Candy Nails

Posted on by
Standard
New Cotton Candy Nails

Helloooo! My favorite form of pampering definitely has to be getting my nails done. To me, there is nothing better than sitting back, relaxing, and getting my talons right. I think my monthly nail sesh is worth every penny and I always look forward to being able to spend a Saturday morning in the salon. Now that I’m actually experimenting with colors, I decided to go for a candy themed mani and I am in love with the soft pink and violet. Check it out:

nailss

After last month’s lemonade nails, I became obsessed with doing different colors on both hands. I really don’t believe in spending an arm and a leg when it comes to getting my nails done so that means no bling bling and anything else that’s going to upcharge my total. Playing around with different polish on both hands is a fun and more cost effective way to amp up your mani without breaking the bank. And, since I’ve began this trend, it has been a hit!

I love my cotton candy colors, which I thought would look really sweet for my upcoming family beach vacation. Soft colors in the sand that reflect an ocean sunset? Yes, please! As per ushe, the nail techs at Elysian Nails had my nails looking their best and I left the salon feeling like a whole new woman. And, the compliments from all of the ladies at Elysian didn’t hurt, either. So, if you see other people sporting this trend – tell em’ Lil Red started it! 😀 😉

How do you rock a fun mani? What color of polish do you have on today? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug28

It’s In The Bag: Chillx By LeMiel Edition

Posted on by
Standard
It’s In The Bag: Chillx By LeMiel Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a new edition of It’s In The Bag, brought to you by my TJMaxx Fall Haul. I always thought that when it comes to accessories, I am a shoe girl through and through. But, as I venture out on shopping trips or online shopping escapades, I have come to realize that I hold a very special place in my heart for purses.

To me, a good shoe is what completes the outfit. But, now I find that your look is only as good as your best accessories. This has inspired me to branch out and invest in things like jewelry, hair accessories, and yes – purses. During my seasonal shopping hauls, I have noticed that I have bought a purse to fit the changing weather each time this past year. And, I’m so not mad about it, because I wound up with this little Chillx By LeMiel beauty. Check it out:

bagbag3bag2bag4bag5bag6bag7

For those of you who don’t know, I am a HUGE fan of mustard yellow and will never not purchase something that I like in that color. So, when this gorgeous cross between a hobo and messenger bag caught my eye, I was all in. The perfect for fall palette of mustard yellow and the chocolate brown strap was just too good to pass up. And, the burnished bronze stud and lock detailing took it over the top into a purse that I didn’t just want but needed.

Although the color is what sold me, the shape of this bag also had a big part in the purchase, too. I don’t own any purses that are shaped like this one and I love the idea of carrying it by the small top strap instead of the long one that was included for a collegiate cool look. And, while we’re talking about the shape – can we please talk about all of the compartments?! Yes, please. I am all for a purse with a bunch of different nooks and crannies to keep all of my belongings organized in. All of the zippers and pouches will come in handy for all of my random odds and ends and I am definitely looking forward to utilizing them.

And, speaking of compartments – can we please talk about the two extra goodies that were nestled into them? Yes, please. While emptying the paper filling from the bag, I found a matching wallet and a huge reusable bag. I had known about the wallet when purchasing the purse but it was so nice to have the freebie tote bag included – it will be perfect for taking to the grocery store with my new favorite purse in hand!

What is your favorite fall color? How do you like to accessorize? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah