Tag Archives: recommendations

Sep9

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Lying Game Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Lying Game Edition

Howdy! I recently finished another Ruth Ware novel called The Lying Game and have read The Woman In Cabin 10 and In A Dark, Dark Wood by her this summer, too. I have to say, I wasn’t overly impressed with either of those books but The Lying Game was a great read and I am happy that I chose to give Ware one more try before calling it quits and finding another author to read. So, without giving any spoilers away, let’s discuss:

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The Lying Game revolves around new mother, Isa, and her three best girlfriends from high school, Kate, Thea (Whose name I’m still not sure how to pronounce!), and Fatima. At their boarding school, the girls reveled in what they called “The Lying Game” and would keep a scoreboard to record the points from the tall tales that they would spin based on the quality and if people actually believed them. The game was supposed to be all in good fun and the rules were simple, including “never lie to your friends” and “know when to stop the lie”.

The girls spent one year at the boarding school together, which came to an abrupt halt when they were asked to leave quietly in the wakes of a possible scandal that directly involved them. And, although it’s a rarity that they talk now as they are all in their thirties, when a friend texts the three words of “I need you” the now women drop their responsibilities immediately and flock to the one in distress.

So, when Kate sends Isa the call to action, she packs up her belongings with her six month old daughter in tow and makes the journey to her, near the old boarding school. The text was indeed an urgent one because once the ladies arrive to Kate’s, it is revealed that a human bone was found in the sea – a result of their “game” being taken too far. With a police investigation nipping at their heals, the once best friends have to come up with a plan and unravel the truth behind their lies before an arrest is made. Were they murderers? Covering something up? Or just plain stupid? Read the book and find out!

I absolutely adored The Lying Game and devoured it in a matter of days. It was so refreshing to read a book with a tangible plot and told from the perspective of someone with a sound mind. Because, let’s be honest, the unstable narrator shtick has been hopelessly drawn out. The Lying Game was filled with twists and turns that actually seemed plausible and I really had no idea what the end result was going to be.

It was interesting to see how a mistake that happened in their teenage years has haunted each woman in the almost two decades since it happened. Each one dealt with the trauma in a different way and it made for fascinating characters with realistic flaws and personalities. The Lying Game was a wild ride and I am now ready to tuck into another Ruth Ware novel ASAFP!

And, now for the star rating…. I award The Lying Game with an eight out of ten. The plot was riveting, the characters were all likeable in their own ways, and I genuinely enjoyed myself while reading it. Highly recommend.

Has anyone read The Lying Game? What were your thoughts on it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep1

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Woman In Cabin 10 Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Woman In Cabin 10 Edition

Salutations! In the newest edition of Lil Red’s Book Club, we are going to be discussing the mystery thriller, The Woman In Cabin 10, by Ruth Ware. This author might sound a bit familiar to you, as I just recently reviewed another one of her books, In A Dark, Dark Wood. And, similarly to it, The Woman In Cabin 10 is another one that revolves around an unreliable narrator. Let’s discuss, without giving any spoilers away!

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Lo Blacklock, a writer for a travel magazine is your classic “can we trust everything she sees” narrator. Following the usual formula of a heavy drinker while on medication, sleep deprived, as well as recently traumatized by a break in, Lo is… well, at a low point. Ba dum chhhhh. Anyways, very shortly after the break in happened, Lo sets sail aboard a luxury “cruise ship” that’s more like a yacht as a fill in for her boss on maternity leave.

The Aurora is welcoming a select few in the travel industry to board for a week, sailing around Norway, to get the hype built for their launch. The surroundings are swanky and the guests are even more posh – ranging from photographers to heiresses as well as journalists and models. This is a big break for Lo and, while she should be networking her little butt off, she ends up investigating a murder that she only heard, instead.

Enter The Woman In Cabin 10, a cabin that was supposed to be empty.  Lo spoke with the tenant one time after knocking on her door to borrow a tube of mascara and didn’t see her again that night at dinner. A dinner that she ended up getting WASTED at, by the way. So, who’s to say that what she saw was accurate when she claimed she saw a bloody smear on the glass divider on her balcony once she was back in her room? Or heard a huge splash that sounded like a body falling overboard?

The whodoneit begins, as Lo questions all of the staff with the help of the head of security and prying into just what the guests were up to after the dinner party. No one has seen the woman who she saw in the cabin and absolutely no one is ruled out as a suspect. Filled with red herrings and hidden intentions, will the murder get solved or remain a mystery at sea? Read The Woman In Cabin Ten to find out!

I have to admit, I wasn’t a fan of In A Dark, Dark Wood and wasn’t expecting much better from The Woman In Cabin 10. But, I ended up enjoying it a fair amount. If I’m being honest, I am SO. Freaking. Sick. of the unreliable narrator angle. However, this murder mystery set at sea was too dishy and fun to not be a total page turner. The grand reveal at the end was also one that I wasn’t expecting at all and, normally, I am very quick to solve it on my own.

While I couldn’t stand any of the characters from In A Dark, Dark Wood, I quite liked the cast of players in this one. They all held my interest because all of their personalities were so different and it made for a fun reading experience to watch and study their interactions with each other. The finger pointing and guessing games between them kept me on my feet till the very end.

I didn’t love The Woman In Cabin 10 by any means but, I finished it in three days so that has to count for something, right? I’m going to give it a six out of ten rating and would recommend it for a quick summer read, if nothing else.

Who else has read The Woman In Cabin 10? What did you think about it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug7

Lil Red’s Book Club: Those People Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Those People Edition

Hello, hello everyone and welcome to a new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! Today, we are going to be discussing the whodoneit thriller called Those People, written by Louise Candlish. I have been going through books left and right during my free time, and out of the past handful that I’ve finished, Those People has definitely been my favorite. It leaves you questioning how far you would go to stand up to a bully or, in this case, a neighbor from hell. Without revealing spoilers, let’s discuss:

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Lowland Way is the suburban dream street. Beautiful homes, posh neighbors, and a quiet peacefulness that makes it the ideal neighborhood for the families living there. That is, until Darren and Jodie move in, wreaking havoc on the once “family friendly” street. Loud music, parties, swearing, foul attitudes, a used car business ran from the front yard, and noisy as can be home renovations make the new neighbors on the block less than popular. Especially considering that their business and construction make them a massive eyesore on the picture perfect community.

What’s worse is, the more that Jodie and Darren’s neighbors like Tess, Sissy, Naomi, Em, Ant, and Ralph plea for the noise levels to be kept down, the more intense everything seems to get on their property. And, Darren and Jodie often scoff at any of the uptight neighbors coming to their yard with requests. As if all of this wasn’t bad enough, someone died on Darren and Jodie’s property as the result of an accident on their construction scaffolding.

Once this misfortune happens, the neighbors begin banding together to put an end to Darren and Jodie’s reign of terror. Even if that means committing a murder themselves. However, the scaffolding accident wasn’t so clear cut and while the neighbors are plotting murder, they are being investigated for one as the screws on the structure were tampered with. So, who committed the deed that made the “wrong” person die and can the neighbors work up the nerve to attempt murder again to get it right? Read Those People to find out!

This book was such a quick read for me because it was simply riveting. I loved how the chapters were presented from a different neighbor’s point of view each time and it kept me turning the page because I wanted to see how situations were seen in the other character’s eyes. There were two whodoneit scenarios in the book and I enjoyed piecing together the information from each neighbor to try and figure out what their role was in the crimes committed.

Those People was a nice break from the unstable female narrator books that I have been drawn to lately and it was well worth the read. I don’t think any of you will be able to put it down! I am going to rate it with a 7.5 out of ten and highly recommend it.

Has anyone else read Those People? What were your thoughts on it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul20

Groovy Movies: Crawl Edition

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Groovy Movies: Crawl Edition

Howdy! This past week, I took one of my clients to see a new creature horror movie called Crawl. Normally, I am not big on the flicks with giant animals terrorizing people, but this one was highly entertaining, super suspenseful, short and sweet, and the actors weren’t half bad, either. Take a look at the trailer and then read on to find out my rating for this new release:

^^^ And, as always, I have no rights to this video.

Long story short, a hella hurricane is happening in Florida and when swim star, Hayley, has heard nothing from her dad, she ventures to their old home to investigate. He is nowhere to be found inside of the house but the family dog, Sugar, leads her to the crawl space beneath, which she begrudgingly goes into.

After some searching in the claustrophobic bottom layer of the house, Hayley finds her dad severely injured with an alligator bite to the shoulder and leg compliments of the one that entered the premises through a flooded drain pipe. And, to make matters worse, there’s not one but two of them. And, to make matters worse AGAIN, the crawl space is beginning to fill with water thanks to the major hurricane happening. So, their options are to drown or figure a way out despite the massive gators making home there…

And save the dog, of course.

Like I said earlier, these types of movies are normally not my cup of tea. But, I thought that Crawl was an absolute HOOT. It was a really fun watch and the suspense was nonstop thanks to a combination of things like the close quarters of the crawl space, the flood waters steadily rising, and oh yeah – the big ass alligators. I also liked how this movie was relatively short at an hour and a half because it moved quickly and made the anticipation of the flood waters rising feel even more desperate.

Hayley and her dad were also both very likeable and I found myself rooting for them and their safety the entire movie. So, whenever a setback would happen or a plan didn’t work, it definitely felt like a major blow. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this movie and I would give it a seven out of ten. It was a great summer flick to see in theaters and I would for sure recommend it!

Who else has seen Crawl? What were your thoughts on it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image By: AMC Theaters

Jun21

Bath Bomb Blitz: Lush’s Goldrush Edition

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Bath Bomb Blitz: Lush’s Goldrush Edition

Hellooo everyone! This past week, I enjoyed taking a soak with a bath bomb from Lush called Goldrush. Giving the ultimate mermaid experience with gorgeous turquoise water and glitter for dayz, this bath bomb was a definite hit. Take a look at some pics and let’s discuss:

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Although Goldrush was small, it was a mighty little bath bomb. The blue power ball was really pigmented, which I was so happy about. Sometimes the smaller bath bombs just tint the water and that’s always disappointing. About halfway through the bomb fizzing out, the glitter started coming from the core and it just didn’t stop! It made for a bath that was perfectly lux and oh so pampering.

Goldrush was a very solid bath bomb overall and it would be a great one to gift to someone or just for yourself! I give it a 7.5 out of 10.

Do you prefer bath bombs or bubble bath? What is your favorite color for your bath water? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

PS: Special thanks to Kate from Live In The Nautical for this treat! ❤

PPS: Sorry this post is a bit lackluster – I am writing it with a horrible hangover. #justbeinghonest #whoops

Jun19

Groovy Movies: Godzilla King Of The Monsters Edition

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Groovy Movies: Godzilla King Of The Monsters Edition

Hello! This past week, I took one of my clients to see Godzilla King Of The Monsters. Now, I admit that I have never seen a single Godzilla movie before. I have never been a big creature flick type of gal. However, until the halfway point of King Of The Monsters, I have to say that I was really feeling it. But, my god, was this movie long AF. Let’s discuss:

So, long story short, the government is fighting for the termination of the monsters that have caused mass destruction across the globe – Godzilla’s big ass included. But, the Monarch agency who is insistent upon the coexistence between man and monster does not want this to happen. So, after Emma and Madison, the wife and daughter of Mark Russell are “kidnapped”, Monarch enlists the help of Mark who can track ORCA frequencies and could potentially find the location of his estranged family and other monsters around the world.

But, *SPOILER ALERT* the kidnapping is just a ruse and Emma wants all of the titans awakened to cleanse the planet because, after the disaster happens, the location thrives because of the radiation the monsters leave behind. So, this turns into an all out war between the monsters worldwide, when Godzilla and his arch enemy, Monster Zero, fight for the alpha position.

^^^ And, as always, I have no rights to this video!

Now, I totally understand that my opinion on the movie isn’t as valid because it is the first Godzilla movie I have seen out of the many that have come before it. And, I have to say, until close to halfway through the movie, I was having a great time. The movie was so visually appealing, the titans were cool, and the cast was doing a good job. But, then, it just started to drag ass in the worst way.

Clocking in at two hours and twelve minutes, Godzilla King Of The Monsters definitely lost its momentum after such a strong first hour. That’s not to say that the rest of the movie wasn’t good, it just felt boring in comparison to such a heavy hitting action packed opening. By an hour and a half in, I was mentally begging for it to be over because, if you’ve seen one or two monster fighting scenes, you’ve seen them all. And, I had already seen what felt like twenty.

Do I recommend this movie? For actual fans of the Godzilla franchise, absolutely. I think you will have a lot of fun. But, if you’re going just to go, I think you will feel very similarly to myself about halfway through and I would say go see something that you know you would enjoy more. I rate Godzilla King Of The Monsters with a: 5.8 out of 10.

Also, peep that sky after the movie! Not only was it beautiful but it was really cool after seeing all of the craziness happen in the sky during the movie!

sky

Have you seen the new Godzilla yet? What were your thoughts on it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image By: IMDB

Jun17

Miniature Schnauzer Love

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Miniature Schnauzer Love

If you are tempted to welcome a puppy into your home, the miniature schnauzer is an outstanding canine companion to have in your household. With an exceptional temperament, a fun and friendly attitude, and nothing worse than a bark in terms of aggression, these terrier like dogs are perfect for the family. If you want to welcome a new four legged friend into your brood, chances are that you’ve already done tons of research, but have you considered these lesser thought about aspects of dog ownership?

Intelligence:

The miniature schnauzer is a highly intelligent breed. Forget not knowing his name, being unable to fetch a toy, or having no clue what toilet training is, your mini schnauzer will aim to please. He is loyal, obedient, and highly intelligent. At only ten weeks of age, your mini schnauzer should be able to sit and stay on command and will enjoy taking part in training sessions with you. It’s a good idea at the puppy nipping stage to teach bite inhibition to try and ward off the need for a dog bite lawyer. You want to train your mutt to be calm, measured and alert to your voice. They need to be focused on you even in a park full of people and other hounds. Your miniature schnauzer will do just that.

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Life is ruff!

Food:

A miniature schnauzer is very food motivated. This can be helpful when trying to get your little buddy to listen to you. Waft his favorite treat under his nose and you’ll have him under your little finger. But it can also be a hindrance. Miniature schnauzers are well known to have delicate tummies, so high fat snacks and unhealthy scraps from the dining room table are a no. This is a good thing, as it means your dog won’t grow up chubby or having to watch his weight. A miniature schnauzer is energetic, bouncy, and fun to have around. So as long as you have the time to take them on two walks a day, they’ll be a happy mutt.

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SO. Cute!

Appearance:

All miniature schnauzers look male – it’s the beard that does it! However, whatever gender your mini is, you will need to groom him regularly. He’ll need regular brushing and clipping to ensure that his hair doesn’t get matted or too bedraggled. Feed a top quality grain free kibble with the right nutrients and his coat should look shiny and healthy for his entire life. There are many cuts to choose from including the breed standard beard and short coat to the more flamboyant Asian fusion cuts. The choice is yours, but make sure that you go to a groomer who knows what they are doing. Sensitive shampoos and conditioners are a must for this delicate little breed.

Getting a dog is daunting, but it will be the best decision you have ever made. Miniature schnauzers are fun, will keep you on your toes, and will make the perfect family pet for your household.

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Jun10

Bath Bomb Blitz: Unknown From Lush Edition

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Bath Bomb Blitz: Unknown From Lush Edition

Howdy! I have made many wonderful friends thanks to lifewithlilred but there’s one lovely lady who holds a very special place in my heart and that’s Kate from Live In The Nautical. A fiery, intelligent beauty with a passion for travel and style, Kate is literally the coolest and it has been such a joy to be her friend. No matter if we talk every day or if it’s been a month, we always seem to pick up right where we left off, which I think is a major testament to our friendship.

Everything about Kate is amazing but her thoughtfulness is what I love the most about her. It always seems like she just knows when I need a little pick me up. For example, when I was in absolute agony from my surgery in December, I receive a Christmas present from her in the mail. And, recently, when we were very close to putting our dog down, a birthday prezzie from my Gemini Twin shows up. Talk about blogging BFF telepathy!

Kate knows that goodies from Lush are the way to my heart and I always feel so spoiled when I get to enjoy a bath bomb from there because I don’t use their products often at all. Recently, I used the little number seen below who’s name I am not sure of because it wasn’t on the website. So, we’ll just go with “Unknown” for now, lol. Check it out:

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Aside from my bath tub at my apartment having a mind of its own and draining whenever it feels like, Unknown was a very pleasant bath bomb experience. It didn’t have much of a smell but it put on a jolly good show of shamrock green and white spirals. It also took a long time to fizz out – at least five minutes, which is always a plus.

When Unknown first started fizzing, I thought it was going to be a jelly bomb because of the thicker green bubble stuff happening. But, that wasn’t the case, which was a little disappointing because I do love me a good jelly bomb. Despite that, I still felt insanely hydrated upon exiting the tub once I finished shaving and I think that’s my favorite part. I always put lotion on post shave but I probably don’t even need to when using the ultra moisturizing Lush bath bombs!

Overall, I’d rate Unknown with a five out of ten. It wasn’t my favorite but it certainly wasn’t the worst, either, and I wouldn’t be mad about using it again.

What is your favorite Lush product? Who is your blogging BFF? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May26

Face Mask Festivities: SpaLife Brightening Sheet Mask Edition

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Face Mask Festivities: SpaLife Brightening Sheet Mask Edition

Hiii everyone! While in the shower the other day, I remembered that a friend of mine gave me a Target gift card when I was moving into my apartment. I was so happy that I remembered this but was also SO annoyed because I had been to Target at least three times since moving. Smh.

But, it’s better late than never for using the gift card so I made a Target run and purchased a few essentials as well as a sheet face mask to push me slightly above the gift card limit. I have never used a sheet mask before so I thought that I would give it a try as a little treat to myself. I went with a brightening mask made with papaya by SpaLife and it was about three dollars per mask. I can’t say that it was my favorite face mask experience but I didn’t hate it. Take a look at some pics and let’s discuss:

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^^^ Hahaha, ahhhh that picture kills me! 😀

Because my skin type is as normal as it gets, I always go for masks that are either brightening or hydrating. And, with summer coming in hot, I thought that my skin could use some brightening for a more radiant appearance in the bright sun. I have also been really tired lately so my skin has been looking and feeling pretty lackluster. Needless to say, a brightening mask was just what the doctor ordered.

When I took the sheet mask out of the package, it was absolutely dripping with the papaya serum. I was a little surprised by this because the mask was inexpensive. I wasn’t expecting it to be bone dry but I also wasn’t expecting it to be jam packed with papaya goodness, either. This mask smelled really good, too. I caught a whiff of papaya as soon as I opened the packet and it lingered for the duration of having the mask on.

I left the mask on for about twelve minutes and then it fell off while I was in the shower. The mask wasn’t uncomfortable by any means but I didn’t like that you essentially just had to sit there with the mask on to avoid it falling off. This is why I prefer your standard face mask from a jar or tube so that you can continue going about your business until it’s time to wash it off.

Although the mask came off prematurely, I can say that I definitely saw some results from it. I had literally no expectations for this mask so maybe that’s why I was more keen to pick up on any differences in my skin. But, my under eye circles seemed less prevalent, my skin looked brighter, and it felt insanely smooth so I was very happy about all of that.

I can’t say that I would go out of my way to use a sheet mask again because I enjoy normal face masks so much but I’m glad that I tried it. And, if you haven’t tried one before, then you should go to Target and grab a SpaLife mask. It was inexpensive and an overall pleasant experience for what it was!

How do you feel about sheet masks? What is your favorite face mask to use? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May19

Lil Red’s Presidential Medal Of Freedom: Too Faced Melted Matte In Queen B Edition

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Lil Red’s Presidential Medal Of Freedom: Too Faced Melted Matte In Queen B Edition

Helloooo! Have any of you ever had a beauty product that you were pretty excited about but just never bothered using? Lol, because that’s what definitely happened with the Sephora freebie I got of Too Faced’s Melted Matte lip paint. I got the shade in Queen B FO FREE with a twenty-five dollar online purchase and I thought that the deep mauve shade was pretty but it also is a color that I wouldn’t normally wear so it just sat unused in my makeup box until May 15th, 2019.

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On that fateful day, I was wearing a turquoise spaghetti strap top, denim shorts, black mini platforms, and a jean jacket. I thought that the above shade would look so good with the various blue hues that I had in my OOTD so I put some on, threw the tube of lippie in my bag, and headed out the door.

I was right, of course, because the lipstick looked divine. And, like anyone, I was expecting to have to reapply after working, eating lunch, and kissing my boyfriend. But… I didn’t? I was blown away! This lip paint literally didn’t budge. So, I continued on with my day which included eating Indian food and more kissing my boyfriend. AND IT STILL STAYED ON! It looked like I had just applied it and, at that point, I had had the color on for at least ten hours.

HOW DOES THAT EVEN HAPPEN?!
HOW IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE?!
WHY HAS IT TAKEN ME ALMOST A YEAR TO USE THIS LIPPIE?!
TUNE IN NEXT WEEK ON I HAVE NO IDEA!

But, seriously though. How is that even possible? This is why I have to award the Too Faced Melted Matte lip paint with the Lil Red Presidential Medal Of Freedom. For withstanding Indian food, PDA, and a day on the job without so much as budging. I thank you for your commendable service and cannot recommend this product enough! 😀

What is your favorite product by Too Faced? Do you have any products that have been sitting unused in your stash? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah