Tag Archives: recommendations

Apr1

Fun & Games: Horrified – American Monsters Edition

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Fun & Games: Horrified – American Monsters Edition

Howdy!! One of mine and Johnny’s all time favorite board games is called Horrified. In this game, you save a village from classic horror movie monsters like Dracula, The Mummy, The Invisible Man, etc. While we love the first edition of the game, we would always lament over the fact that different boards weren’t available. So, you can imagine our delight when we found out that wasn’t the case at all. Actually, there are three additional boards of Horrified. There is World of Monsters, Greek Monsters, and our newest addition – American Monsters. We played our first round a few days ago, absolutely crushed, and a fun time was had by all. Check it out:

Like the other expansions of Horrified, the game play in American Monsters remains the same: Complete the tasks to defeat the monsters and bring safety to a peaceful town. The only difference is, of course, the monsters, heroes, villagers, and items. In the American Monsters expansion, the monsters are all cryptids that include Bigfoot, Mothman, the Jersey Devil, Chupacabra, Banshee of the Badlands, and the Ozark Howler. As per the game’s recommendation, we played against the Chupacabra and the Banshee of the Badlands. And, as per random selection, I played as the Cryptozoologist and Johnny played as the Mountain Man and can I please repeat that we totally dominated!

The pairing that the directions suggested was a way to dip your toes in the water in terms of difficulty. Despite the Chupacabra and the Banshee of the Badlands being the easiest way to start, I really think it was the characters we ended up with that helped the most. If you are new to the game, the Cryptozoologist and the Mountain Man worked incredibly well together against these monsters because of their special powers. Johnny’s character could move to any space and mine could move to any space with a monster in it. This gave us the ability to move here, there, and everywhere with ease which was so beneficial for the tasks we needed to do. Had we randomly drawn different heroes, the game probably wouldn’t have gone as smoothly and I highly recommend the monster and hero pairings we did if you are a brand new player. It will definitely help boost your confidence to learn the game in a lower key way and get an easy win under your belt.

Because Johnny and I are not new to Horrified, we plan on going BALLS TO THE WALL when we purchase the Greek Monsters expansion. We know the game like the back of our hands and the training wheels are coming off. We are going to break in the board with the most difficult pairing and see what happens. I can’t wait!

Have you played Horrified before? What is your favorite cryptid? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar31

March 2025 Finishes

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March 2025 Finishes

Oh hey! It’s the last day of March and, I’ve got to say, it has been a pretty good month for your favorite lil blogger. And the fact that spring is… springing makes everything that much better! Before we dive head first into April showers to bring May flowers, it’s time to discuss my beauty finishes for the month. I’ve also got to say, they were pretty good too! Check it out:

Would I Use Again?

Evoluderm Vitamin C Micellar Water: NO

Envy Hyaluronic Acid & Ceramides Cleanser: NO

Bath & Body Works Winter Candy Apple Lotion: YES

Vital Beauty Cooling Eye Gel: YES

Clinical Works Hyaluronic Acid Face Cream: YES!!

Why/Why Not?

Evoluderm Micellar Water: During a TJMaxx skin care haul, I purchased a full bottle and travel size pack of the Evoluderm Vitamin C micellar water. I used up the travel size one last month, didn’t care for it, and completing the full size bottle solidified my “whomp whomp” sentiments. I noticed no positive changes in my skin with the different formula and makeup removal was more difficult. I have tried countless variations of traditional micellar water and always find myself wanting to return to my old standby. I am glad I can get back to the classic Evoluderm micellar water now that this dud is done!

Envy Cleanser: I have been using the Hyaluronic Acid & Ceramides cleanser by Envy every day for the past three months and change. I am SO happy to be done with it because I was less than impressed. Despite the fact that is lathered well and there was a lot of bang for the buck since a little went a long way, the results just weren’t there. It also had more of a cream texture which, in my opinion, is far less refreshing than my go to foaming cleansers. This is definitely a product that can be skipped on.

Clinical Works Moisturizer: Now, this Hyaluronic Acid moisturizer by Clinical Works was a winner and I so wish I had more! It took me five weeks of twice daily use to finish the big jar and I could absolutely see a difference in my skin. It looked bright, dewy, and was simply glowing. My skin felt soft and smooth and it looked it, too. This pleasing somewhere in between a gel and cream texture would be perfect for late spring and summer use and I am keeping my fingers, toes, and eyes crossed that I can find more at TJMaxx. Highly recommend!

Even though there were a few losers in the mix, this batch of empties was a GREAT SUCCESS because I truly couldn’t wait to be done with some of these long term products. I hope I have better luck with their replacements!

Which products did you finish up this month? What are your thoughts on any of the above products if you have used them before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar25

Beyond Meat Veggie Burger Review

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Beyond Meat Veggie Burger Review

Hello! Whenever Johnny and I are in the mood for veggie burgers, we tend to go with the MorningStar Grillers. However, we had the opportunity to try a new to us meatless brand called Beyond Meat. This “opportunity” was completely random. I have NO idea where or how Johnny’s dad acquired two big bags of the Beyond Meat patties but he did and bequeathed them onto us lol. My father-in-law is always ragging on me for being a vegetarian (It’s hilarious – seriously!) but he sure is supportive and provided us with the best veggie burger we’ve ever had at home:

^^^ You can check out my prep video on TikTok! @lilred6794 !!!

Meatless options have truly evolved over the years and Johnny and I have tried several that we were genuinely concerned was actual meat lol. I hate that!! In fact, the first time I ever tried a Beyond Burger in a restaurant, I had to have the waiter double check that that was for real what I was eating. Ever since that fateful incident, I have never had a Beyond Burger again. I can’t enjoy my food if I am worried with every bite I take! For a majority of my life, the meatless brands didn’t taste like the real thing in the slightest. It’s just what I’m used to, what I like, and what I feel comfortable eating.

I was a tad concerned that these Beyond Meat burgers would be a bust due to my preferences and, happily, that was not the case at all. These burgers were delicious! In stark contrast to the MorningStar Grillers, the Beyond Meat burgers were thick and juicy. The hint of flavor of a real burger was subtle and I appreciated that a lot for my own sanity lol. This also allowed for the toppings and the fluffy and sweet Hawaiian roll bun to do the talking. I put mozzarella cheese on my burger as well as a healthy dollop of Taco Bell Chipotle sauce. The end result was a flavor symphony and, boy, was it filling. We were totally stuffed at the end of the meal!

If you are like me and shy away from the “taste alike” meatless options, I cannot recommend the Beyond Meat burgers enough. If you are just looking for a yummy new veggie burger to try, I also cannot recommend the Beyond Meat burgers enough!

What is your favorite meatless brand? What are your favorite toppings on a burger? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar21

Gardein Ultimate Chick’n Filets Review

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Gardein Ultimate Chick’n Filets Review

Hello! I have been a strict vegetarian for longer than I can remember and my, how times have changed. Way back when, I feel like there was only MorningStar and Boca for “fake meat” options. Now, the selection is seemingly endless and I am always excited to try what’s new in the meatless market. I am especially partial to the brand Gardein and so is Johnny! Despite being anything but a vegetarian, he loves when I make a meatless dinner and that is a beautiful thing. During my last curbside order, the Gardein Ultimate Chick’n Filets caught my eye and Johnny and I couldn’t wait for a taste test. Let’s discuss:

When Johnny and I first made fake chicken sandwiches with the Gardein filets, we made them in the air fryer and it was just okay. They definitely weren’t as crisp as we would have liked and that left us less than impressed as the taste was kind of bland and it was a much thicker patty than our usual offering from MorningStar. HOWEVER, I had the last filet in the bag for a chicken sandwich last night and I made it in the oven because our air fryer basket needed washed. We should have made them in the oven from the jump because the difference was night and day.

Our oven cooks really fast so I had to modify the amount of time the filet cooked. Mine was in the oven for eighteen minutes with a flip halfway through and it was perfect. I made my sandwich with a Hawaiian roll hamburger bun, mozzarella cheese, and chipotle sauce. The end result was, easily, one of the best meatless sandwiches I have ever had. The filet was nice and crisp and the sauce and cheese combo was spot on. It was delicious, filling, and was the closest thing I have had to a “real” chicken sandwich since I stopped eating meat. My only qualm with this option by Gardein is the flavor because these filets absolutely need some dressing up and are pretty bland sans sauce. They do have a “spicy” option for the Ultimate Filets and I can’t wait to try them – I think they will be even better!

If you are a vegetarian or simply trying to add more meatless options to your diet, the Gardein Ultimate Chick’n Filets are a fantastic place to start. Just be sure to make them in the oven!

What is your favorite meatless brand? Where do you like to grocery shop? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar19

Airbrush Plush Review

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Airbrush Plush Review

Hello! This past Friday, Johnny and I had the most amazing time celebrating our eldest niece for her sixth birthday. We wanted it to be the ultimate Treat Day for her and she gave us a grand plan of what she would like to do: Dinner at Chipotle, a shopping spree at Target, and a slumber party at our apartment. So that is exactly what we did!! After noshing at Chipotle, we shopped till we dropped at Target. Our niece picked out plenty of toys and a couple of crafts and it was so sweet that she wanted to play with everything and complete the crafts with us. On Saturday morning, we broke out the Airbrush Plush craft kit and it was seriously the cutest little project and the kiddo loved it. Check it out:

As soon as our niece locked eyes on the Airbrush Plush kit, she was all about it lol. Anything that comes with a unicorn plushie is an instant yes so into the cart it went! I was really excited to help her with this craft because it was so delightfully reminiscent of the DoodleBear. The DoodleBear was a toy that I had as a child and it was basically the OG version of the Airbrush Plush. It was a teddy bear that came with markers, you could color all over it, and then wash it and do it again. The Airbrush Plush had all the same sentiments and my niece couldn’t believe I played with something so similar when I was little too.

This kit cost twenty bucks and I consider it to be money well spent based on the fun factor alone. The ease of use and the fact that you can rinse and repeat the process only solidified that and it would be such a great gift or a craft to pick up for a rainy day. The Airbrush Plush kit came with an airbrush, four markers, and plenty of stencils in a wide variety of patterns. All Johnny and I had to do was put two AA batteries in the airbrush and our niece was able to handle the rest completely on her own. She had a solid idea of how she wanted her plushie to look and airbrushed away until she was satisfied, then added stencils to give the unicorn magic powers lol. Our hearts exploded when she said she was giving the plushie “rock n roll” hair!! We have taught her well. ❤

The Airbrush Plush fully dried in under twenty minutes, the cleanup was nonexistent, and I think we were all very happy with this purchase. If you were a 90s kid and unlocked a core memory with the DoodleBear mention, you will enjoy it just as much too. Highly recommend!

What was your favorite toy as a child? What is a really cool toy that your kiddo has? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar11

Fun & Games: Horrified – World Of Monsters Edition

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Fun & Games: Horrified – World Of Monsters Edition

Hello! Johnny and I love playing board games together and one of our favorites is, hands down, Horrified. In this co-op game, your mission is to work as a team and save a village from classic horror movie monsters like Dracula, Frankenstein and his Bride, The Mummy, The Wolf Man, The Invisible Man, and The Creature from the Black Lagoon. Each monster has its own unique way of being defeated with tasks you must complete and all the while, you have to protect yourself, teammates, and villagers on the board. It is so much fun!!

We have gotten great use out of Horrified and Johnny and I always hoped they would make a new board with new monsters. You could imagine our surprise when we found out there was three! In addition to the original, there is a board for American Monsters, Greek Monsters, and World of Monsters. This past weekend, we made a Target Run to see if they had any of these new boards available. They had World of Monsters and we played it as soon as we got home. We had an absolute blast!

The premise of World of Monsters is the exact same as the original Horrified but with brand new heroes, monsters, villagers, items, action cards, and objectives. In World of Monsters, you can go toe to toe with the Sphinx, Yeti, Jiangshi, and Cthulhu. As per the game’s recommendation, we battled the Sphinx and Yeti first to get a feel for the board. Johnny played as the Buccaneer and I chose the Parapsychologist. Both of these heroes worked really well together and we were able to utilize their strengths for optimal results because we reigned victorious. Granted, our Life Counter was getting down to the wire but we still won so who cares lol.

Despite the fact that the way you play the other Horrified games doesn’t change, World of Monsters still felt so fresh and new. It was exciting to see everything the new board had to offer and it looked amazing too! If you are as big of fans of the first game as Johnny and I am, then this is a must buy. We plan on getting the other two boards as well and I have a feeling we are going to be playing a lot. I am SO not mad about this and would love to pencil in a game if we are both up for it after work instead of retiring to the couch. These new boards are what we have been waiting for and, as great as the original is, it’s going to make returning to it after playing something different even better!

Horrified is an easy to learn, fast, total blast of a game and I cannot recommend World of Monsters enough. And I cannot wait to play more!!

What is your favorite board game? Have you played Horrified before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar10

Vegetarian Friendly Ramen

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Vegetarian Friendly Ramen

Howdy!! I have been a vegetarian for as long as I can remember and I will forever be checking the labels of food at the store/where the food is prepared in restaurants. I refuse to let my streak be broken and that often means not getting the things that I would like to try. Soup is a shining example of this because a majority of what you’re buying in store is made with some type of meat based broth. Another food that has fairly limited options is ramen. There’s a million noodle packs for carnivores and one or two for vegetarians!

I have tried a handful of quick to go vegetarian ramen and none of them have ever done much for me. However, I have had a lot of luck in finding my favorite kind during my past few grocery trips. This specific kind of ramen isn’t always available so I get a ton when it is for a speedy and cheap meal. If you are forever on the hunt for a good vegetarian ramen, I can’t recommend this kind enough:

A little sweet, a little spicy, and a little over a dollar – this Sweet Chili ramen is the bomb.com ! It is bold, flavorful, and filling and I actually just had a cup prior to writing this lol. What can I say, I decided to switch my breakfast up from my recent avocado toast kick! It might not seem like much, but it really is a beautiful thing when you can find a food that you like that adheres to your dietary restrictions. In cases like this, it’s like finding the holy grail and you are in for a treat if you try it too. It is SO. Freaking. Yummy!!

The Chili Lime ramen has become my foolproof option and it is easily the best out of every kind I have tried before. 12/10!

What are some of your favorite vegetarian options at the grocery store? Do you have a favorite meatless brand? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar3

Clinical Works Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizer Review

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Clinical Works Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizer Review

Howdy! I absolutely love to shop for skin care at TJMaxx and am always eager to try new brands and products. Whether they are a hit or miss, it’s just nice to try something new and review them. Typically, I have a lot of luck with my selections and am fine with the periodic “good but not great” product. However, I have been really striking out with moisturizers as of late. The ones that I have completed recently literally did nothing for me, which is a bummer because I revel in a good moisturizer! I was expecting a repeat of the “meh” sentiment when I started this Hyaluronic Acid moisturizer by Clinical Works. It turns out that my luck has turned because it is the BEST! Let’s discuss:

Before talking about the product itself, let’s talk price. This is a highly important factor in what I pick out and I simply refuse to spend more than seven dollars on skin care at TJs. I couldn’t believe that this HUGE jar of moisturizer was only five dolla holla and I am not even close to halfway done after a month of twice daily use. Talk about a bang for your buck and my deepest regret is that I didn’t buy the lot that they had available during that haul. Hindsight, as always, is 20/20.

When it comes to moisturizers, my preference is something nice and light with a gel texture. The Hyaluronic Acid moisturizer by Clinical Works lies somewhere between a true cream and a gel moisturizer and it feels as light as air when applied. It absorbs rapidly and it’s easy to forget that I even put it on in the first place. My skin feels so soft with each use and I love the way it looks too. It is dewy, radiant, and glowing. All of this from barely a quarter sized dollop for full coverage on my face and neck. I cannot recommend it enough!

I am going to be SO sad when I finish my jar of Clinical Works moisturizer and will be keeping my eyes peeled for more. Fingers crossed!

What is your favorite moisturizer? Where do you shop for your skin care? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb28

February 2025 Finishes

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February 2025 Finishes

Hello everyone and welcome to my February Finishes! Spring will be here before we know it and I am SO ready for it! Sunshine and warmer days means that my seasonal depression can kick rocks and reveal itself as plain old depression and, honestly, I’ll take it lolol. In fact, we had our first few forty degree and sunny days this past week and it has been glorious. So, without further adieu, let’s wrap this month up and kiss February goodbye:

Would I Use Again?

Hope Soap Honey & Almond Body Cream: YES!!

Evoluderm Micellar Water: YES

Evoluderm Vitamin C Micellar Water: NO

CleanBeauty Barrier Support Facial Oil: NO

Why/Why Not?

Hope Soap Body Cream: I genuinely forgot that I had a Honey & Almond Body Cream from a local business called Hope Soap until I reorganized my beauty stockpile. I have been using it every night for the past month and I’m actually happy that I didn’t know I had it because it’s so perfect for wintertime use. First of all, this cream smells AMAZING. I wouldn’t say it’s a true honey/almond scent because to me and Johnny, it smelled exactly like chocolate covered cherries and we were not complaining! Most importantly, this body cream is so nourishing for dry winter skin. I love its lightness and how quickly it absorbed and my skin felt fully hydrated with each use. My hands tend to get very red during the winter and it was so nice to wake up every morning seeing my normal skin tone!

Evoluderm Vitamin C Micellar Water: I had no idea that my go to brand of micellar water, Evoluderm, had a Vitamin C line so I was excited to try it out. I am a huge fan of any kind of Vitamin C skin care and assumed the best for this product. Unfortunately, the Vitamin C Micellar Water was a big miss for me. My skin always feels amazing after using my standard Hydrating version and that sensation just wasn’t there. Not only that, but the Vitamin C micellar water was not the best at makeup removal. I really had to scrub to get my makeup off and even after that, remnants of my MOTD was still there. Once again, that was never the case with my old standby so I will be sticking with it from now on.

CleanBeauty Facial Oil: This facial oil was actually a mistake purchase because the similar packaging made me think that it was a serum by CleanBeauty that I loved. It wasn’t a big deal and I liked the idea of using a facial oil during the winter. This one, however, was just too much. No matter how little of the oil I applied, it still felt suffocating on my skin. This product was thick, literally never absorbed, and was a nightmare to put makeup over. It took me over a month of twice daily use to complete the bottle and I was ecstatic when I was done. Unless you have SUPER dry skin, this is a product that can definitely be skipped on.

Smell ya later, February! Here’s to ALL of the springtime fun here on lifewithlilred! ❤

Which products did you use up this month? What are your thoughts on any of the above products if you have used them before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb24

Groovy Movies: Heart Eyes Edition

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Groovy Movies: Heart Eyes Edition

Hello!! I have had the pleasure of working with my very first client as an Independent Provider again and it is nothing short of a total joy. When I first started working with her almost a decade ago, one of our favorite community outings was going to see scary movies together. We both share a love for horror and slasher flicks and would hit the movie theater at least once per month. This past week, it was the most wonderful deja vu to go see Heart Eyes, as per her suggestion. This Valentine’s Day slasher checked all of my boxes and it was a blast from start to finish. I can’t wait to watch it again with Johnny because we both adore holiday themed scary movies! 😀

^^^ I do not have any rights to this video!

The Heart Eyes Killer or HEK for short has been terrorizing happy couples on Valentine’s Day for the past handful of years. Any cute couple displaying PDA is not safe from the scorn of this serial killer and they are advised to stay inside and keep their affection under wraps. This is no problem for Ally because saying she is unlucky in love is a total understatement. She went through a bad breakup and truly believes that romance is dead. So much so, that she created a dark ad campaign featuring famous death scenes from romance flicks for the jewelry company she works for to celebrate the season.

With the HEK on the loose, this could not have been a worse time for the campaign to launch so her employer sends in the big guns: A handsome freelancer named Jay who will surely create romantic magic to sell jewelry for Love Day. This comes as a HUGE shock to Ally who happened to have a meetcute encounter with Jay at the coffee shop prior to her campaign coming to a screeching halt. Jay would like Ally’s help for the new ad and invites her to dinner to which she agrees with the emphasis on it not being a date but a work meeting.

The restaurant they go to is very romantic and fully decked out for Valentine’s Day. It would be perfect minus the fact that Ally has sworn off of dating and, oh yeah, her ex boyfriend and his new flame have arrived for their reservation. To make her ex jealous, Ally engages Jay in a passionate kiss. Her former love isn’t the only one to see their lip lock – the HEK did too. In the killer’s heart shaped eyes, they broke the most important rule of all: Absolutely no PDA. From the moment Jay and Ally’s lips touched, their fate was sealed and the killer is hot on their tail. Will they survive the night after the Heart Eyes Killer targets them as the newest victims? Or, will true love conquer all? Watch Heart Eyes to find out!

As soon as Heart Eyes started, I was immediately in and remained that way for the entirety of the film. This short and sweet slasher was nonstop fun! It was hilarious, had some pretty nice eye candy, and crazy kills. My client and I couldn’t believe that a movie like this hadn’t been made before because the plot seems somewhat obvious. Then again, no one else has ever thought of it and Heart Eyes twisted this predictable plot into something shockingly fresh. Like I said, Johnny and I have grown most fond of holiday slashers and Heart Eyes is, easily, my favorite one yet. Is it the best scary movie ever? Of course not. Is it worth the watch? Absolutely!

Overall, I am going to rate Heart Eyes with an eight out of ten stars. Based on the fact alone that I wanted to watch it immediately again with Johnny after seeing it, I highly recommend giving it a watch!

What is the last movie you saw in theaters? What is your favorite scary movie? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah