Tag Archives: shopping

TJMaxx Skin Care Haul

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TJMaxx Skin Care Haul

Hi! When I went on my TJMaxx birthday gift card shopping spree with my mom I had two goals: 1) Find a new pair of sneakers. And 2) Restock my skin care. Everything else that was purchased was just the cherry on top! For my birthday and Christmas, I am often blessed with beaucoup bucks to TJs and like doing my semi annual skin care restock with those funds. It’s so nice to get everything I need for my skin care routine without paying a dime and I always enjoy trying out new to me brands and revisiting old favorites. I think this gift card haul will definitely tide me over for a while! Check it out:

My skin care routine goes a little something like this. Step 1) Wash my face with a scrub and then use a foaming cleanser. Step 2) Apply micellar water. Step 3: Serum, eye cream, and moisturizer. This is the setup that best works for me and I have never strayed from it. All I need are the products to make it happen! When it comes to shopping for skin care, I don’t really care what brand I’m using as long as it’s cruelty free. I have a very normal skin type so I can get away with dabbling in different formulas and product outcomes. It makes visiting the skin care department in TJMaxx exciting because I truly never know what I am going to end up with!

In this haul, I walked away with more of my beloved Evoluderm micellar water which I always need as well as a few new serums, moisturizers, a cleanser, and eye cream. I am particularly looking forward to trying the ValJean Labs serum because I have never seen them at TJs before and am crazy about their cleansers. If this serum is half as nice as the foaming cleanser that I use every morning then I know I am in for a treat. I also can’t wait to try the new to me Goodness brand for the moisturizer and eye cream. Part of it is for the experience, of course, but a bigger part of it is making a review for all of you. I will be finishing up my current moisturizer in the next few days so be on the lookout for a brand new product review coming soon!

I came, I saw, I shopped and had the best afternoon on the town with my mom. There is nothing better than being in our happy place together! ❤

How often do you restock your skin care? Does your skin care routine change in the summer? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

New J. McLaughlin Top

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New J. McLaughlin Top

Howdy! This past week I had so much fun shopping till I dropped at TJMaxx with my mom so I could spend some birthday gift cards. I got everything I wanted and then some and there was nothing like a little retail therapy to brighten both of our days! While I was hoping to find a few new pieces of summer clothing, TJs showed me the light and I ended up with a new swing coat and top that will be perfect for fall. Honestly, it makes sense because it was hot AF the week we went shopping and it had me craving fall weather something FIERCE. As always, TJs knew exactly what I needed in my heart of hearts because this J. McLaughlin top is everything AND it was on clearance to boot! Check it out:

I couldn’t believe my good luck when I stumbled upon this little number in the clearance section. It was fifteen dollars, there was only one and it happened to be in my size, and I absolutely loved the nod to all things 70s retro. The pattern and colors on this top scream 70s wallpaper and I am living for it. Who knew that olive green and rosy pink would work together so well?! This top is so comfy, breezy, and light with fabric that almost borders on silky without all of the hassle of caring for silk clothes. It was one of those pieces that I knew would be a winner even without trying it on but, of course, I had to try it on anyways!

As it often happens when I am in the fitting room at TJMaxx, an OOTD vision came to me once this top was on in all of its glory. The 70s inspo of the top reminded me so much of my Makeup Magic OOTD and I can’t wait to do a follow up fit. Especially after getting my hair done this Friday! I plan on rocking this top with my favorite pair of straight leg slacks by Sincerely Jules, a killer pair of denim blue embroidered platforms, and *fingers crossed* a more defined shag hairdo after my hair stylist works her magic. It is going to be SO groovy and I am amped for all of you to see it. Stay tuned! 😀

We might be in the middle of summer but fall clothing will always reign supreme in my world. Big ups to TJMaxx for forever guiding me and nurturing my passion for fashion! ❤

Have you updated your summer wardrobe? Do you have any fun summer plans coming up? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

New Bagatelle Collection Swing Coat

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New Bagatelle Collection Swing Coat

Howdy! This past Wednesday I had a content shoot to attend for my social media management job and then had the rest of the day off. I had a TJMaxx gift card for my birthday burning a hole in my pocket and swooped up my shopping partner in crime mom for an afternoon outing to TJs. It was absolutely fabulous! I walked away with a new pair of shoes that you saw yesterday, a funky 70s inspired top, new skin care, and the gorgeous swing coat that we will be discussing today. Be sure to check out the rest of my haul coming soon! Now, let’s get to the good stuff because I am simply swooning over this Bagatelle Collection coat:

As I browsed through the clothing racks, my heart literally stopped when I landed upon this Bagatelle Collection swing coat. It has been in the high eighties for the past week and the last thing I wanted was to think about wearing a coat! However, I thought about wearing it during my vacation to Italy in the fall and it immediately went into the cart. That soft beige base with the creamy flowers and crosshatching is oh so dreamy, the all white collar pops, and it is nice and light. A perfect coat for the slight chill of early fall! As soon as I tried it on, visions of Italy OOTDs danced in my head and it would have been a slap in the face to the fashion gods if it did not come home with me.

My grand OOTD plan goes a little something like this… A pseudo dress formed from a bubble skirt and chic and silky cami top, a Barbie pink pair of platform heels, and my new Bagatelle Collection swing coat to tie the look together. It just makes me happy to think about an evening in Italy in this outfit and I am pins and needles for this look and setting to come to fruition. Every time I go shopping now, I have Italy outfits in mind. And, every time I think of Italy, I think of shopping lol! I think I’m going to need a much bigger suitcase for our return flight home and have already warned my family to leave space in their bags for my purchases. I can’t wait to share this trip of a lifetime with all of you come October!! ❤

This new swing coat is an amazing addition to my Italy look book and my fall in Ohio look book too lol. Thank you, TJMaxx, for always showing me exactly what I need!

Do you have any upcoming travel plans? What is your dream vacation destination? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

If The Shoe Fits: Adidas Sneakers Edition

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If The Shoe Fits: Adidas Sneakers Edition

Hi!! All of my hiking shoes have gone to the fashion gods in the sky and I was in desperate need of a new pair of tennies to hit the trails in. I decided to rectify this with a quick stop into Famous Footwear and was thoroughly disappointed as literally none of their shoes fit me. All of their size sixes were WAY too big and I walked out of the store empty handed. However, I did have an ace up my sleeve: A TJMaxx gift card from Johnny’s parents for my birthday! I honestly wasn’t expecting to find a new pair of sneakers during a shopping trip with my mom because TJ’s in store selection leaves a lot to be desired. To my pleasant surprise, I ended up with a new pair of Adidas that I really like! And, yes, I’m just as shocked as all of you that this edition of If The Shoe Fits doesn’t involve heels lol. Check it out:

The shoe department in TJMaxx gave me two options: A poppy pair of burgundy sneakers and the subdued but chic Adidas. I’m not going to lie, I was hoping that the burgundy pair would work because they were ten dollars cheaper. However, they were too big and went back on the shelf. The Adidas tennis shoes were my last chance before turning to online shopping and I was a little nervous as I tentatively slipped them on. To my delight, they fit like a glove! A true blue size six which is exactly what I am and exactly what I needed. These sneakers are sturdy, comfortable, and I just know that I’ll be able to walk for miles on the hiking trails or exploring the scenery of Italy during my vacation in the fall.

After trying the Adidas on, I was actually really happy that the burgundy pair didn’t work out. I think these shoes are ultra cool! I love the stone grey color paired with the beige stripes, chocolate brown soles, and the bold black laces. While the burgundy tennies provided a pop of color they might not go with every outfit while the Adidas are a perfect neutral. It has been a loooong time since I shopped for sneakers and it was way more difficult than I thought it would be. After a lot of trial and error, I came out on top and, as always, have TJMaxx to thank for that. I scored these Adidas for forty-five bucks which was a much nicer price than the eighty plus dollar options at Famous Footwear. Remind me why I even bothered with that store in the first place!

I kind of feel like a traitor for doubting the TJMaxx shoe department but I made good with this purchase. Peep more from my shopping haul coming soon!

What is your preferred style of shoe? Are you a sneakerhead? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

If The Shoe Doesn’t Fit?!

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If The Shoe Doesn’t Fit?!

Hello! My brother and I are avid hikers and sadly all of my hiking shoes have bit the dust. In their defense, I only have a handful of shoes that aren’t heels and they were all old as dirt and falling apart when I had to part with them. And, while my new wheelies are technically tennis shoes, they are pretty clunky and not the best for a trek through the woods in. I decided to rectify this by stopping into Famous Footwear during my break at work and expected to be in and out in a matter of minutes. Believe you me, it doesn’t take your girl long to find a perfect pair of shoes! To my complete and utter surprise, that was not the case in the slightest and I am still shooketh!

I think the last time I was in a Famous Footwear was when I was in grade school lol but it was the only option that made sense as TJMaxx’s in store shoe selection leaves a lot to be desired. I rolled into the store on a mission: Find a cute, sturdy pair at forty dollars or less and then I would be on my way. This was far more difficult than I could have imagined! I am so used to discount prices at TJs that my mind was simply blown when I saw full price footwear. Of course, the shoes were brand name like Nike, Vans, and Sketchers, but they were eighty dollars plus! Hard no.

Rather than entertain those options, I started looking at canvas shoes instead which were much more complimentary to my budget. There were several pairs that I liked so I took five boxes or so to the mirror to try them on. I am SO glad I did. My shoe size is a true blue size six and in my head there is no reason why size sixes shouldn’t fit. So tell me why literally none of the sixes at Famous fit me?! Every size six I tried was at least a half a size too big and that went across the Blowfish, Hey Dude, and Jelly Pop brands.

Saying I was frustrated was an understatement. Shoes are my thing lol and this store was giving me so much trouble! Then, I decided to dig deeper by looking at the labels of each brand as they included European sizes. It was just as I suspected. The size sixes I was trying were a thirty-seven in European sizing. When it comes to those size ranges, I am a thirty-six because thirty-seven is a six and a half. Therein lied the problem and there were no five and a half women’s shoes. I even looked in the children’s section before leaving the store with empty hands! Although there was a light up pair that I was really considering…!

In conclusion, shopping for heels is easy peasy. Shopping for sneakers is a shockingly different story. I never thought I would find myself writing a post about If The Shoe Doesn’t Fit but I guess there’s a first time for everything!

What is your favorite brand for tennis shoes? Where can they be purchased at? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

It’s In The Bag: Juicy Couture Duffle Edition

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It’s In The Bag: Juicy Couture Duffle Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of It’s In The Bag! For every gift giving occasion, there is a one thousand percent chance that I will receive a TJMaxx gift card from someone and I was blessed with one from Johnny’s parents for my birthday. As my family is going to Italy in the fall, I planned to purchase a carry on bag for myself with these newly acquired funds. I didn’t tell anyone about this idea and was genuinely shocked when my mom beat me to the punch. She gifted me with the most gorgeous Juicy Couture duffle bag and it is the perfect measurements for a carry on!! I am beyond obsessed so let’s take a moment to ogle my new bag altogether:

As soon as my mom presented me with her present, I knew exactly what it was and I still couldn’t quite believe it. It’s like she read my mind! However, she one upped what I had in my head completely. I was going to get a simple suitcase carry on with my gift cards and didn’t even dream about a duffle bag like this! That raspberry color, the collegiate style patches, those adorable puppy and mini purse accessories?! I was swooning. Part of it was the bag itself, of course, but the other part was the brand. I have loved all things Juicy Couture since I was a teenager but never had anything other than their perfume. This duffle bag made my teenage and thirty-two year old self so happy that I can’t even put it into words lol. 😀

Not only is this bag going to be just right for our Italy vacation but it will also come in so handy as an overnight bag in general. The only overnight bag I have was a freebie from Victoria’s Secret that I got for spending X amount of money over fifteen years ago! The zipper is busted and it looks every bit of its age from all of those years of toting it on vacations and sleepovers. This major upgrade of a birthday gift means that I can finally lay my elderly Vicky’s Secret bag to rest. My only wish is that I had an overnight occasion to break it out for because I’ll be on pins and needles until I can finally use it for Italy!

Big ups to my mind reader mom for the most amazing gift. I absolutely love it!! ❤

What is a brand you love but don’t have anything by? Do you go on overnights often? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Fresh & Flouncy OOTD

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Fresh & Flouncy OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! We had an absolutely crap spring in good ol’ Akron, Ohio. It was cold, grey, and it felt like it was always raining. Until the sun came out! For the past few weeks we have been enjoying the most gorgeous weather and I have been living for the moderate seventy degree temps. All I want to do is be outside all of the time now! My cravings have been satisfied with lots of walks and hikes and a lovely outdoor birthday party for one of Johnny’s coworkers this past weekend. This is what I wore to celebrate:

Striped Top: Japna, TJMaxx

Tennis Skort: Kyodan, TJMaxx

Heeled Mules: Betsey Johnson, TJMaxx

I have no idea where I got the daisy earrings lol

After being bundled up in jeans and hoodies all spring, it has been delicious to break out shorts, skirts, and dresses. I am normally not a huge fan of dressing for summer but I can’t get enough of it now as the weather didn’t give me the opportunity to don my spring favorites. I love pretty, flowy blouses in the spring and decided to start there when styling this OOTD with an emerald green striped blouse by Japna. This top is so breezy and just screams spring and summer. I love how the navy and white stripes pop against the green and the bell sleeves that dance in the wind, offering the most feminine fluttering movement.

As this top featured stark white stripes, there was no better skirt to pair it with than my Kyodan tennis skort. Talk about a perfect combination! I love the preppy vibes that this skort provides sans hitting the tennis court lol. Rather than serve there, I’ll serve fashion instead! Also, major shout out to the skort because it is one of the best pieces of clothing that doesn’t get enough credit. There is nothing like the comfort of not having to worry about my underoos showing when the wind picks up and for that, I am thankful. #blessed

Finally, it was onto shoes and accessories. This OOTD had a pattern on top but a neutral piece on the bottom, which meant that I could have some fun with shoes. I chose a darling pair of heeled mules by Betsey Johnson because if her clothes and accessories aren’t fashion fun then I truly don’t know what is! How cute is that black and white heel and bright yellow flowers?! For earrings, I kept with the flower motif with a pair of daisy stud earrings and was ready to partay!

Stay tuned for the Blooper Reel from my Fresh & Flouncy OOTD coming soon! ❤

What is your favorite season? What are your summer wardrobe must haves? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Double OOTD Bloopers

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Double OOTD Bloopers

Hello everyone and welcome to the Blooper Reels from my Sporty Spice and The Devil Wears This OOTD! Today we are going to get a double dose of yikes jam packed into one silly post. I don’t know about all of you, but these past few weeks have been super busy for yours truly and I could certainly wind down with a laugh! Or sleeping for twenty hours straight? The laughing part seems much more realistic, though, so let’s get to it:

The Blooper Reels are all about having some fun and discussing humorous and/or cringy moments in my wonderful world. In this instance, it errs on the side of cringy because I can’t think of anything more cringe than the current season of Euphoria. Lol, who’s with me?! I was so eager for season three of Euphoria to drop and have watched each new episode every Monday morning before work. It’s my little ritual: Work from home, make some breakfast, watch my show, then head to a client’s house. Normally, I revel in my TV time to take a breather. However, when Euphoria is on, I honestly can’t wait for it to be over. It’s that bad but I refuse to not see it through!

Like, guys, wtf even? Rue is running with drug dealers, Maddy and Cassie are striking OnlyFans fame, Nate borrowed money from the wrong guys, and Lexi still sucks. Annnnnd that’s about it. Every episode is a combination of boring and sheer nonsense and it’s like what happened?! The only relatively good part of this new season was Alamo’s backstory but other than that my Monday morning viewings are an exercise in self control to not turn the TV off. Maybe the season finale will wow me but I highly doubt that and if there is a season four, I most definitely won’t be tuning in. Whomp whomppppp.

Between the bloopers and a dud of a highly anticipated show, this was a double cringe post. But a Euphoria rant needed to be said and I stand by it!

What are your thoughts on season three of Euphoria? Has something cringy happened to you recently? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

The Devil Wears This OOTD

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The Devil Wears This OOTD

Howdy y’all and welcome to another brand new OOTD for the week here on lifewithlilred! This past weekend I enjoyed a wonderful outing to see The Devil Wears Prada 2 with my mom and sister as a belated Mother’s Day treat. I had been so looking forward to this get together and we were all chomping at the bit to see the sequel of one of our favorite movies. It definitely didn’t disappoint! I couldn’t see a movie about fashion without serving a little look myself. The Devil may Wear Prada but she also wears this:

Floral Top: Loft

Bubble Skirt: A New Day, Target

Word Bubble Heels: LFL, TJMaxx

I think the stained glass earrings are from Target!

I began styling this outfit with a skirt and top in mind and gravitated towards my A New Day bubble skirt first. I simply adore the pure whimsy of a bubble skirt and am so happy to finally have one in my wardrobe! It is just so different than any other skirt I own and the volume it offers speaks for itself. This bubble skirt is bouncy, flirty, and is as much fun to style as it is to wear. Although it’s certainly not high fashion like the clothes rocked in TDWP, I still feel like a model in it and that’s what fashion is all about!

With my skirt selected, I moved onto tops and went with a throwback from Loft. This shirt was purchased way back in 2017 when I started my first big girl job and needed business casual clothing to wear. My take on business casual? Classic shapes with eye catching designs! This silky tee is perfect under a smart blazer or as a standalone piece. That bright yellow color is everything and the pretty flowers simply pop. Especially when paired with a neutral like the black bubble skirt. 😀

Finally, it was onto shoes and accessories. For shoes, I opted for a funky pair of word bubble heels by LFL. I guess I was in a bubbly mood! These heels are so sassy and also feature a catchphrase from one of my favorite flicks – Clueless. What can I say, I love a fashion driven chick flick! In the accessories department I selected a gorgeous pair of flower shaped earrings that feature stained glass style gems. The blue, yellow, and green were just right with the top! With that, I was ready to hit the theater for our premiere viewing of The Devil Wears Prada 2!

Was this the most practical outfit to wear to go see a movie in? Not especially. Will I wear anything in the name of fashion? Absolutely!

What is your favorite chick flick? What is your favorite line from The Devil Wears Prada? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sporty Spice OOTD

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Sporty Spice OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! As a child I coveted wheelie shoes so badly and I’m pleased to report that I got them as an almost thirty-two year old lol. SCORE! I had been so eager to break them out and I’ve got to say, rollerskating is way harder than I anticipated. As a former figure skater, I thought I would have had a slight leg up but that was not the case whatsoever. But practice makes perfect and I can’t wait to continue taking my wheelies for a spin and improving. Big ups to anyone who roller skates well because your girl is impressed! At least I looked cute in my valiant attempt to skate…

Sports Bra: This was purchased forever ago from Target

Jean Shorts: American Eagle Outfitters

Hoop Earrings: Argentino Vivo, TJMaxx

Wheelie Shoes: ANEFUN, Amazon

Good ol’ Akron, Ohio has finally been treated to warm weather after an entire spring of chilly and rainy days. It has been absolutely delicious to go outside and see the sun rather than it constantly feeling like it is six o’clock in the evening! Since it has been so nice, I was able to sport a sassy little something to take my wheelies to the streets. I don’t have much in my wardrobe in terms of athletic wear but I figured a sports bra and shorts would do just fine.

Speaking of not having a lot of athletic wear, this is literally the only sports bra I own but it has served me well to hit the gym or ice skate in. I definitely had to take the padding out and I still like to wear an actual bra underneath it but your girl needs the extra support! So I guess this sports bra is more like a crop top instead lol. And what pairs better with a crop top than a cute little pair of jean shorts?! As always, the shorts from American Eagle Outfitters are the bomb and I live in them all summer long. They fit like a glove, are so comfy, and this reminds me that I could probably benefit from another pair or two!

Finally, it was onto shoes and accessories. Of course, pictured are my ANEFUN wheelie babes that I love oh so much. They are just so funky and cool and I appreciate their extra height even without the wheels down. Sans wheels they look like platform sneakers and that really speaks to my constantly wearing heels heart. For accessories, I went with a supersized pair of hoop earrings by Argentino Vivo to add some movement once the rollerskating portion of the photo shoot began. The movement provided by the earrings was top tier. The movement of me in skates? … Not so much! SMH.

Be sure to peep my TikTok for action videos of me trying to skate. Maybe by the end of summer I’ll actually be able to keep myself upright in them! #goals

Do you like rollerskating? What is your favorite summertime activity? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah