Tag Archives: shopping

Jan11

Bath & Body Works Semi Annual Sale Haul

Posted on January 11, 2025 by lifewithlilred

Hello!! Every summer and winter, I look forward to the Semi Annual Sale at Bath & Body Works. I simply refuse to pay full price for anything from there, so it is my time of the year to stock up on my favorite products for a song. Rather than visit the store over my holiday break, I shopped online and was adding items to my cart like a mad woman. And why not? I got twenty-one products for seventy dollars!! I think Johnny and I will be A-okay in the bath and body care department for a long while with this haul:

When shopping the Semi Annual Sale at B&BW, I like to get a little bit of everything. This includes shower gels, lotion, hand soap, and hand sanitizers. Even if it seems like a lot, these are products that I know will be used and I’d rather buy them on the cheap now than on the expensive later lol. Typically, a shower gel at B&BW runs for close to sixteen dollars (Ridiculous!) and my cost per item ended up being three dollars and thirty-three cents. When you run the numbers like that, it makes sense to load up the shopping cart like your life depends on it!

Every Semi Annual Sale, I make a point to get several different shower gels for Johnny from the men’s line. He happily uses my fruity fragrances but is never opposed to switching things up with a scent that almost certainly as “bourbon” or “whiskey” in the title! The rest of the haul is, honestly, whatever struck my fancy. It can be tricky to shop for something like bath and body care online because, obviously, you can’t smell it lol. So, I went with tried and true favorites as well as a few new to me fragrances too. Whether they are a hit or miss, we’ll find out together in my upcoming reviews so keep it posted. 😀

There is nothing better to me than a full bath and body care stockpile. I can’t wait to replenish my skin care at TJMaxx next with my Christmas gift cards!!

Which stores run the best sales? Did you shop the B&BW Semi Annual Sale? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan6

Hand Me Down OOTD Bloopers

Posted on January 6, 2025 by lifewithlilred

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Hello everyone and welcome to the Blooper Reel from my Hand Me Down OOTD! It’s safe to say that Johnny and I have an eclectic personal style and because of this, it feels like we are constantly getting hand me downs from our friends and family. It’s pretty cool because what we receive is almost always vintage and we are so about it. The last hand me down haul was from our best friend, Cliff, as he was clearing out some of his grandpa’s old clothes. Other than the sweater featured in this OOTD, nothing really caught my eye and, sadly, wearing said sweater was short lived. Take a look at some yikes shots and let’s discuss:

About to speak my truth (usually along the lines of “I’m hungry”)

The standing in snow shuffle

TFYM when someone you can’t stand is talking

I LOOK GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Showing off the ol’ beaver teeth

TFYM when you were right all along!

Ta da!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ever since I was little, I always loved going shopping with my mom. And, ever since I was little, I can remember her looking at the tags of clothing we liked to make sure it was not made with wool. It could be the cutest thing in the world, but she would claim that it would be “too itchy” and that was the end of that. It makes sense that I have always associated wool with being itchy or maybe just maybe wool truly is the itchiest fabric of all time. I am going that route because…

The sweater seen above was The. Itchiest. F’ing. Sweater. EVER. Prior to putting it on, I didn’t do a material check and I was in misery the entire time I had it on. It was itchy, scratchy, and my skin literally felt like it was crawling. As soon as we were done taking pictures, I RAN to get changed and was not surprised to find that the sweater was made from half wool and half alpaca. It really is too bad because I loved the way this sweater looked but despised the way it felt, making it an instant no go. Regardless, it was still neat to wear a hand me down from Cliff’s grandpa for five or so minutes! 😀

In conclusion, no wool for me and this sweater will eventually find its way to triple hand me down status. I would call it “the one that got away” if it weren’t so damn uncomfortable!!

Is there a material or texture that you can’t stand? What is your favorite clothing material? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan5

Hand Me Down OOTD

Posted on January 5, 2025 by lifewithlilred

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Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred. Today, we are going to take a look at a look I put together with a Hand Me Down sweater from our best friend, Cliff. Technically, it’s a double hand me down because said featured sweater belonged to Cliff’s grandpa! Johnny came home with a ton of clothes that Cliff was clearing out the last time they were together and nothing really caught my eye except for this spiffy little number. You can read why this will be the first and last time I wear this sweater in the Blooper Reel tomorrow, but let’s get to it:

Who? What? Wear?

Striped Sweater: Designed by Arnold Palmer for Robert Bruce

Skinny Jeans: 1822 Denim, TJMaxx

Snakeskin Patterned Kitten Heels: Splendid, TJMaxx

The earrings were purchased forever ago from PacSun!

I have been telling Johnny for forever that he would look So. Good. in sweaters like this Robert Bruce one. When he brought it home, I liked it for me but LOVED it for him. Unfortunately, he saw things differently than me and claimed that the sweater was “too small anyways” so never mind lol. After he discarded the notion, I tried it on for myself and, aside from one glaring issue, was all about it. And, rather than wearing it over top of something like a cardigan, I decided to button it up as a top since the V-neck wasn’t plunging. From the cut to the colors, this is truly a “grandpa chic” piece and I just know Cliff’s grandad was styling in it. ❤

Since black skinnies were the way to go, it was time for shoes and accessories. To keep with the vintage vibes, I chose one of my favorite pairs of stud earrings from PacSun. The gold frame and red roses in the center remind me of brooches and tend to be my go tos when I am building an outfit with vintage clothing. For shoes, I selected a gorgeous pair of snakeskin patterned kitten heels by Splendid. Despite the pointed toe, they made me think of loafers and that was perfect for the elderly aesthetic I was working with lol. The colors in the pattern of the shoes and the sweater blended beautifully together and I felt like all I was missing was a cup of tea to complete the look!

As cute as this sweater might be (I really do love it!), it has since been retired from my wardrobe. Whoever ends up with it will have a triple hand me down!!

Do you like to wear vintage clothing? Where do you purchase yours at? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec29

It’s In The Bag: Anne Klein Edition

Posted on December 29, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello to you and welcome to a brand new edition of It’s In The Bag! Today, we are going to take a look at the piece de resistance from my mother and father-in-law for Christmas – a gorgeous new bag by Anne Klein! Johnny’s mom managed to get me SO many things that I was planning on buying for myself and she read my mind with this purse. After restocking my skin care with TJMaxx gift cards, I thought it would be nice to use the remainder on a new bag! So, maybe shoes instead?! Take a look:

When I opened my new Anne Klein purse, I literally clutched my pearls. It’s just so beautiful and I am in love with the dusty rose hue. Dusty rose looks absolutely stunning on my mom and sister, but it washes me out badly. So, it is a color that I don’t have any of in my wardrobe, accessories included. Until now, that is! The shape and color of this bag are the epitome of chic to me and I cannot wait to empty my old bag out so I can have this pretty little thing draped from my arm, instead.

Speaking of my old bag, it has not been it for a while and I have just been too lazy to change it out lol. It has several different compartments on the inside and you have no idea how many times I find myself per day digging through it like a racoon trying to find my chapstick. What is also especially pleasing to me about my new purse is that there are, blessedly, no compartments for all of my odds and ends to get lost in. It might not be as spacious as my old bag, but I’m using that as motivation to stop putting Every. Receipt. Ever. in it and not throwing them out! 😀

This purse is, hands down, one of my favorite gifts from Christmas. I am so excited to be a woman on the go with my new bag in tow!!

Which colors look great on you? How about not so flattering? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec10

Thanksgiving Pt. 1 OOTD Bloopers

Posted on December 10, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Howdy ya’ll and welcome to the Blooper Reel from my Thanksgiving Pt. 1 OOTD! Johnny and I had a joyous two day celebration with our families and then we hibernated into a food coma for the rest of the weekend. It. Was. Awesome. lol! I never really feel too Christmasy until after Thanksgiving and now that it has come and passed, I am SO ready for it! Yes, I am very excited for the food but there is nothing better than Christmas with my nieces and nephews. 🙂 Let’s check out these bloopers and discuss a hairy situation:

Just trying to get myself together

I swear to drunk I’m not god

Hell yeah for Thanksgiving!!!

CLEARLY really excited to go eat 😀

Lmao what is this face?!

TFYM when dinner is served

Happy holidays to all!!!

Okay, I am genuinely curious. For those that shave their legs, armpits, etc – do you remember a point in your life when it felt like the end of the world when you missed a rogue patch of hair while shaving? I sure do and I was convinced everyone could tell! As time went on, of course, I cared less and less. And, now that the warm days of summer are long gone, I just don’t care at all lol. I have always hated shaving and it’s cold AF so no one will be any wiser to the hairy situation under my clothes, so I stopped bothering once fall hit. And, yes, I am SO aware that getting back to silky smooth will be a massive chore once the warm weather comes around!

When we were celebrating with Johnny’s family, it was So. Damn. Hot. in their house. The cardigan I had on was doing me no favors and all I wanted to do was take it off. Then, I remembered how hairy my armpits were and decided otherwise. The evening went on, until there came a point in the festivities when I was literally dying of heatstroke and I made the choice to take the cardigan off. Honestly, I was kind of self conscious because of my armpit hair and blessedly it seemed like no one noticed or cared. As I sat there stewing, my anxiety alleviated as I reminded myself that it’s just hair lol. There’s no rule stating you have to shave so it makes no difference how you maintain it.

The moral of the story? Your body, your hair! The evening did not come to a grinding halt as soon as I removed my cardigan so do whatever TF you want!

How often do you shave? Have you ever had a situation similar to mine? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec9

Thanksgiving Pt. 2 OOTD

Posted on December 9, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello everyone and welcome to my Thanksgiving OOTD from my family celebration! Before we begin, if it looks like I am sweaty in these pictures, it’s because I was lol. I had literally JUST gotten done cooking five or so minutes prior to taking them and let’s just say it was really steamy in the kitchen!! The sweater I was wearing probably didn’t help matters, but all was well once the house started cooling down. 🙂 Check it out:

Who? What? Wear?

Polka Dot Sweater: Lucky Brand

Skinny Jeans: 1822 Denim, TJMaxx

Snakeskin Pattern Boots: Vince Camuto, TJMaxx

The earrings were purchased forever ago at PacSun!

When celebrating with Johnny’s family, they handle all of the cooking and all I need to do is sit back and enjoy. At my family’s home, I love being able to prepare dinner with my mom so I didn’t want to wear any clothes that I was worried about ruining but, of course, still looked cute. Because I didn’t learn from being WAY too hot in the cardigan I wore to Chez Miller’s the day before, I decided a sweater was the way to go at my mom and dad’s. Makes sense, right? 😀

As I browsed through my sweaters, I wasn’t really sure what to choose. I had several that I would be devastated if they got stained and a lot of light colored options which wouldn’t work either. Then, I remembered my polka dot sweater by Lucky Brand and we were in business. The reasoning behind it, other than being absolutely adorable? It’s basically just a prettier color of Thanksgiving food lol. I managed to avoid cooking without any spills but I truly believe that if I did, it wouldn’t have been that noticeable!

Black skinnies were the way to go since the sweater already featured a bold, fun pattern. So, it was onto shoes and accessories. For shoes, I went with one of my favorite pairs of heeled boots by Vince Camuto. As you all know, I am a fan of anything snakeskin and the unique combination of chocolate brown and black fit so well with the look. The black skinnies blended perfectly and the brown was a nice pairing with the mustard yellow sweater. I didn’t want to be bothered with necklaces or bracelets while cooking so I popped on a lovely pair of antique-vibe studs with roses on them and was ready to create some culinary delight!

I didn’t break a sweat while putting this look together but I certainly did while getting dinner together. Keep it locked for the Blooper Reel coming soon!!

Who prepares holiday dinners at your celebrations? What is your go to dish to bring to a get together? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec7

Thanksgiving Pt. 1 OOTD

Posted on December 7, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! For Thanksgiving, Johnny and I had a two part celebration. We went to see his family on Wednesday and went to mine on Thursday. The food coma was intense, but it was so nice to be all together and we had the best time. At Chez Miller, we did what we always do – eat, chit chat, and play a game afterwards. Since I knew it wasn’t going to be a super active visit, I wanted to wear something to be cute and comfy in. Check it out:

Who? What? Wear?

Cardigan: O’Neill, PacSun

Cami Top: mittoshop, French Rooster

Skinny Jeans: 1822 Denim, TJMaxx

Heeled Boots: Free People, TJMaxx

The earrings are Lucky Brand!

When I think of comfy and cute, my mind always gravitates towards cardigans. They are soft, cozy, and are so perfect for just wrapping yourself in them like a cocoon. I have quite a collection of cardigans so I started this look by browsing in that department. Out of all of my different options, I decided to go with the oldest one in the bunch. The O’Neill cardigan was purchased at PacSun over FOURTEEN YEARS AGO when I ended my first stint as a seasonal worker. It has always been one of my favorite purchases from my extensive tenure there and I simply can’t part with it. I love the colors and the fit and, although it is a well loved cardigan, I still think it looks great!

With my cardi selected, the rest of the outfit pretty much built itself. The O’Neill cardigan is incredibly warm – so much so that I had to take it off at dinner lol. With that in mind, something light underneath was the way to go and I selected a black cami by mittoshop. And, with such a bold pattern on the cardigan, all that was needed was my go to black skinny jeans to form the base of the outfit.

Next on the agenda was shoes and accessories. For jewelry, I opted for a dangly pair of turquoise teardrops and that was just right. Between the pattern and the huge collar of the cardi, anything more would have been too much. Then, I chose one of my favorite pairs of heeled boots by Free People. They please me so much because they remind me of lacing up ice skates whenever I put them on! The creamy hue of the boot and pink laces added a fun color pop to the mix and I was ready to sit around the house looking awesome lol.

Thanksgiving Pt. 1 was a wonderful day and I can’t wait to show you more from the rest of our celebrations. Keep it posted!

What is your go to comfy cute item in your wardrobe? What is your favorite holiday food? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec6

Last Minute Gift Ideas

Posted on December 6, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! I have to admit, I did not complete my holiday shopping as early as I usually do this year. However, I am pleased to report that I will officially be DONE once I pick up a gift card at my nail salon on Tuesday. It feels so good to have gifts for everyone in my big family out of the way and I have been working on wrapping a few gifts at a time whenever I feel like it lol. We are officially in the holiday home stretch and if you are just starting your shopping now, then: 1) You are giving ME anxiety! And 2) I am here to help with these last minute options. Let’s get to it:

Food & Drink:

You truly can never go wrong with a food and drink style gift and it is something I implement every year. For the families I work with, I always go with some type of gift basket like chocolate, popcorn, or cookie kits and they are very well received. In fact, this year, I scored a wonderful deal for customized chocolate tins from Ghirardelli that I am really excited about. Most stores offer a great array of gift baskets, wine or beer samplers, or cooking and baking kits so go for it!

Gift Cards:

SO many people say that gift cards are a thoughtless gift and I say FALSE. If you do feel that way, though, you can absolutely put some thought into gift cards! Treat your giftee to a gift card to a movie theater and a favorite restaurant. BOOM. Instant date night. Have a giftee that drives a lot (Like me!)? They will surely want some help filling their tank! Shopping for a shopaholic? Now they can go wild at their go to stores. Yes, it’s one of the most easy ways to complete your shopping. But, it will be a gift that’s truly appreciated and that’s alright in my book!

Pet Supplies:

As a bunny mom, I can honestly say that I am THRILLED whenever I get a Chewy gift card or supplies for my gremlins as a gift. If you have some proud pet parents on your list, this could be a fantastic way to go. As a bonus, it will give them some extra scratch to spend on post holiday sales! If you don’t know what kind of supplies are necessary for your giftee’s pet, just ask. It’s another added bonus because it eliminates a chore for them too.

Photo Albums:

If you’re looking for a more sentimental option, photo albums or framed pictures are perfect – especially if you are the designated picture taker in your family (Like me!). This is a gift that I give at least one of every year because it’s just so easy and it’s really thoughtful. You could do an album of your kiddos for the grandparents, framed pics of you and your bestie on a fun day out, or even canvas prints. Websites like Shutterfly are always running great promotions so this is a gift that could be completed right from your computer!

Stocking Stuffers:

There is literally no rule stating that a gift has to be big or expensive. All that matters is the thought!! Stocking stuffers are excellent if you are strapped for time, ideas, or cash. Think candles and lotion, shaving kits or hot sauce, socks, hats, bath bombs – I could go on for forever. A small item or two and a big smile on your face is really all you need and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. ❤

If you have finished your holiday shopping: Kudos! If not, I hope these ideas help!

Are you good at wrapping gifts? What are your holiday plans? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec3

“New” Vintage Brooches

Posted on December 3, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!!! Johnny’s mom and aunts have been in the process of sorting, organizing, and clearing out old stored away items in their respective homes. Every time we have made a visit recently, we have been gifted with vintage finds including some amazing lamps and gorgeous fashion accessories. Our Thanksgiving get together was no exception to this and I was presented with two vintage brooches from one of Johnny’s aunts. I literally clutched my pearls when I opened the box and saw them! Check it out:

Now, I don’t wear brooches very often. However, I LOVE to collect them and have quite a few from my grandma. They are the perfect, pretty, shiny little somethings in my jewelry box and just seeing them is enough to give me all the sentimental warm fuzzies. What’s that old saying? Gemstones are a girl’s best friend?! Despite not being a brooch wearer, I am an avid brooch appreciator so I was thrilled to see the heart adorned feather and sparkly, not spooky spider!

While the feather brooch offers obvious beauty, it should not come as a shock that the spider was the piece de resistance of these hand me downs. It’s the spooky/girly aesthetic to the T and it delighted me and Johnny. As soon as we returned home from our Thanksgiving celebration, both brooches were placed in a very special spot of my jewelry box. It is so cool to have these bits and baubles that belonged to people I love so much and I can’t wait to see what Johnny’s mom and aunts dig up during their next treasure hunt. 😀

Out with the old and in with the… new to me old! These brooches are everything and I am living for the vintage collection I have been compiling!

Do you have any vintage or antique items? Where is your favorite spot for secondhand shopping? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec2

Date Night OOTD Bloopers

Posted on December 2, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Howdy everyone and welcome to the Blooper Reel from my Date Night OOTD! Johnny and I live for a good date night and our favorite is, hands down, Middle Class Fancy night. AKA getting dressed up, going to a chain restaurant, drinking several weak cocktails, and having a meal that is never the best or the worst either. There is just something so fun about it and our Olive Garden outing was everything I wanted it to be and so much more. These pictures, though? Not so much!

In the words of Johnny “you’re standing in a puddle of wet”

Clearly unphased by it!!!!

Very blurry because I NEEDED the OG and was fading fast

What’s cookin, good lookin? 😉

Easy, breezy, beautiful Olive Garden

I LOOK GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just out here modeling my little heart out!

We celebrated Thanksgiving with Johnny’s parents and aunt on Wednesday and a wonderful time was had by all. Especially during the game portion of the evening. After every holiday gathering, we always play some type of game together and Johnny decided to shake things up this year. And shake things up he did because he got Cards Against Humanity to bring to the festivities!

I have actually never played Cards Against Humanity, but I knew it was like a raunchy version of Apples To Apples. So, good thing I played my first round with Johnny’s entire family lol. Early into the game, I said it felt like watching a movie that has a steamy sex scene with your parents. However, once we all shook off the initial awkwardness, we were in stitches. Johnny laughed so hard that he cried several times! Yes, the prompts and responses in the game were hilarious. When combined with Johnny’s parents reading them, it turned into comedy gold. We legit can’t wait to play it again at Christmas. 😀

The moral of the story? If you are questioning whether playing Cards Against Humanity with your parents is a good idea, rest assured it is the BEST idea! Family game night will never be the same!

What is your favorite game? Do you have game nights regularly? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

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