Tag Archives: shopping

Feb28

Simple Stripes OOTD

Posted on February 28, 2024 by lifewithlilred

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! The weather in Akron, Ohio has been fluctuating back and forth faster than I can keep track of it. We go from thirty to fifty-five degrees in a day and I think it has been throwing everyone for a loop! With constantly changing temps, it really can be difficult to dress for this time of year. One day you’re bundled up and the next it feels like spring. Whatever the weather, I put together a Simple Stripes OOTD that is perfect for a warmer day, but can easily be worn underneath your favorite jacket during a cold spell. Check it out:

Who? What? Wear?

Striped Top: Modern Works, TJMaxx

High Waisted Skinny Jeans: American Eagle Outfitters

Snakeskin Pattern Boots: Vince Camuto, TJMaxx

I have no idea where the owl earrings are from lol

Earlier this month, I had a very successful shopping trip to TJMaxx with my mom. We had a blast and I have been so excited to wear all of my new clothes, including the striped top by Modern Works. Although this shirt isn’t as bold as some of my usual choices, I was immediately drawn to it. I loved the black stripes against the pearl white base, the shape is universally flattering, and it is SO freaking soft and comfortable. This is a top that can be worn as is when the weather permits or underneath a cozy jacket or cardigan when you need some extra warmth. It’s such a versatile piece and can be dressed up with a great pair of trousers or an A-line skirt for work or paired with jeans for an on the go ensemble.

As you can see for this weekend look, I went the play route and paired my Modern Works top with a pair of high waisted skinny jeans. I actually completely forgot my go to pair of skinnies from American Eagle were high waisted until this past Saturday lol. I tucked my top in slightly and was amazed by the revelation! I am normally not one for high waisted bottoms but, in this case, they made the look even better. It added that little extra something to the outfit and and it made such a classic silhouette, ideal for a classic, statement top.

Next on the agenda was shoes and accessories. Since I was working with a fully neutral palette, it basically gave me permission to wear whatever shoes I wanted. I chose a much beloved pair of Vince Camuto snakeskin pattern boots to help complete my look. The colors in these boots are so rich and I thought the cinnamon and chocolate hues looked stunning paired with the soft shade of the top. Finally, for earrings, I put on a pretty pair of gold and cream colored owls. This was all I needed to add some length to my neck as anything extra would have taken away from the minimal V-neck the top offered. With that, I was on my way!

I felt so chic in my Simple Stripes OOTD and this is an outfit that can be very easily replicated. Sometimes, a simple look is the best and I think this OOTD is a definite testament to that!

What do you normally wear for work? What do you like to wear for an outfit for play? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb24

Terrific Trench Coat OOTD Bloopers

Posted on February 24, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello darlings and welcome to the blooper reel from my Terrific Trench Coat OOTD! I had been looking forward to wearing my new Solitaire trench coat since I got it and finally got to break it out this past Saturday. Johnny and I enjoyed a very lazy three day weekend together and the only thing we did was get lunch with my sister and nieces. We went to our favorite Mexican restaurant, El Meson, and it was divine as always. There is nothing like having a go to restaurant that hits just right every time! Maybe it was a bad idea wearing a brand new coat for a lunch date with my two fave little ladies, but everything turned out A-okay! These pics, not so much? Check it out:

Here’s looking at you, kid

WTF is this face?! Yikes!

This one is only slightly better than the last smh!

Potentially the freaking WORST!

Looking like I just ate something incredibly sour

Serving straight SASS APPEAL look out!

Being around my nieces is such a blooper in and of itself. Raya is a year and a half old and Val will be turning five in March. They are at that age when literally everything they do and say is hilarious. The girls are nonstop energy and joy and I don’t think it’s humanly possible for them to sit still. In fact, with the cheerful music playing in the restaurant, Val just had to get up and dance and TT joined in for a twirl or two, or ten lol. Raya even did her best with a little side stepping action in that adorable way that only tiny walkers can. 😀

One of my fondest memories of Val is kind of a silly one. Two years ago when we took Kristen out for her birthday to Bomba (A new age Mexican eatery), our waitress approached the table. Before she had the chance to greet us, Val proudly proclaimed “Hi, I want cheese dip”. I was in stitches and also proud that she knew exactly what she wanted! Cheese dip is still a delicacy to Val Gal and we have to get some for her (And me to share!) whenever we go out to eat. This past time included. It’s nice to know that some things are never going to change no matter how old they get. ❤

A lunch date with all three of our best girls is just what Johnny and I needed. So glad I have my circle of people that I can depend on to always get Mexican food with me!

What is your favorite restaurant? Is your favorite food when you were little something that you still like now? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb22

Terrific Trench Coat OOTD

Posted on February 22, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred!! Thanks to a recent TJMaxx Haul, I got several gorgeous new pieces to freshen up my spring wardrobe. It’s amazing how just a few things can completely breathe new life into what you already have and I have been most inspired by my new goodies. You already saw an adorable V-Day button down featured in a look, but what I was most looking forward to was rocking my new trench coat by Solitaire. Check it out:

Who? What? Wear?

Floral Trench Coat: Solitaire, TJMaxx

White Button Down: H&M

Skinny Jeans: American Eagle Outfitters

Army Green Heeled Boots: BCBG, TJMaxx

*** The bumblebee earrings are from Target!

When I style outfits, I am normally building around one specific piece and that was the case with this OOTD. I find it is so much easier to create a look to compliment a staple item because it narrows down your options significantly. For this outfit, I had my new trench coat in mind and all that was left to do was build the remainder of the look. To start, I put on a stark white button down by H&M. I wasn’t too concerned about what I had on underneath because it was freaking freezing out so the coat was staying on. However, I wanted the top to pop despite this and the crisp white against the muted florals worked perfectly.

For jeans, I kept things simple with a pair of plain black skinnies. The coat already offered texture from the faux suede material and a pattern (Obvi!) so anything more on the bottom would look muddled. This is a good rule to follow to keep from a cluttered appearance. Although, let’s say that the coat was just the dusty pink with no pattern at all and the same material. Then, a patterned pant would be just right!

Next, it was onto shoes and accessories. I went with a pair of army green heeled combat boots by BCBG for this look. It gave me some much needed height since the coat was pretty lengthy in itself. And, of course, the color was similar enough to the patterns in the coat to give top to bottom cohesion. Jewelry was all that was left and I decided on a pair of bumblebee stud earrings. I tried on a dangly pair, but they took away from my neck and that was a no no since not a lot of skin was showing in this look. The bumblebees also matched with the flower garden vibe of the trench coat, which I thought was a cute touch!

I had been so eager to wear my new little number by Solitaire and it felt fantastic in my Terrific Trench Coat OOTD. I have a feeling I will be living in it this spring! 😀

What is your favorite season to dress for? Which season do you have difficulty dressing for? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb20

New Matching T-Shirts!!

Posted on February 20, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! When Johnny and I are watching our favorite shows or movies, we tend to make comments like “I want that shirt” that whatever character is wearing. For example, in the movie Step Brothers, Will Ferrell wears a Pablo Cruise baseball tee that we both loved. So, I got two of them for us so we could match! Although we frequently point out the shirts we like while we’re vegging out, we never really do anything about it… Until now. As a Valentine’s Day treat, I ordered two matching T-shirts for me and Johnny. These are truly an example of “if you know, you know” because they will be hilarious if you get it and will make you scratch your head if you don’t lol. Check it out:

Do you know what these shirts are from? If not, allow me to explain! Johnny and I are constantly quoting Flight of the Conchords and always enjoy watching their music videos from time to time. In their banger “Business Time” a “baggy T-shirt from the team building exercise you went to in 1999” is referenced and shown in the video. This is one of our favorite parts and I was tickled that the shirt existed when I looked it up. I mean, of course it did, but it was still a pleasant surprise! Our only regret is that we didn’t get them in a size too big to make it baggy lol.

The other shirt I got for us to match in simply states “Happy Birthday Jerusha”. This is from one of our all time favorite shows, Superstore. In one of the episodes, the store manager wants to take a picture for his wife, Jerusha’s, birthday with their huge brood of children. All of them are wearing a “Happy Birthday Jerusha” T-shirt, hence this purchase. We have seen every episode more times than I can count and, without fail, one of us brings up the fact that we need this shirt whenever this particular episode plays. It is exactly what I expected it to be and I am so glad that we finally have them!

If you got any of these slightly obscure references, kudos to you! If not, I can’t recommend watching these shows enough. Stay tuned because we will be rocking our new matching T’s together soon in a husband/wife photo shoot! 😀

What is your favorite Flight of the Conchords song? Who is your favorite character from Superstore? (I LOVE Dina!) I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb18

New Solitaire Trench Coat

Posted on February 18, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hi!! To me, there is nothing better than refreshing my wardrobe with the change of seasons and TJMaxx delivered during my last shopping trip. Despite the crappy weather, spring was in the air at TJs and it was infectious! Today, we will be discussing the last item from my clothing haul and, in this case, I really did save the best for last. This trench coat by Solitaire made me clutch my pearls and it has skyrocketed to one of my new favorite things in my wardrobe boutique. Check it out:

The trench coat is, hands down, my all time favorite classic wardrobe staple. They are just so incredibly chic, universally flattering, and I love the versatility that a signature tan trench offers. I have had the same trench coat from PacSun since I was fifteen and it still looks as good as the day I bought it. Because of this, trench coats are never really on my radar as something I need. Why mess with perfection, amiright? Of course, I ate those words as soon as I saw this pretty little number by Solitaire. Hey, I have the classic trench already and now I have the 2.0 version too!

I consider myself to be a highly seasoned shopper, but never have I ever seen anything like my new coat before. The pattern is simply stunning with huge blooms and butterflies and the soft faux suede just makes you want to wrap yourself in it. I also can’t get enough of how the colors in the patterns pop against the dusty pink base. From top to bottom, this coat was everything I could possibly want and it’s amazing that I almost didn’t get it! Wait *record stops*… What?

Lol, yes. This coat almost didn’t come home with me! I tried it on in a medium and it was a bit too big. However, I couldn’t find a small on the racks to save my own life. That is, until my mom stepped in! At the beginning of our shopping trip, I explained my golden rule to my mom of always checking the sizes of each item in case it’s on the wrong size hanger. I broke this rule with the coat, but my mom remembered! She ended up finding a small on a size large hanger and it was nothing short of miraculous. I’m glad someone remembered my words of wisdom because I sure as hell didn’t haha.

Thanks to an astonishing assist from my mom, my dream trench coat was as good as mine. I cannot wait to show it off in a new OOTD soon. Peep the rest of my TJs haul tomorrow because my home decor got a refresh too in the best way possible! 😀

Do you have any golden rules when you shop? What is one of your spring wardrobe staples? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb17

New Modern Works Top

Posted on February 17, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Howdy!! I had a surprise afternoon off two weeks ago and I got to spend it with my mom. We lunched at Panera and shopped at TJMaxx and it was absolutely fantastic! It’s finally time to take a look at my haul and it was a good one. TJs was fully restocked with spring fashion and, better yet, bunny decor galore! It was my lucky day and I walked away with a gorgeous new jacket, the cutest bunny themed decorations, and a top by Modern Works that we’ll check out now:

I think it’s extremely safe to say that I have an eclectic personal style and my wardrobe tends to reflect that. However, while I love bold fashion choices, I have a huge passion for classic pieces as well. We’re talking staples like trench coats, crisp button downs, and pants that fit like a glove. They’re clothes that will never go out of style and helps turn some of the louder pieces in my wardrobe into work appropriate when combined. The top above might not seem like a usual Lil Red choice but, with all of what we just discussed in mind, I was immediately drawn to it.

This top by Modern Works is a classic staple to the T. It is form fitting without being too tight, vertical stripes are always in, and the pearl white base makes for a perfect neutral. Not to mention that the top is soft and comfortable as can be. It felt fantastic on and I knew it was a winner because the outfit building portion of my brain began spinning into overdrive. I was picturing this little number tucked into black jean shorts during the summer and worn with a great pair of trousers for meetings at work. This is definitely a top that can be worn for work and play, which is always very appealing to me because I love versatile pieces!

I am so looking forward to featuring my new Modern Works top in an OOTD as well as sharing the rest of my haul with all of you. Stay tuned because I also have some matching shirts with Johnny that showed up in the mail that are hilarious if you know what they’re from! 😀

What is one of your favorite classic wardrobe staples? Are you updating your spring wardrobe soon? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb16

XOXO OOTD Bloopers

Posted on February 16, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello everyone and welcome to the blooper reel from my XOXO OOTD! In case you couldn’t tell, this was a Valentine’s Day outfit and guess what I’m doing right now?? Enjoying my first cup of coffee from the Keurig that Johnny gifted me with! This is the first time I have had a Keurig cup of coffee since the Great Kitchen Flood of 2022 when a pipe burst in my apartment building. Water was literally pouring out of the kitchen walls and it ruined a majority of my countertop appliances. It was gross and highly inconvenient lol. ANYWHO, the coffee is great; These pics are not! Let’s check them out:

Easy, breezy, beautiful CoverGirl

Thank you, thank you! You’re far too kind!

TFYM when you’re drunk off Appletinis at Applebee’s

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

I swear to stoned I’m not god

A very gingerly Ta Daaaaa

This past Saturday was a fantastic, wonderful day because Johnny and I got to hang out with our dear friend, Tim Misny. We made our way to Misnyland to create some content to show off the Valentine’s Day shirt that was released through MisnyMerch. On the front, it says “Tell me you love me” and on the back, it says “Or Tim Misny will make you pay”. Lol, classic! Not only is Tim’s merch cool AF, but it also does a lot of good too. All proceeds from each purchase goes towards supporting the Cleveland City Mission. This is a charity that is very close to Tim’s heart and I feel quite the same now. ❤ In fact, we sold over four hundred orders during the holiday season!

It is always such fun to do merch videos with Tim and it was even better this time around because Johnny was our videographer. We both thought he did a banner job for his first time doing anything remotely like that before. Videos are a whole different ball game than rapid fire OOTD shots! If you’d like to see the Part One and Part Two videos we made, visit me on social media! You can watch them on my Facebook page: Sarah Mushenheim. On my Instagram: @lifewithlilred94. OR on my blog’s Facebook page at: lifewithlilred . I hope you love them as much as Tim and I do. 🙂

I am pleased to say that none of these blooper faces made it into mine and Tim’s most recent content drop. They do, however, always have a very special home on lifewithlilred!

Who is your favorite internet personality? Do you prefer video or photo content? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb15

XOXO OOTD

Posted on February 15, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! Apparently Valentine’s Day was yesterday so I just had to put together a little inspo for that because everyone I know is celebrating this weekend. It’s hard to do much of anything during the work week! After a fantastic shopping trip to TJMaxx with my mom, I knew exactly what I wanted to wear for a V-Day look. Stay tuned for more from a fabulous haul after the blooper reel tomorrow. 🙂 Now, let’s get to it:

Who? What? Wear?

Red Heart Button Down: Jane + Delancey, TJMaxx (As seen on yesterday’s post!)

Coated Jeans: Seven Jeans, TJMaxx

Red Heels: Reaction By Kenneth Cole, TJMaxx

(I got the rose earrings forever ago at PacSun!)

My XOXO OOTD was an incredibly easy one to style because I built the outfit in my head as soon as I tried on my Jane + Delancey button down in the TJMaxx fitting room. In fact, this is usually how I determine if something I try on is worth buying. There’s no point in bringing something home that doesn’t work with the clothes I already own! So, naturally, creating this outfit started with the button down and then it was onto assembling the rest of the look…

For jeans, I decided to go with my coated pair of snakeskin patterned skinnies by Seven Jeans. These were a strategic choice because I wanted to incorporate some edge as well as texture. The sweet as can be heart pattern on the top definitely called for some toughening up! The sheen of the pants also added visual interest to the look because the button down is of the softest cotton that it almost has a matte finish to it. Adding that touch of sleek shine to this outfit really helped make things pop and the effect just wouldn’t be the same with a plain pair of skinnies.

Next, it was onto shoes and accessories to complete the look. The shoes were a no brainer and I slipped on a pair of red heels by Kenneth Cole. I absolutely love the chunky block heel and the buckle and fringe in the front turn a classic shape into something exciting. And, of course, they helped tie the look together from head to toe. The last thing I did was put on a pair of vintage style earrings with a red rose smack dab in the middle. These felt perfect for Valentine’s Day and, like the jeans, were a strategic choice. I wanted to leave my neck bare since I wasn’t showing a lot of skin. With that, I was ready to step out in Love Day style!

My XOXO OOTD is a sweet and sassy take on a Valentine’s Day look. It is one that can be easily replicated and will be sure to blow your date away!

Did you celebrate Valentine’s Day yesterday or are you waiting for the weekend? What was the best date you have ever been on? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb14

New Jane + Delancey Button Down

Posted on February 14, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello darlings and Happy Valentine’s Day to all of you! This past Thursday, I had a surprise afternoon off and was able to spend that time with my mom for a girls day out. We started our extravaganza with a delicious lunch at Panera and then shopped till we dropped at TJMaxx. It was perfect and we had so much fun together doing two of my favorite activities – shopping and lunching lol. We also went to TJMaxx at a great time too because all of their new spring arrivals were out and it was glorious. You’ll see more from my haul after a brand new OOTD tomorrow! Now, check out this adorable Jane + Delancey Button Down:

Naturally at TJs, there was a lot of Valentine’s Day apparel on display. Normally, I am not one for holiday themed clothes because the time you can wear them is so limited. I like clothes that will work for a majority of the seasons or year round. However, I just had to add the heart adorned button down from Jane + Delancey to my try on pile. The stark white base with the red embroidered hearts spoke to me and it was so different than the other V-Day clothes available. I was drowning in a sea of pink!

Although I loved the shirt on the hanger, I wasn’t completely sold on it. That is, until I tried it on! As soon as I looked at myself in the mirror, I knew it was a winner and, most importantly, my mom agreed too. The fit of the button down was oversized without being huge. It looked flirty and fun and it surprised me by being something that I would happily wear beyond February. I can’t wait to wear it in the summer tucked into a pair of jean shorts with a cute pair of wedges. This top looked even better on than I could have imagined and I can’t wait for you to see it in the OOTD post tomorrow. 🙂

I hope all of you have a wonderful V-Day! You are all my Valentines and thank you for continuing to tune into all of the latest and greatest here on lifewithlilred! ❤

How are you celebrating Valentine’s Day? How do you feel about holiday themed clothes? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb13

Jeans & A V (Neck) OOTD Bloopers

Posted on February 13, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Howdy! A brand new OOTD means brand new bloopers so it’s time to peep those from my Jeans & A V (Neck) outfit. Taking OOTD pics in the wintertime just freaking sucks lol. It’s cold, windy, and unpleasant and it’s the kind of weather that makes you want to go inside as soon as you step out. The day we took these pictures, we anticipated pleasant temps because *shocker* the sun was actually out! We got SO much more than we bargained for, however, and it freaking SUCKED! Find out why after these yikes shots:

Wikky wikky wikky DJ Red in the house

Just trying to pretend like I’m not freezing… It didn’t work

Playing a fun game of imaginary catch

A classic “what did you just say?” face

Setting up the shot…

Nailed it! Not.

Before I begin this story, let me first start by saying that Johnny and I have amazing neighbors in the Timber Top community. We are most fond of all of those we have had the pleasure of meeting and it makes the sprawling property feel more like a neighborhood rather than a billion apartments in close proximity to each other. Having said that, when Johnny and I take pictures in the winter – we don’t want to talk to anyone! We want to go out, be as quick as possible, and go back in to get warm.

As I mentioned, the sun was shining and it looked like it was going to be nice out. WRONG! It was frigid cold and the blustery wind was nonstop. Naturally, we would get stopped by one of our neighbors who was bundled up warm and ready for a chat. Johnny and I were not in the slightest. We ended up staying in the conversation for over fifteen minutes before it was blessedly over and still had pictures to take! I shit you guys not, after ten seconds of shooting Johnny goes “Can you try not looking so cold in every picture?” LOL, so much easier said than done and we were frozen solid by the time we got back inside. We both had to sit in front of the space heater to thaw out afterwards!

You never know what’s going to happen during an OOTD shoot and, in this case, it was near hypothermia haha. I guess Johnny and I are great neighbors too! 🙂

Do you have any awesome neighbors? How about any terrible ones? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

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