Tag Archives: shopping

Spring Picnic OOTD

Standard
Spring Picnic OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! This past Friday, Johnny and I attended a spring picnic hosted by our friend Tim Misny. This was a party for social media contest winners and it was such fun to mingle with so many cool new people at Misnyland. We had beautiful weather for the get together and it was the first day that truly felt like spring in forever. Naturally, I had to show out in a little something something! Check it out:

image_50733313(5)image_50733825(2)image_50769409(1)image_50473217(6)image_50731009(6)

Who? What? Wear?

Dress: Altar’d State

Cardigan: Candie’s, Kohl’s

Studded Mary Jane Heels: White Mountain, TJMaxx

Normally when I’m preparing an OOTD, I tend to know what I’m going to wear almost immediately. I plan outfits in my head and make adjustments as I’m putting the outfit on. For this particular case, I had an adorable outfit in mind with a bodycon skirt and button down. However, it was just not it once it was on because of the change in my hair color. It has been a while since I had gotten a full on hair makeover and I forgot how the new colors might not compliment every single thing in my wardrobe. At this point, I had to pivot hard.

With what felt like no options and endless options to pick from, I spent a bit of time floundering around my closet and wondering what to do next. With minimal time to get ready and make the hour drive to Misnyland, I decided the best route was the easy one – a dress. Dresses are fantastic because there’s a limit to what you can do with them. It was also the perfect something to throw on for a spring picnic because dresses just scream spring to me!

Once I figured out a solution, it was go time. I browsed the dresses in my closet, but felt bored with what I was seeing. Many of the dresses I own have already been featured on OOTDs before or weren’t appropriate for the weather. Then, I stumbled upon a dress that I had honestly forgotten I had – a pretty little black and white floral number by Altar’d State. This was definitely the one and I loved how it went from form fitting to a flirty flounce on the hemline.

Although I have no problem wearing this dress without anything covering it in the summertime, I needed something for the party. I didn’t want my bra straps showing around a bunch of strangers! The weather didn’t call for a jacket, but I could certainly get away with a light cardigan. I went with an emerald green cardi by Candie’s, which is old as dirt but I still like all the same. The jewel tone against the neutral palette of the dress helped liven things up and the fit was spot on because it ended right when the dress did.

Finally, it was onto shoes and accessories. For shoes, I chose a sweet pair of studded Mary Jane heels. The embellishment added a unique touch and the heels were sturdy, which was essential because we’d be walking on gravel. As a heavily tattooed gal, I tend to shy away from accessories when my ink is out because those are my accessories lol. Anything more just looks like too much so I put on a simple pair of stud earrings and was ready for the party with a few minutes to spare!

My Spring Picnic OOTD was not what I had in mind originally in the slightest. However, it worked beautifully for the occasion and I felt like the Spring Fling Queen in my look!

What colors look the best with your hair color? What would you wear to a spring picnic? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Living For Lilac OOTD Bloopers

Standard
Living For Lilac OOTD Bloopers

Hello everyone and welcome to the blooper reel from my Living For Lilac OOTD! During a very easy work week last week, I enjoyed getting new tattoos and my hair done. I felt so spoiled and pampered and have been simply obsessed with the results. It has been a long while since I did a total hair transformation or gotten a tap out session and my only regret is that I didn’t do it sooner! I was feeling my damn self while taking OOTD shots over the weekend and a few of the pics were my favorite in recent history. The ones we are about to take a look at? Eh, not so much! Lol, check it out:

Party people put your hands up

image_50728705(5)

Hey…. Do you have a cigarette?

image_50437889(10)

Solid foot pop, yikes face lol

image_67236097(1)

Using all of my willpower and inner strength to not fall over

image_50438913(7)

Getting blown away by the wind helllllllllp

image_50448897(3)

Don’t mind me wiping my runny nose SMFH

image_50441729(7)

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

image_50462465(6)

I like to think of myself as seasoned in the art of getting tattoos. I got my first one the day I turned eighteen and have been tattooed more times than I can count in the past twelve years. In fact, a recent post featured my golden rules for a long tattoo session. I follow these standards religiously and they have never failed me – even during the longest almost ten hour appointments. So, tell me why I decided to just forget one of these rules the day of my last tap out?!

Before my appointment, I had a good breakfast and snacked on the way to the tattoo shop and as I waited to get started. Once my artist began working on the first piece, it was go time and I let my mind go to my happy place. In between singing along to the bumping music at the shop and chatting with the artists, I was on my phone or in my own little world. Before I knew it, we were already on the last piece of the day. It was then that I realized it had been a fat minute since I had eaten and it caught up to me quickly.

This was the first time I had EVER gotten the shakes when being tattooed and I was so thankful that I stocked up on snacks at the gas station beforehand. After housing almost an entire bag of honey roasted peanuts, I was good as new. Like it had never even happened and the rest of the appointment went without a hitch. Don’t pull a me and be sure to EAT if you are getting tattooed – no matter how distracted or not hungry you are feeling. The shakes was the literal worst!

Although I failed to follow one of my tried and true tattoo rules, everything was a-okay and I was happy to have been able to complete the session. I have never tapped out yet! I can’t wait to get the last few odds and ends added soon! 😀

Are you treating yourself to a makeover? What are your plans for it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Living For Lilac OOTD

Standard
Living For Lilac OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! After getting my hair and tattoos done, I was feeling like a whole new woman and couldn’t wait to show it off. And, what better way to do that than with some OOTD pics?! With pink lemonade hair, I wanted to invoke all of the warm, spring vibes and sported an adorable matching skirt and top set. This look was pure fun to wear and with matching sets being so incredibly popular, it is very easy to replicate. Check it out:

image_50419969(9)image_50731777(4)image_50431489(12)image_50437377(6)(1)image_50453249(4)image_50423553(10)image_50452993(10)

Who? What? Wear?

Crop Top: Altar’d State

Bodycon Skirt: Altar’d State

Jean Jacket: Ci Sono, TJMaxx

Speech Bubble Heels: LFL, TJMaxx

I have no idea where the daisy earrings are from!

When I began styling this outfit, I had skirts on the mind because I wanted my tattoos to be visible. I browsed the several bodycon skirts in my collection and was coming up blank. Honestly, what you see above is a last resort because I wasn’t sure it was still going to fit. I purchased the matching crop top and skirt set three years ago from Altar’d State! Despite having a few butterflies in my basket about trying it on, I gave it a go anyways and it fit like a glove. Not overly tight, but not loose either which is exactly what you want for a matching set.

The beauty of a matching set is that your whole outfit is basically styled with minimal think work. This made for a very easy outfit building session for your girl! Before I moved onto shoes and accessories, I wanted to add one more piece to the outfit for variety and in case it was chilly out. I went with a patchwork jean jacket by Ci Sono, which fit the girly sweet vibe of the outfit perfectly. The lighter wash also complimented the soft lilac of the matching set. A good jean jacket is a spring staple and it’s also a neutral so you can wear it with almost anything and get away with it!

With the base of the outfit settled, it was time to wrap things up with shoes and accessories. For shoes, I chose a pair of speech bubble heels by LFL in cobalt blue. These added a punchy pop of color, length, and also didn’t break up my leg line too extremely with the low ankle strap. Since a ton of my tattoos were showing and that serves as an accessory in itself, I kept jewelry minimal and put on the cutest pair of daisy earrings as a nod to the beautiful blooms of spring. With that, I was ready to show off my brand new look!

I absolutely love my Living For Lilac OOTD and can’t think of a better look to introduce Lil Red 2.0 with. Stay tuned for the blooper reel coming soon!

Are you a fan of matching sets? 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

 

70s Spring OOTD Bloopers

Standard
70s Spring OOTD Bloopers

Hello everyone and welcome to the blooper reel from my 70s Spring OOTD! Spring has finally showed up in good ol’ Akron, Ohio and I loved the look I created to welcome it with open arms. I have been ready for warmer days and a good thunderstorm or two, which we have had in spades this past week. Thankfully, it seems like spring has decided to stick around despite the fact that it could have turned back running after seeing these yikes shots. I, for one, am feeling #blessed lol! Check it out:

Easy, Breezy, Beautiful Lil Red

image_50729729(4)

Johnny forever cracking me up!

image_50753281(6)

Looking like a noodle with this pose lol

image_50437121(6)

Discovering how buttons work

image_50754049(2)

TFYM when you’re about to say “and you know what else” in an argument

image_50457089(9)

NAILED IT!

image_50434049(5)

As per ushe when taking my pictures, Johnny is always saying something to make me laugh or my blooper shots are making him laugh. In this shoot’s case, my main squeeze very much enjoyed the struggle of the foot pop. He then proceeded to ask me a question that made me laugh even harder: “Do you keep all of the bad shots in a scrapbook or something?” LOL, I can’t with him because he knows darn well they go up on lifewithlilred. However, in a sense… Yes, I guess my page is like a scrapbook of sorts!

After Johnny’s first question, he asked me if I would make him a scrapbook of my blooper shots. I knew there was a reason I was posting these in the first place! This sounds like a hilarious project and I am game to make it happen. While I delete the bloopers from my phone to maximize space storage, they live eternally on lifewithlilred. This gives me bloopers on bloopers at my disposal and I think that I might just have to make a tangible scrapbook a reality for our birthaversary. I think he’ll love it. ❤

As you all know, I am a huge fan of the blooper reel and it warms my heart to know that Johnny is too. Lol, I can’t wait to scroll through bloopers past and select the worst of the worst for the scrapbook!

How do you save mementos? Do you like scrapbooking? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

70s Spring OOTD

Standard
70s Spring OOTD

Hello! We are finally starting to experience springlike weather in good ol’ Akron, Ohio and I have been SO ready for it. In fact, it has warmed up so significantly that Johnny and I currently have our air conditioning running. Hey, I’ll take it! Although I have enjoyed giving a final hurrah to beloved winter clothes, I have been looking forward to styling spring looks. When I think of spring OOTDs, I think of crisp, fresh pieces that can go from strolling through quaint downtown Cuyahoga Falls to drinks on the patio. The look you are about to see was inspired by spring staples with a 70s spin. Check it out:

image_50446593(7)image_50445057(9)image_50446849(4)image_50755841(3)image_50435585(10)

Who? What? Wear?

Aviator Pattern Button Down: Karl Lagerfeld, TJMaxx

Straight Leg Slacks: Sincerely Jules, TJMaxx

Platform Heels: Bamboo/Cape Robbin, TJMaxx

Flower Earrings: Bella Jack, TJMaxx

Bracelets: Two were gifts and one is by AllSaints

To style this OOTD, I built from the bottom up because I knew I wanted to rock my Sincerely Jules slacks. These straight leg pants are so retro and cool and they just felt perfect for spring. The neutral shade is also enticing because they can be paired with anything but still offer maximum chicness. Because these slacks are oh so seventies inspired, the outfit was incredibly easy to style as I only had so many pieces that would achieve my vision. Like the Karl Lagerfeld button down…

I love me a good button down, but the aviator adorned one I chose had everything I needed. The pattern, of course, was a major selling point. However, this button down was mainly selected for its fit and color. I absolutely loved the stark white of the top against the soft oat hue of the pants. It really popped and brought that crispness that I was looking for. The fit was also very flattering. It’s not baggy, but definitely not tight and it allowed me to loosely tuck it in for that effortlessly breezy effect that is so popular in seventies style.

Finally, it was onto shoes and accessories. You’re not going to not sport a fab pair of platforms for a seventies inspo look and I went with a pair by Bamboo and Cape Robbin. The denim added an extra something something while still adhering to the neutral palette and the floral embroidery on the heel was a fun surprise! For earrings, I went with one of my favorite pairs featuring transparent bluebell flowers for some additional movement. Then, I stacked on a few simple mini cuff bracelets and was ready for my closeup!

I love how my 70s Spring OOTD turned out and Johnny did too! As soon as he saw me when he returned home, he immediately let me know and noted the seventies nod. My husband, the fashionista! ❤

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

Statement Trench Coat OOTD Bloopers

Standard
Statement Trench Coat OOTD Bloopers

Hello everyone and welcome to the blooper reel from my Statement Trench Coat OOTD! As we transition from winter to spring, I have been trying to give a final hurrah to beloved coats and jackets before it gets too hot to wear them. In Lil Red’s perfect world, it would be fall weather all the time because nothing pleases me more than a statement coat like the one featured in this past OOTD. They have the power to transform any outfit from blah to bold simply by putting it on. However, no matter how amazing the coat is, sometimes the end result is just yikes:

A nice lil smile for all of you 🙂

image_50438913(6)

Serving sassafras LOOK OUT

image_50731521(4)

I’M SEXY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

image_50434817(10)

When you think you’re slaying and this is what you end up with -_-

image_50735105(4)

A wild Karen looking for a manager to speak to

image_50454017(9)

No longer ready for my closeup… Gimme my phooooone!

image_50431489(10)

While I LOVE getting dressed up and going out with Johnny over the weekend, I think I might love staying in the best! The irony is not lost on me that some of these OOTDs never even make it out in public because we just don’t feel like doing anything lol. Although we did run some errands while I was rocking the above look, sometimes we shoot pictures and I get in my pajamas immediately afterwards. And, no, the PJs are never as cute as anything I styled before putting them on! They sure are comfy, though. 😀

By the time the weekend rolls around, Johnny and I are always exhausted from a long week of work and getting up at the buttcrack of dawn. That’s not to say that we don’t have a ton of fun just vegging out because we have began gaming together a lot again! We have been obsessed with the horror puzzle game, Little Nightmares, and nothing in the outside world seems as enticing as beating it. It is challenging, exciting, and pretty scary too! So, even if I was dressed to the nines minutes prior to heading back inside, it begs the question: Why go out when you can stay in?!

Until we have some consistently nice weather, Johnny and I are going to prolong our winter hibernation. I have yet to see a problem with it! ❤

What is your favorite puzzle game? Do you prefer to stay in or go out over the weekend? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Easter Extravaganza OOTD Bloopers

Standard
Easter Extravaganza OOTD Bloopers

Hello everyone and welcome to the blooper reel from my Easter Extravaganza OOTD! My Easter was short and sweet with a quick visit to my mom and dad’s for some lunch. We just ended up getting a take out meal from Giant Eagle and everything was so good. So good and SO very filling! After our lunch paired with champagne, I was ready to go home, put on my pajamas, and sleep for the rest of the week lol. Of course, it wouldn’t be a holiday without getting dressed up in your Sunday best to just eat food. Despite being in my Sunday best, these pics were the absolute worst:

Just out here trying my best

image_50741249(2)

FE FI FO FUM ready or not here I come

image_50744321(5)

TFYM when you know you’re about to fall over

image_50449409(11)

The leaning tower of Lil Red

image_50728449(3)

Action shot of me kicking the winning goal

image_50736385(4)

How I looked after my food coma

image_50440705(5)

I’M SEXY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

image_50736129(3)

Although Easter breaks my rules of never doing anything on a Sunday, I was pretty excited for it. We were going to do an Easter egg hunt for my sweet nieces and I couldn’t wait to assemble the eggs with candy treats. Then, my sister ended up having to work and Ohio did that typical Ohio thing… It rained all weekend so any outdoor egg hunts were no longer an option anyways. I’ll be looking forward to having a belated egg hunt with better weather soon. ❤

Another Ohio uh oh will actually be happening today. In my neck of the woods, we are in a path of full totality for the solar eclipse. It has been the hot buzz here for over a month and there are countless festivals and events taking place. For once, people are traveling from all over just to come to Ohio lol. Unfortunately, I don’t think anyone is going to be getting the show they expected because it will be cloudy all day. This has been a “what if” joke online and leave it up to my state to make good on it. Maybe next solar eclipse four hundred years later… 😀

Like the weather in Ohio, the blooper pictures are never the best. But, hey, at least that’s to be expected with both of them!

Are you going to view the solar eclipse? Are you going to an event for it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Easter Extravaganza OOTD

Standard
Easter Extravaganza OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! Holidays like Thanksgiving and Easter crack me up because it’s basically just getting dressed up to sit there and eat food lol. That was the case this Easter, for sure, and I am so not complaining – everything was delicious. 😀 Even though I was only stopping by my parents’ house for a short visit, I still had to show out in a fun lil look. Trust and believe I got back in my pajamas as soon as I got home! I was in a champagne and food coma haha. Check it out:

image_50734337(3)image_50457857(6)image_50756609(5)image_50749185(1)

Who? What? Wear?

Floral Blazer: Scotch & Soda, TJMaxx

Cami Top: mittoshop, French Rooster

Distressed Boyfriend Jeans: Banjara, TJMaxx

Snakeskin Pattern Boots: Target

Turquoise Earrings: Lucky Brand

When I am styling an OOTD, I usually like to start from the top down. However, I already knew that I wanted to wear my new Banjara jeans so I built from the bottom up. These boyfriend jeans were an amazing find from TJs and I can’t get over the bling bling embellishment and the price. They were only eight dollars on clearance! As you all have probably noticed, these jeans are not as tight as what I normally wear. It definitely felt different lol! But, they also helped set up the rest of the outfit because I knew exactly how I wanted to style them.

Since the jeans offered more wiggle room, I wanted the top of the look to be a bit more form fitting. I popped on my go to lace cami top from French Rooster to have something on that fit closer to my body. The lace also helped to balance out the toughness of the distressing on the jeans. Then, I went shopping in my blazer department and chose a floral number by Scotch & Soda. For the blazer, I didn’t want a power suit level fit. The Scotch & Soda one was perfect because it is a pajama top style and worked with the fit of the jeans so nicely. It gave shape without going in the polar opposite direction and it kept the look flowing seamlessly.

Next, it was onto shoes and accessories. I wanted to add an additional pattern with the shoes because they are so far away from the floral blazer and the jeans acted as a buffer. After browsing my shoe selection, I went with a pair of snakeskin patterned heeled boots from Target. These are literally old as dirt, but I still love them! They added such a funky pop as they peek a booed out from beneath the slightly too long for me jeans. The pattern was also soft enough that it didn’t clash with the blazer. The last thing I did was put on a pair of turquoise dangly earrings because the outfit didn’t need anything else. I also adored the pretty shade against the orange of the blazer. One of my favorite color combos!

With that, I was ready to go eat at chez parents in style. Our celebration wasn’t an extravaganza, per se, but my outfit sure was!

What is your favorite gemstone? How about your favorite animal pattern? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

 

Something For The Fellas

Standard
Something For The Fellas

Hello! Whenever I go shopping at TJMaxx, I always shop the men’s department too in case there is something that Johnny might like. I absolutely adore my husband’s style so it is really fun to pick clothes out for him. It’s also nice to save some dough at TJs too because the websites that Johnny likes to order from are pretty pricey. What can I say, we both have expensive taste! Johnny is very partial to graphic button downs and I have had moderate success when I look for them at TJs. This past shopping trip was a great success, however, because they added a ton of button downs to the men’s department!

image_50740993(10)image_50749697(5)image_50726913(4)

^^^ Once again, don’t mind my broken nail lol

The first thing I noticed when I ventured to the men’s section was a display rack filled with summer button downs. They also had matching shorts, but Johnny’s size small looked way too small and the mediums looked gigantic. But I digress so back to the shirts! There were at least five different patterns to pick from in a cool, breezy fabric. I knew which one I liked the best immediately, but I sent Johnny pictures so he could decide for himself. He, too, liked the one you see above the most so into the cart it went and it was only twelve dollars. You just can’t beat that. 😀

The shirt and short sets by Massive were fantastic and they screamed Johnny right off the rip. In fact, he has quite a few pairs of matching shirts and shorts and calls it his “loungeware” lol. While I understand the merits of that because they look insanely comfortable, I can’t wait to see him wear his new shirt when we are out and about. Johnny’s style is very retro and this button down emulated that perfectly. The muted colors with the 70s-esque pattern is everything and it had me wishing that I could find something similar in a dress or skirt for myself!

If the button down above looks like something your SO might like, RUN don’t walk to TJMaxx. You might hit the jackpot and pay a song for it. I was glad to be able to buy a treat for my main squeeze and the price was oh so nice!

What is your favorite era of fashion? How would you describe your SO’s style? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jean Queen Pt. 2

Standard
Jean Queen Pt. 2

Hello! This past week, I made a quick run to TJMaxx to pick up a few odds and ends. I needed mascara, I wanted to find a birthday gift for my dad, and I was in desperate need of new black skinny jeans. It has been a phat minute since I purchased new jeans from American Eagle and one of my pairs got a hole right in the crotch and needed replaced. Smh! While I am extremely partial to the jeans from AE, I knew I could find a cheaper pair at TJs and ended up walking away with two pairs for under thirty dollars. Talk about a steal! Check it out:

image_50406913(8)image_50428673(8)image_50455297(4)image_50438145(12)image_50439937(9)image_50388993(3)

^^^ Don’t mind my broken nail lol double smh

When I shop at TJMaxx, I can’t help but try on a little bit of everything even though I don’t really need it. What can I say, I live for my treats! The fashion gods must have been telling me to hold off, though, because literally everything I tried on didn’t work except the two pairs of jeans I picked out. I was on the hunt for a classic pair of black skinnies, but I wasn’t opposed to something different too. I asked and received because I got exactly what I wanted!

The first pair of jeans by Banjara was found in the juniors department and on clearance. I fell in love with the rhinestones adorning the distressing and I also loved the price. These were only eight dollars. Score! Although they aren’t a standard skinny fit, I was thrilled by them because I have been looking for a good pair of boyfriend jeans. I wore my husband’s jeans once and it was a never again thing lol. It was weird trying on something other than skinnies, but they fit perfectly and looked so freaking cool. I can’t wait to style an OOTD with them. 😀

After trying on the Banjara jeans, the great successes kept rolling with the skinnies by 1822 Denim. This is a brand that I am familiar with, but I have never owned anything by. Now that I know their jeans are awesome, I will definitely be looking for the brand again the next time I need a new pair. These jeans fit like a glove, were an inky jet black (My black skinnies are really faded), and offered a unique pop with the ankle fringe. Not only did they check off all of my boxes, but they were comfortable as can be. It felt like wearing leggings even though it was a jean material! As soon as I got home, my jeans with the crotch hole went straight into the garbage because I found the ideal replacement!

Sometimes, TJMaxx tells you what you need. Other times, TJMaxx gives you exactly what you need. The latter was the case with this shopping trip and these jeans gave American Eagle a run for their money!

What is your favorite brand of denim? How often do you buy new jeans? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah