Tag Archives: shopping

Apr1

Faux Fur Fierce OOTD Bloopers

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Faux Fur Fierce OOTD Bloopers

Hello everyone and welcome to the Blooper Reel from my Faux Fur Fierce OOTD! These pictures were taken as soon as I returned home from getting my hair done and I am SO in love with the results. I always say that every time my stylist does my hair is my favorite but I honestly think this Spring Sunset palette takes the cake. It is just so good and I legit will never be over it. We like to change up my hair at every appointment but these new colors might have to stick around for a while because I can’t get enough! Unlike my fabulous new do, these yikes shots leave a lot to be desired lol check it out:

Sending come hither vibes

New hair got me like

Lol I love these stiletto mules but they kept getting stuck in the wooden walkway smh

Johnny told me my vest looked like Chewbacca SO sweet ❤

How YOU doin?

I think all the bleach went to my head!

I don’t know about all of you, but Johnny and I LOVE watching game shows. Whether it’s Jeopardy, Family Feud, The Floor, or The Quiz With Balls we just have a blast playing along and revel in our success when we get answers right. Our newest favorite game show has got to be The Greatest Average American hosted by Nate Bargatze. We are avid fans of his comedy and were completely hooked after a few minutes of watching the first episode. The game is all about thinking like the average American when it comes to questions like “If you weren’t going to get injured, what would make the best story?” with options like getting struck by lightening, falling from a plane, or getting swept up in a tornado. If you answer in line with the people questioned, you are one step closer to winning the average American salary of $67,920. Even this amount is funny because classic game shows offer one hundred grand at least!

For the past several Thursdays we watch The Greatest Average American as soon as I get home from work and it’s just the best. Thursdays are my long days and I love being able to shake it off by tuning into something interactive and hilarious. Our favorite part of the show has got to be when Nate has to complete physical challenges including throwing footballs from a recliner or hitting wiffleballs into the audience. The piece de resistance, however, is Nate’s Favorite Things. Should the contestant win the grand prize, the audience wins one of Nate’s Favorite Things. It could be a Stouffer’s meal, an Uncrustable, or a package of Red Vines. Johnny and I would have loved to score the Applebee’s gift card as, like Nate, we appreciate a Middle Class Fancy meal too. 😀

If you are in the mood to have some fun, I can’t recommend The Greatest Average American enough. You will be in stitches!!

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

Mar29

Faux Fur Fierce OOTD

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Faux Fur Fierce OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! I had too much fun getting my hair freshened up for spring at The Shear Shop last week. My stylist created the most dreamy Spring Sunset palette and I couldn’t wait to get home and show Johnny… And take pictures to show if off, of course! Whenever I return home from the salon, Johnny always greets me with “Who are you and what have you done to my wife?” and it never gets old. ❤ After he shared his usual Middle Class Fancy sentiments, I rushed to put together the outfit I was daydreaming about at the salon to get the content train rolling. Check it out:

Who? What? Wear?

Faux Fur Vest: Thread & Supply, TJMaxx

Bling Collar Button Down: H&M

Jeans: Gap, TJMaxx

Heeled Mules: Dolce Vita, TJMaxx

Snake Bracelet: Earthbound

Prior to my appointment at the salon my stylist and I will discuss what colors we are thinking so she can purchase them for me. Originally, we were planning on a paler blue called Blue Tux with the Shag Rug orange. Then, we pivoted hard! However, I definitely still had blue on the brain as my color sat and began styling an OOTD around my Thread & Supply faux fur vest. I absolutely loved the Blue Tux Pulp Riot dye and it actually closely matches the lighter blue in the vest but way more vivid. With that, I knew what must be done next.

Black jeans were a given, as per ushe, but what to wear underneath the vest? I toyed around with a few different options before landing on my blingy collar button down from H&M. This shirt is as old as dirt but I still love it all the same and that collar just adds so much fun to any OOTD. The faux fur vest is, without a doubt, a statement piece while the button down is a basic staple with a twist. That is exactly what I like and thanks to the collar, it was able to hold its own under the vest with that bedazzling that made this look even better.

Finally, it was onto shoes and accessories. For shoes, I went with a gorgeous pair of snakeskin patterned heeled mules by Dolce Vita. While I love the idea of a classic mule, mama needs a heel and these ones are perfect and feature my favorite animal print. They might not have been great for where we shot pictures because the skinny heel kept getting caught in between the wooden walkway but, hey, I made it work! To keep with the snake theme, I wore my new favorite snake wrap bracelet from Earthbound. My sister treated me to it when we were in New Orleans and I was so excited to bust it out. Last but not least, I put on a dangly pair of earrings with a big amber gem to play up the new tones in my hair. With that, I was ready to rock my new do!

I am an avid fan of faux fur and this fit turned out just as I imagined it. I love it when that happens! 😀

Are you updating your wardrobe for spring? Do you like to rock faux fur too? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar28

Accessory Story: Earthbound Bracelet Edition

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Accessory Story: Earthbound Bracelet Edition

Howdy!! My sister and I had the most fantastic time in New Orleans and it was such fun to explore the city with Kristen. Prior to our cousin’s Saturday evening wedding we shopped till we dropped in the French Quarter. We hit up plenty of markets and quirky souvenir shops and had to laugh at the random CVS because it stuck out like a sore thumb. There weren’t many chain stores to visit but we did end up stopping in Earthbound as we have never been there before and the closest one to us is an hour away. It was a cool, hippie chic shop that boasted clothing, decor, and beautiful jewelry. They were also running a buy one get one half off sale which was a score! Kristen ended up purchasing a lovely bracelet for her daughter and treated me to this dynamite snake wrap bracelet. Check it out:

When I saw this bracelet on display, I literally clutched my pearls. I absolutely love snake themed jewelry and have several pieces in my collection. None of them are like this one, though! Unraveled, this bracelet stretches two feet long and then you can wrap it up as a bracelet or a necklace. All of my bracelets are just cuffs and this number by Earthbound is the perfect jewelry embodiment of a real snake. The salesperson at the store told me they got the bracelet back in stock the day before and that they sell out very quickly. I can definitely see why!

As this bracelet was a bit pricier at twenty dollars, I told my sister I would buy it and get the bracelet she wanted for the half off price. Instead, she got it for me and it was just the sweetest! The whole weekend away warmed my heart and it was so special to have a memento from her to commemorate our trip. I have worn it several times since our mini vacation and it’s impossible not to smile about it. Not only is this bracelet insanely fun to put on but it instantly takes me back to all of the amazing memories we created. Spending all of that time one on one with my sister was the greatest gift I could ever ask for and this bracelet from big sis to little sis was the cherry on top. ❤

Tune in tomorrow to check out an OOTD featuring my new hair and this fabulous Earthbound find. See you then!

Which store has your favorite jewelry? What is your favorite kind of accessory? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar25

New Orleans Wedding OOTD

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New Orleans Wedding OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! The weekend of Friday the thirteenth was a fantastic one as my sister, Kristen, and I were in New Orleans to celebrate our cousin’s wedding. We went to a wonderful pre wedding party on Friday and then the big show happened on Saturday evening. The wedding was absolutely beautiful and we even got to parade through the street after the happy couple said “I do”. It was way cool! It was such fun to get dressed to the nines with my sister and be with our extended family and new friends. Take a look at what I wore and let’s discuss:

Who? What? Wear?

Floral Dress: ModCloth, Coconinno

Fringe Shawl: TJMaxx, Laundry

Gloves: These belonged to Johnny’s grandma!

Heels: Steve Madden, Kohl’s (I think!)

I think the earrings are from Target!

Outside of going to Playhouse Square for a play or musical, I rarely have the chance to get super dressed up and definitely took advantage of the wedding to do so. Styling formal wear is something that I get to do maybe once a year and there is no better occasion than a wedding to get all dolled up! For my wedding look, I started with a gorgeous dress by Coconinno. I actually wore this when my oldest brother got married over ten years ago and am very glad it still fits lol. From the fitted top to the a-line skirt and the stunning medley of colors, this dress is so charming. This Coconinno number is also quite light making it ideal for a summer wedding or an early spring one in New Orleans. I just love the movement of the skirt and it was perfect for dancing the night away!

Next up was shoes and accessories. For accessories, I added a little bit of everything! First was an adorable fringe shawl by Laundry which is oh so pretty and unique. Although the dress could have been worn without it, the shawl covered up the bra area and I really appreciated that as I could attend the wedding without worrying about bra straps being visible. It also added movement to the top half of the look with the fringe bouncing with every step I took. I also decided to wear a pair of gloves that belonged to Johnny’s grandma which I thought looked so elegant. If you look closely, you can see that there are ruffles going around the wrist and it was yet another sweet detail that elevated this fit.

Last but not least for accessories, I added a pair of dangly three tiered black gemstone earrings. I styled my hair in a chignon inspired do and the gems looked so pretty as they danced around my bare neck. For shoes, I went with the very first pair of heels I ever owned – a strappy little pair by Steve Madden. I will never part with them and that is a good thing because they were exactly what I needed to wrap this OOTD up. That wooden heel is so funky and it was a thrill to hear them clacking across the brick sidewalks! With that, I was ready for a night to remember at the most lovely wedding. ❤

I felt like a star in this look and am so in love with how it turned out. The dress was already great but the accessories took it over the top!

Are you going to a wedding this year? Do you get the chance to rock formal wear often? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar24

New Orleans OOTD Bloopers

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New Orleans OOTD Bloopers

Hello everyone and welcome to the Blooper Reel from my New Orleans OOTDs! Be sure to stick around this week to see the actual OOTD post for what I wore to my cousin’s wedding. 🙂 Without my resident photographer, Johnny, my sister pulled through in the clutch to take my pictures and TikTok videos. It took a little bit of coaching for Kristen to get them just right but she was a quick study! Huge shout out to her for putting up with my nonsense not just with OOTD shoots but for always taking a selfie with me every other minute lol. Hey, sister time is a rarity for us so I had to milk it for all it was worth! Let’s get to these yikes shots:

I’m a star, baby!!! Out here doing the most as per ushe

Practicing my dance moves for the wedding and looking GREAT

Kristen’s OOTD shots were a work in progress but her bloopers were on point

My face when Kristen asked if we were done yet lol the answer was NEVER

Looking SO cool (said no one ever)

A strong preface to the Blooper Reel story time…

After my cousin got married, we paraded around the street and it was absolutely amazing. The entire block was going freaking nuts and I think we all felt like celebrities during that five minute trek! Because the experience was so exciting, I wasn’t looking where I was going whatsoever. In the streets of New Orleans, that is a big mistake because their walkways definitely need some love. As I strutted my stuff, I was so unaware that I walked right into a pothole with a huge cone in it lol SMH. It was a shock to the system but I think I recovered beautifully and made the rest of the parade without further incident. That was to come later…

When the dance floor opened up after dinner and speeches, my uncle and I were cutting a rug. My cousin’s dad is the literal coolest and he is very tall and very broad. For the beginning of our dance, we were in perfect step and it really was lovely. Then, came the spin. Oh, that spin lol. We were dancing on brick and combined with that, my heels, and my uncle’s sheer strength without even trying, I completely ate it when he spun me out. I went from being on my own two feet, to in flight, to on the ground in two seconds flat. You guys, it was SO embarrassing I can’t even put it into words. In my defense, however, literally everyone said that my uncle straight up hurled me and that made me feel a lot better… Kind of. Once again, SMH!!!!!

Weebles wobble and in this case they fell down. But, hey, all that matters is that I got up again, right?!

Has anything embarrassing happened to you recently? Would you consider yourself clumsy? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar21

Wedding Party OOTD

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Wedding Party OOTD

Hi! After my sister, Kristen, and I landed in New Orleans on Friday we were whisked away in an Uber to get to our hotel. We stayed at the Chateau Orleans and it was absolutely gorgeous. The staff was so wonderful, the decor was stunning, and the location couldn’t be beat as it was right in the heart of the French Quarter. We arrived at our digs around three thirty and relaxed until it was time to partay at a pre-wedding party for my cousin and his beautiful bride at the Napoleon House. It was such fun to get glammed up and let the good times roll! Take a look at the little look I put together for the celebration:

Who? What? Wear?

Polka Dot Slip Dress: Talia Benson, TJMaxx

Faux Fur Collar: St. Tropez, TJMaxx

Platform Heels: Bamboo, TJMaxx

The earrings were a Christmas gift from my blogging bestie!

I wanted to bring the drama to the pre-wedding party and I couldn’t imagine a better dress than this fabulous number by Talia Benson. It is one of my favorite dresses I have ever owned and I love it so much that I don’t even care about the slight difficulty getting it on and off. Those connected slip dresses can be tricky! This dress invokes my edgy girly style to the T and I felt like a star in it. That sheer mesh overlay, the dropped waist, and ribbon ties to cap the sleeve truly allow the eyes to dance as there is a lot going on but it still feels so cohesive. It was also the perfect dress to wear in the warm weather of New Orleans as the fabric was so light and breezy!

While this dress provided an excellent base, I wasn’t done yet and felt like something was missing. As I racked my brains on what I could add, I landed on faux fur and decided to pair it with an amazing lavender collar by St. Tropez. Regardless of if the dress had a pattern or not, it was still a neutral piece which meant that I could have some fun with accessories and I sure did! The faux fur collar elevated the dress to a whole new level and the silhouette it created was so striking. I have never paired this dress with the collar before and I can’t believe it took me this long to think of it smh.

For the remainder of my accessories, I chose a pair of sword earrings that my bestie gifted me with and it was like she was there for the party too. She is always very close to my heart! Finally, it was onto shoes and I went with a killer pair of platforms by Bamboo. They might have taken up a ton of space in my suitcase but it was so worth it because wow. That pop of red with the colorful embroidery made this look special from head to toe. With that, I was ready to celebrate good times in New Orleans!

There is a lot more fashion fun from my trip so stay tuned on lifewithlilred!

What do you normally pack on a vacation? Where is your favorite place to travel to? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar19

New Orleans Souvenirs

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New Orleans Souvenirs

Hello! This past weekend was a great big adventure because my sister, Kristen, and I went to New Orleans! When we got invited to our cousin’s destination wedding there, I was so surprised when Kristen asked if I wanted to go together. I couldn’t let that quality sister time pass me by and we flew into New Orleans on the morning of Friday the thirteenth. This might be considered an unlucky date but it was the luckiest in the world because we had the best time. I can’t wait to tell you all about it! The food, the scenery, the unfortunate cancellation of our flight home. And, of course, ALL of the OOTDs. But, first, let’s talk souvenirs because we shopped till we dropped in the French District:

The French District was a blur of shops, restaurants, music, and lots and lots of bars. We got to explore it a little bit prior to a pre-wedding party on Friday and then got to peruse it fully on Saturday before our cousin’s beautiful wedding. After a delicious meal at The Market Cafe, we got our shop on to purchase goodies for ourselves and family. The only thing I really wanted for myself was a mask and I fell in love with the one I found at a quirky souvenir shop. The mask itself is gorgeous and ornate but what sold me was the amazing plume of feathers. I also couldn’t believe the price at just thirteen dollars! It was a total steal and I cannot wait to display it in the apartment. It is even giving me ideas for future Halloween costumes. 😀 I am so delighted with this purchase and out of every mask we saw, this one just screamed Lil Red the most!

At another souvenir shop, I stumbled upon the fun little New Orleans Voodoo coffin and I knew Johnny would love it for our knick knack shelf. It is the perfect memento for our spooky selves and I also had to get a few more treats for him too. My Johnny was gifted with a great shirt that features a skeleton playing guitar beside the skeleton of a dog and it says “New Orleans Howlin’ Blues”. Just right for the man who brings music everywhere he goes! I also got him a stick of alligator jerky against my better judgement because gross. However, I knew it would be appreciated so up to the cash register it went smh.

The French District also featured a couple of regular shops that seemed horribly out of place. This included a random CVS, an H&M, Urban Outfitters, and Earthbound. We had never been in an Earthbound before as the closest one to us is about an hour away. It was a really cool store and I walked away with a fabulous wrap around snake bracelet. As you all know, I am an avid fan of snakeskin patterned clothing and snake themed jewelry. It is just so edgy and sexy too! The wrap bracelet I got is dynamite and we were at the store at just the right time. The employee told us it got restocked the day before and sells out very quickly. I can’t wait to rock mine in a new OOTD soon so you can see it in all of is glory!

Stick around on lifewithlilred for all of the New Orleans content. This was the trip of a lifetime and I am so happy that I got to share it with my sister. ❤

What is your favorite part of New Orleans? Do you have a vacation coming up? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar16

Navy, Baby OOTD Bloopers

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Navy, Baby OOTD Bloopers

Hello everyone and welcome to the Blooper Reel from my Navy, Baby OOTD! I am dead tired as I type this and am fantasizing about a crispy Diet Coke from McDonald’s. However, the blog must go on and I am nothing if not dedicated. Hello, six and a half year blogging streak! Perhaps I need a laugh to perk me up and maybe all of you do too. So, let’s take a look at these yikes shots and discuss why this chronically sleepy gal is extra sleepy today!

LOL Johnny brought up something that apparently made me want to throw up

This was the picture that was taken immediately after which isn’t bad for just hurling

Here’s looking at you, kid

Just out here doing my best!

The face of a gal who loooooves spring!

Looking at you from across the room like

Has Daylight Savings time thrown you for a loop? It most certainly has for me and your girl is dying! Johnny and I have a pretty unique schedule. We are both up for work around three AM and go to bed at six thirty or so. In normal circumstances, this is a-okay. In Daylight Savings time world, however, it is a massive problem. I am one of those people who simply cannot fall asleep unless it’s dark out and it throws a wrench in the plan when it is still light until eight PM. Eventually my body adjusts to this new rhythm but it is hellacious until it does.

When my alarm clock went off this morning, all I wanted to do was hit the snooze and keep snoozing until I got back to baseline. What motivated me to get up? The bunnies, of course! I know I would hate if I was hungry and my breakfast was late and, although my schedule has been unwillingly adjusted, there’s doesn’t deserve to be. While my mind screamed more sleep, my heart screamed “but the bunnies” louder and so here I am… Typing this post while half asleep! Zzzzzzzzzz

Can we all just make a pact to do away with Daylight Savings time because WOOF. Mama needs her beauty sleep!!

Has Daylight Savings time effected you? When do you normally go to bed? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar15

Navy, Baby OOTD

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Navy, Baby OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! I don’t want to jinx it, but I feel like spring is officially here and it has been glorious! Frigid days and snow turned into balmy rainy days and I have been loving it. It is just SO nice to leave the house without it hurting my face and, although I enjoy dressing for winter, I was definitely over bundling up! This past weekend had sixty degree temps and I couldn’t wait to shoot some outfits without having to tap out from the cold. I knew exactly what I wanted to wear thanks to my last TJMaxx trip with my mom! Check it out:

Who? What? Wear?

Collared Top: Truth By Republic, TJMaxx

Skater Skirt: This was a hand me down but it’s from Rue 21

Snakeskin Pattern Boots: Vince Camuto, TJMaxx

The turquoise cross earrings were a gift from my mom and are Lucky Brand!

I tried on several different blouses at TJMaxx that were gorgeous for spring. However, none of them spoke to me as pretty as they were. What screamed at me was the fabulous collared top by Truth By Republic. I just think it is the coolest and is the epitome of a basic staple with a twist. The denim detailing is incredibly stiff and it’s such an interesting juxtaposition to the soft as can be remainder of the top. I love the colorblocked blue and this top is a perfect example of unique and simple details that go a long way.

Oftentimes when I am trying clothes on at TJs, visions of OOTDs come swirling into my head that feature the pieces that are coming home with me. That was very much the case for this top and my outfit turned out exactly how I imagined it. I love it when that happens! In the fitting room, I pieced together the top with my navy skater skirt to turn it into a pseudo dress. The colors in the skirt and top might not have been an exact match but it was close enough and that’s good enough for me. This skirt provided some flouncy movement as the top was quite form fitting and helped to create a sweet for spring silhouette.

Finally, it was onto shoes and accessories. As navy is a neutral, I could have fun with my shoe choice and went for a pair of snakeskin patterned heeled boots by Vince Camuto. I am very partial to a grayscale snakeskin print but those rich brown tones were too good to pass up and looked great against the navy base. For accessories, I simply popped on a pair of dangly turquoise crosses as there wasn’t much open real estate for necklaces or bracelets. That was no matter, though, because I wanted to let that crisp denim detailing do all of the talking!

This Navy, Baby OOTD can easily be replicated and is so fab for a spring day. Stay tuned for the Blooper Reel tomorrow!

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

Mar13

Cute In K-Pop OOTD Bloopers

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Cute In K-Pop OOTD Bloopers

Hello everyone and welcome to the Blooper Reel from my Cute In K-Pop OOTD! As you all know, not every picture taken is going to be a winner and rather than instantly hit delete, I like to celebrate them. For every good picture I take, there are several bad ones to go along with it and I never miss an opportunity to poke some good old fashioned fun at myself. They may be yikes shots, but they are my yikes shots so let’s check them out and have a laugh:

Why isn’t everyone posing like this when they get engaged?

Ha ha ha ha ha…. NO!

Scratching at my imaginary beard

Holding my imaginary ball

The literal face of oopsie daisy!!

Lol say cheeeeeeese!!!!

While bloopers are a sure fire way to make me laugh, the most common way that Johnny and I get our yucks is through workplace comedies. We just love them! Like many people, shows like The Office, Parks & Rec, and Superstore are consistent background noise at chez nous when we are just hanging out or going to bed. However, we have seen each of those shows a thousand times apiece and needed something different. Thankfully, I feel like we are in a workplace comedy renaissance because we have added so many to our roster and have really been enjoying them.

For the past several months, Johnny and I have been watching Stumble, St. Denis Medical, Abbott Elementary, Animal Control, Strays, and Shelved. I actually don’t normally care to watch a lot of different shows at once because it’s so much to keep up with. But all of these are so funny that I’ll give it a pass! With a majority of these programs currently airing on TV, it gives us a daily show to look forward to and it has been so nice – especially since The Traitors and my beloved Olympics are all done. These shows have been the perfect way to settle in after work and no matter what the day has been like, we are always ending it in stitches!

If you haven’t given any of the above workplace comedies a try, we can’t recommend them enough. They are a hoot!

What is your favorite workplace comedy? Do you have a favorite game show (We are loving The Greatest Average American!)? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah