Tag Archives: shopping

Feb2

TJMaxx Winter Haul: So Much Skin Care

Posted on February 2, 2022 by lifewithlilred

Hello! If you look at my newly organized beauty hoard, it is very easy to think that I definitely don’t need any more skin or bath and body care. I say FALSE and figured that my TJMaxx gift cards would be perfect to use for fortifying my stock pile and eliminating restock orders for a good long while. When scouring the beauty aisles in TJs, I had my eye open for moisturizer, serum, eye cream, and whatever else tickled my fancy. I ended up walking away with all of the following:

As I mentioned before, it has been such a long time since I shopped in TJMaxx and I forgot how much fun it was to find new treasures in their beauty section. Prior to the pandemic, I would test out new skin care from TJs every couple of months when I needed a restock. Now, however, I have stuck to using tried and true favorites that I can order easily and have available at home. While this shopping trip would have been much better with my mom or sister there, it was still exciting to browse the aisles by myself!

While I paid full price for several of the products that I purchased, I was happy to find that a few of them were on clearance, which sweetened the deal even more. I am especially thrilled about the Evoluderm micellar water from France. It is, easily, the best micellar water that I have ever used so I had to grab the last two big bottles available.

I am most looking forward to testing out the new serums because I have been using the Tree Of Life ones for a while. They are fine and I have no major complaints but I am always open to trying new products. The same goes for moisturizer and eye cream. The Garnier SkinActive moisturizer and Elf Holy Hydration! eye cream have been staples in my skin care routine for almost a year so I can’t wait to shake things up!

Finally, I just had to buy another St. Ives scrub because they are my absolute favorite as well as one more SkinLab cleanser. I haven’t even used the SkinLab face washes that I have yet but I love that brand so how bad can it be? 😀

When it comes to my beauty stock pile, it never hurts to have extra – obviously! This huge haul will serve me well for many months to come and nothing beats when it was all purchased on a gift card!

Where is your favorite place to shop skin care? What is in your beauty hoard? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb1

TJMaxx Winter Haul: Go Away Doormat

Posted on February 1, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! Thanks to generous Christmas gift cards to TJMaxx, I had an online haul with some darling clothes and shoes which will be discussed later. I did have some returns to make, however, so ended up spending some time shopping in store for the first time in what felt like ages. It was great! I was able to make an exchange for some new skin care, birthday gifts for my niece and mom, a new sweater, and this amazing doormat that I couldn’t pass up on:

I never go into TJMaxx with set ideas of what I would like to buy, rather, the store tells me what I need. When making my rounds through the home goods section, I wasn’t expecting to find this Fiesta doormat for a whole eight dollars and I just had to have it. I have been looking for something like this since I moved into my apartment and have never seen one in store before. I also didn’t feel like spending twenty plus bucks to order one online.

Not only did I really want this mat, but it was also a necessary purchase. Mine and Johnny’s “Come back with a warrant” doormat has seen better days and basically does nothing to help remove snow from our shoes upon entering the apartment. The nasty slush always ends up making its way into our entryway, which results in a ton of additional cleaning so this was eight dollars well spent. The course bristles and sweet sentiment will go a long way for the rest of winter! 😀

I am so excited about all of my new goodies from TJMaxx so keep it posted for more from my winter haul. Tomorrow, we will be discussing skin care and then all of the fashion afterwards. See you then!

What is one of your favorite TJMaxx purchases? What is your least favorite chore around the house? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan31

Bath & Body Works January Freebie

Posted on January 31, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! I am always excited to receive coupons from Bath & Body Works in the mail because that usually means something for free. Sometimes, they will go all out and give you a free full size product but nine times out of ten, it’s just a travel size lotion or body wash. This is totally fine by me, though, as they make great extra gifts for friends or a little treat for myself! This month, I picked out a body wash in Champagne Toast or, as Johnny calls it, Champagne & Toast. Lol, check it out:

Since the pandemic, I rarely go out to do actual shopping and have turned to online orders for everything I need. However, I had some returns to make after spending some Christmas gift cards online with TJMaxx so I ventured out after work to get that done. I had a huge haul both in store and online with TJMaxx, which we will begin discussing tomorrow! And, lucky for me, a Bath & Body Works just opened down the street from TJs, so I was able to pop in and get my freebie too.

Although I could have spent a solid hour in B&BW picking out a bunch of bath and body care that I don’t need, I had my eye on the prize to get in and get out. The clock was ticking and I had to get home for a FaceTime date with my blogging bestie. To make things quick, I went with Champagne Toast because it is a scent that I know and love. It is fizzy and sweet without smelling boozy like their Portofino Pink Prosecco. I just might have to keep this travel size body wash for myself!

It has been a while since I have used a shower gel because I am diligently working through the bar soaps I got on vacation. Once those are out of the way, I know which shower gel in my stock pile I’ll be using next! 😀

What is your favorite Bath & Body Works scent? Which store offers the best coupons? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan29

Snowy Saturday OOTD Bloopers

Posted on January 29, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! I am never too proud to post OOTD photo shoot bloopers as an exclusive look to mine and Johnny’s photography process. Despite my Snowy Saturday OOTD being a very speedy shoot, there was still plenty of blooper shots to be had during Johnny’s rapid camera fire session. When scrolling through the pics post shoot, there is always a healthy collection of great shots, average shots, and So. Many. Shots. of me talking to Johnny or coming towards him to check on the progress. Like the following:

Johnny encouraging a “strong man” shot:

Adjusting sunglasses, which took a shockingly long time and then ended up in the pocket of Johnny’s cheetah print bathrobe:

Talking to a neighbor…

Getting my phone back:

IT’S SO COLD!!!:

Three cheers for Step Brothers:

Lol, photo content is a blogger’s bread and butter and, in my case, this includes the good and the “wtf” too. I promise all of you that every single blogger or influencer has a huge cache of photos after just one shoot. Ninety percent of them are multiple shots of the Same. Exact. Picture – which we are all guilty off but we’re looking for the diamond in the rough! The other ten percent are a mixture of adjusting, lol moments, and “I didn’t know you were still shooting”. 😀

There are an endless supply of blooper shots during my photo shoots with Johnny because he always makes me laugh or tells me to do something silly! He really is the best husband/blog husband ever, though, and is game whenever I need an OOTD series taken. His work seen above obviously speaks for itself! ❤

What does your camera roll look like after you do a photo shoot? What is your signature pose? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan28

Snowy Saturday OOTD Bonus Pictures

Posted on January 28, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello everyone and welcome to some bonus pics from my Snowy Saturday OOTD! This was probably my speediest photo shoot to date because it was freaking freezing outside! It also took my hands several minutes to thaw out afterwards from throwing snowballs… Anything in the name of fashion lol.

My Johnny was such a trooper to snap these pics and, needless to say, the rest of the day was spent hibernating after just five minutes in the cold. I think this is enough winter for me! Check out these extra shots and you might want to sip some hot chocolate while doing so to keep warm:

As I’ve mentioned before, the past several winters in Ohio have been insanely mild and, although we all knew a massive snow storm was coming, it still took everyone by surprise. In fact, Johnny and I can’t even remember the last time it snowed like this because in one night, Akron was covered in sixteen inches of snow. The winter wonderland is visually beautiful but I am so ready for spring!

While winter has never really bothered me before, that did a complete one eighty with the pandemic. Since Johnny and I have been laying low for the entirety of COVID-19, our activities are severely stunted once the cold weather hits. No hanging out in the fresh air means that most of our days are spent with our programs, board games, video games, and record player. It’s not the most awful thing ever but I have been craving an outdoor date day in the worst way.

Not many outings means no dressing up, either, which is something that I miss desperately. So, when I do brave the outdoors, I have to put my best OOTDs forward. Naturally, my coffee date with a girlfriend fell on the coldest morning ever but fashion called and I just had to pick up the phone! I love the outfit that I came up with but am hoping that the next time I bust it out, it’s at least ten degrees warmer!

What has your winter been like? How do you spend snowy days? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan27

Snowy Saturday OOTD

Posted on January 27, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! This past Saturday, I got all dolled up for a coffee date with one of my best girlfriends, Danielle. Upon returning home, my darling husband braved the bitter cold to snap some pics of yours truly. Best blog husband EVER! While Johnny was sporting his cheetah print robe and his moto jacket for a speedy photo shoot, I was wearing this:

Who? What? Wear?

Faux Fur Jacket: Sanctuary, TJMaxx
Snakeskin Jeans: Wit & Wisdom, TJMaxx
Popsicle Print Scarf: BCBG, TJMaxx
Step Brothers T-shirt: TJMaxx
Heels: Target
Sunglasses: Forever 21
Fingerless Gloves: Steve Madden, TJMaxx
Lipstick: Anastasia Beverly Hills in Dazed

^^^ Lol

After a massive snow storm last week, it finally felt like winter in good ol’ Akron, Ohio. While I can’t stand the snow, I have to admit that I am just a little bit happy that I finally get to break out all of my warm jackets that have been sitting sentinel in my closet! Morning coffee with my fellow fashionista, Danielle, meant that I just had to show out in my cold weather best and I love what I came up with.

Prior to my coffee date, I had a pretty good idea of what I wanted to wear as I had been dying to break out my new Wit & Wisdom snakeskin print jeans. The easy route would have been to wear black on top to match with the patterned jeans but where is the fun in that?! For much needed warmth and texture, I went with my teddy bear soft faux fur jacket by Sanctuary, which complimented the touches of taupe on the jeans. This jacket was a sweet surprise from my mom and I seriously could not stop touching it because it is So. Freaking. Soft!

With the base of my outfit taken care of, it was time to accessorize because the neutral palette of my OOTD needed some brightening up. To rectify this, I chose my silk BCBG scarf in a darling Popsicle print. With temperatures in the teens, the cold treat pattern is pretty ironic but it was just what this outfit needed to add more visual interest. And, of course, my all time favorite fingerless gloves by Steve Madden gave a fun pop of color.

Shockingly, the shoes were what I struggled with when it came to this Snowy Saturday OOTD, which is something that I never thought that I would say! Boots were out of the question because it would break up the sleek lines that I was working with. I knew I needed heels, but which ones? Most of my heeled booties have a pattern, which would also be a no go with the patterned jeans.

After scouring my shoe collection, I found the winner with my heeled booties from Target that costed me a whole ten dollars. It was the perfect choice as it provided some extra length and looked just right with the rest of my look. They might not have been the best to trudge through the snow with but I will do anything in the name of fashion!

Once my photo shoot with Johnny was done, we had a long laugh about my Step Brothers T-shirt underneath such a chic coat. This Snowy Saturday OOTD would not be complete without a little dose of Dale and Brennan! 😀

What is your favorite season to dress for? Do you have a favorite silly T-shirt? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan24

If You Were To Visit Me…

Posted on January 24, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! When I was younger, I used to consider where I lived in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio to be somewhat boring. However, my opinion has changed with age and, while it isn’t the best, it’s definitely not the worst, either! There are many staples in the greater Akron area that I just love and if you were to visit me, we would most certainly be hitting up the following:

Elysian Nails:

Elysian Nails has been my preferred salon for several years now and it would be a must to go get some pampering there if you came to my neck of the woods. The salon is absolutely beautiful and the work there speaks for itself. At Elysian, you will enjoy the best company with their wonderful staff, a huge selection of treatments, and a wide variety of polish and gel colors. It is the perfect place to unwind after a long day!

The Shear Shop:

The Shear Shop is the hair salon that I have been going to for forever because the only person who I trust with my hair works there. A pampering day isn’t complete without a fresh cut and color, after all. The staff at The Shear Shop are insanely talented and I love the boutique feel of the salon, making the time spent there even more luxurious. As soon as my appointment is over, I am always already counting down the days until I head back. However, fair warning that you will fall in love with this place too and will need to come to Ohio every time your hair needs done. 😀

TJMaxx:

Okay, so everywhere has a TJMaxx but my local TJs holds a very special place in my heart. My dream day would be visiting every single TJMaxx in my area but the one in Cuyahoga Falls will do just fine. It is where I find shelter from the storm and the only place where the world makes sense lol. And, of course, a brand new outfit is a must after new hair and nails!

Lemongrass Grill & The Saffron Patch:

My two favorite restaurants in my neck of the woods has to be the Lemongrass Grill and The Saffron Patch. I love ethnic cuisine and, as a vegetarian, you can’t beat the variety of choices that Thai and Indian food offers. It’s nice to be the majority shareholder on the menu for once! I actually just had Thai food at the Lemongrass Grill with my sister and her family a few days ago and it was divine, as always. My only regret is that I didn’t order an extra helping to eat at home. 😀

Taco Bell:

The piece de resistance of visiting Lil Red would, obviously, be fine dining at the local Taco Bell. I honestly could eat there every day of my life and still not grow tired of it. TBell would be the ideal way to end a day of tomfoolery in the 330 and, while each one in my area has its own unique qualities, the one in Cuyahoga Falls just hits different. 20/10 would recommend. ❤

Are these the most exciting places to go to if you visited me in Ohio? Not necessarily. But, they are a major reason of why I love my stomping grounds. Wish you were here!

Where would you take someone if they visited you? What do you love about where you live? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan15

Seventies Chic OOTD Bonus Pictures

Posted on January 15, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hi everyone and welcome to some bonus pictures from my Seventies Chic OOTD! These pictures were taken at our lodge at Oglebay where my family enjoyed a holiday weekend together. It was the best! In just one short day and a half, we did so many activities around the property and it was absolute Christmas magic – even if it was a few weeks late! Check out some more OOTD pics and let’s discuss:

For holiday fun, Oglebay is definitely the place to be. The property boasts six miles of holiday light displays to drive through, a laser light show, zoo, and an outdoor light show set to a remixed tune of Christmas music and Led Zeppelin. Not to mention the abundance of deer wandering around that are so friendly that you can feed them out of the palm of your hand. Be sure to tune in tomorrow for pics of that because it was incredible!

From opening presents and experiencing the spectacular light displays, it was a weekend that I will never forget. In fact, my family is already in talks of doing it again next year. My favorite part of our little getaway had to be the outdoor light show that had a rocking soundtrack. The snow was falling and Johnny and I even had an impromptu snowball fight. It might have resulted in me accidentally hitting him in the face when I was aiming for his arm but he walked it off like a champ… Whoops. 🙂

Every Christmas spent with my family is an amazing time but our Oglebay adventure holds a very special place in my heart. Barely two days didn’t feel long enough and I already can’t wait for next Christmas! ❤

How did you celebrate the holidays this year? What are some of your favorite holiday memories? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan14

Seventies Chic OOTD

Posted on January 14, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! This past weekend, my entire family took a trip to Wheeling, West Virginia to have Christmas part two at Oglebay. As a gift, my oldest brother and his family rented a lodge for us to stay at and we had the best time. We all arrived mid afternoon last Friday and before the festivities began, Johnny and I were able to snap some quick OOTD pics. It was seriously the fastest shoot ever because with two toddlers staying with us, anarchy soon happened! Lol, check it out:

Who? What? Wear?

Topper jacket: Lucky Brand
Dress: MaxSport LA, TJMaxx
Flower boots: B.A.I.T., ModCloth
Knee highs: Target
Smiley scarf: Nardi & Tagliaferri, TJMaxx
The necklace belonged to my grandma

I have been absolutely dying to break out my new super seventies inspired dress by MaxSport LA and I thought that the holiday weekend was the perfect time to wear it – despite the bitter cold! This dress was a steal for ten dollars rather than the original tag price of two hundred and forty and that made the purchase even sweeter… The fact that it is one of my favorite new pieces is the cherry on top.

For this Seventies Chic look, I wanted to invoke the era with some flower power and fun. The knee high floral boots by B.A.I.T. were an obvious choice to go with and the orange flowers matched the orange dots on the dress flawlessly. This made the two very different patterns work, especially since the brown base of the boots acted as a neutral color.

To add some warmth and seventies flare, I added my topper jacket by Lucky Brand. The velvety soft material provided texture to the OOTD and it was another nice retro touch. It is also one of my favorite pieces in my entire wardrobe! As I mentioned before, it was really cold and snowy and my look was still looking a little bare. To rectify this, I topped things off with my smiley face scarf by Nardi & Tagliaferri for some Peace, Love, and Happiness.

Was I done yet? Of course not! Because of the somewhat lower cut of my dress, a necklace was in order and I knew just what I wanted to complete the look – my favorite necklace that belonged to my grandma. I have always loved this necklace and it is so special to wear it. The emerald green and floral painting on the tooth shaped centerpiece added a perfect pop of color and it made my outfit feel runway ready.

While driving to our lodge, I was trying to scope out some nice places for pictures and was coming up short. Thankfully, the problem was solved as soon as we walked into our home for the weekend because it felt like stepping into a time machine. The wood paneling, seventies lounge furniture, and warm lighting provided the ultimate backdrop to shoot this retro look in. This setting definitely did my OOTD justice!

I love fashion because it allows you to be anything you want. Some days I’m punk, other days I feel fashionista, and this past weekend I was Seventies Chic. Keep it posted for bonus pics from this look tomorrow!

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

Jan12

Walmart Gift Card Haul

Posted on January 12, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! Johnny’s mom and dad were kind enough to gift me with a Walmart gift card for Christmas. And, let me tell you, I have never felt more like an adult than during my online shopping haul to use it. I spent my gift card on apartment essentials and while it wasn’t the most fun thing in the world, all of these things will be handy to have around:

For home essentials, you can’t go wrong with any of these purchases. Johnny and I are always in need of Drano, trash bags, electric toothbrush heads, and filters for our Brita pitcher. I rarely do shopping at Walmart so I figured that buying these must haves was the way to go to make the most of my gift card. It will also mean less stuff to buy when I do my next curbside pickup at Giant Eagle. Not only did I get all of the above, but I also got some fluorescent lights that have been burnt out in my kitchen for literal months. Whoops!

Was this the most exciting haul in the world? Not necessarily. But, will it be much needed around the apartment? Totally. It was nice to be able to make such good use of the gift from Johnny’s parents. Thanks again! ❤

What are some of your home essentials? What makes you feel like an adult? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

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