Tag Archives: shopping

Nov3

It’s In The Bag: Steve Madden Edition

Posted on November 3, 2019 by lifewithlilred

Hi! I have always loved Steve Madden. In fact, my very first pair of heels that I purchased during eighth grade was a pair of Steve’s and, since then, a special place in my heart was dedicated to the brand. So, whenever I can find any Steve Madden shoes, bags, or accessories when shopping at TJMaxx, it is very exciting! Affordable and adorable, Steve Madden is a brand for all and I am so enamored with my new black and plaid backpack from my latest haul. Check it out:

Fashion forward backpacks have become quite popular over the past few years and I have invested in a few, myself. Cute, convenient, and easy to carry these bags are definitely not your run of the mill backpacks that you tote your huge textbooks in to school. Unless you get a big and sturdy enough one, of course! Rather, the backpack trend is perfect for hauling along your essentials, totally hands free which makes them an optimum choice during travel or walking your commute to work in the city.

My new Steve Madden backpack screams fall fun and I love the jet black and red plaid combo along with a floral scarf tied on for some visual contrast. Shaped in a more bucket style, this bag runs deep and probably could fit a textbook or two if need be! I will always prefer a purse to a backpack no matter how fun the trend is. But, this pack will be a gorgeous fall staple paired with a skater skirt, knitted tights, and cardigan for a school girl chic look that will give Blair Waldorf a run for her money!

Are you a fan of the backpack trend? How do you incorporate one into your outfits? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov2

If The Shoe Fits: Fergalicious By Fergie Ankle Boots Edition

Posted on November 2, 2019 by lifewithlilred

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If The Shoe Fits: Fergalicious By Fergie Ankle Boots Edition

Greetings! When I shop in store at TJMaxx, I never seem to be able to find any shoes there and purchase them on their website, instead. So, you can only imagine my surprise when a pair of shoes in store literally made me clutch my pearls. And, when anything gets this reaction from me, nine times out of ten it ends up in my shopping cart. Check out these pretty little babies by the one and only Fergie Ferg and let’s discuss:

A girl can never have too many pairs of black ankle booties because they are all so different yet so remarkably similar, lol. But, I have to say, this new pair is probably the most unique one I have out of all of them. It’s no secret that Lil Red loves all things edgy and punk so when I saw these studded, buckled beauties it was damn near impossible to say no. Granted, I have many a studded and buckled pair of booties but none with all over visual interest going on, which made this Fergalicious number a must.

Of course, these will be perfect for marching through the fallen leaves this autumn. However, I am actually more excited to wear these during the warm weather. This past summer, I took a shining to wearing my ankle boots along with a pair of short shorts and sweet frilly socks for a fun twist on a simple OOTD. It definitely spiced up a basic shorts and a T-shirt ensemble and my new ankle booties will be perfect for that once the hot weather begins again. Love!

How do you rock ankle boots? What is your go to pair of shoes in the fall? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov1

Trail Blazers: Christian Siriano Edition

Posted on November 1, 2019 by lifewithlilred

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Trail Blazers: Christian Siriano Edition

Howdy! Back in the day, I was a big Project Runway fan and, if you were too, then I’m sure you’ll remember the boy wonder, Christian Siriano. Serving sass and designing looks to die for, he instantly became a fan favorite of mine and the rest of the Project Runway following. So, when I saw this gorgeous cheetah print blazer at TJMaxx sporting his namesake, I just had to try it on. And, when I saw that it was fabulous, I just had to take it home! Check it out:

I am completely obsessed with my new blazer. I know, I know I have a ton of them but cheetah print, guys! Cheetah print. This little beauty fits to perfection and I love the uniquely colored pattern. The chocolate base and caramel spots make for an interesting and different take on a classic print and I am so there for it.

I used to shy away from brown, dubbing it a “boring” color. I also used to stick my nose up at animal print, claiming it wasn’t chic enough for me. But, damn, was I dead wrong. Fifty shades of brown from camel and chocolate cherry to tan and cinnamon has become a palette that I have been welcoming into my wardrobe recently and it has become all the better for it. And, I honestly think that my life only truly began when I realized how much fun that cheetah print is!

This Christian Siriano number combines the best of both worlds that I have been exploring lately and I cannot wait to rock it this fall season. ❤

What is your favorite animal print? Who is your favorite Project Runway winner? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct30

Sunny Side Up

Posted on October 30, 2019 by lifewithlilred

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Salutations! One of my favorite “treat yoself” items to get while shopping is a new pair of sunglasses. Or, in this case, three of them. I just couldn’t help myself! Sadly, my favorite pair of Lucky sunglasses broke during the car accident. I was really upset about this and once my boyfriend and I were up and moving again he bought me a similar pair at the mall to replace them. And, sadly, the pair he bought me broke too! So, I just had to fill the Lucky Brand shaped void with these little beauties. Check it out:

The top and bottom pair seen above were actually both from the Dollar Tree and I was astounded to find such cuteness there for one whole dollar. I loved the funky 70s flower pattern and I can never have enough tortoise shell hued shades, either. As always, will they be of the best quality? No, definitely not. But, were they cute enough that I didn’t care? Obviously!

I also totally swooned over the Crayola indigo colored aviators at TJMaxx. I *shockingly* only own one other pair of aviators and they are on the fritz so I figured it was time for an upgrade. The unique color and gold detailing creates an amazing contrast with my hair and skin tone and they feel so posh while still being totally badass. Will these be of better quality? I sure fucking hope so!! 😅😅😅

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

Oct28

Dollar Tree Beauty Haul

Posted on October 28, 2019 by lifewithlilred

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Salutations! So, I know what some of you are thinking from the title of this post… “What kind of beauty products could they possibly have at the Dollar Tree?” Lol, well, you’d be surprised! On top of my new Halloween glasses, I ended up with a bunch of fun little beauty goodies to take home during my last Dollar Tree shopping excursion. I didn’t mean to go so hard but WHAT CAN YA DO?! Blog about it, obvi. Haha, take a look and let’s discuss:

I have never been one for fake eyelashes and just opt for my Better Than Sex mascara to give me big, bold lashes. However, as soon as I saw the fun green, red, purple, and blue lashes I was instantly enamored and needed all of them. With Halloween around the corner, the red ones will be perfect with my sexy Raggedy Anne costume and I’m sure I’ll find use for the other three when my boyfriend’s band plays a show. Will they be of the best quality? Absolutely not. Will they last at least one night? Here’s to hoping!

And, of course, I couldn’t say no to the darling new lip balms in the cherry and red lip containers. I shit you not, I have had the same chapstacks in my purse for literal years so it was definitely time for an upgrade. I couldn’t think of a better way to do that than with a great big red lip container since we all know that that’s my signature. :*)

Finally, I snagged a few bath bombs because I thought it would be interesting to see how they worked. Will they be of the best quality? Absolutely not. Will it be on the blog tomorrow for a new edition of Bath Bomb Blitz? You know it!

There is nothing like getting some treats for yourself to perk you up during the work week and this little haul did just that. I’m excited to experiment with all of my new goodies and I’m even more excited that they didn’t break the bank at a dollar apiece. 😀

How do you treat yoself? What is your favorite discount store? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct27

Tiny TJMaxx Beauty Haul

Posted on October 27, 2019 by lifewithlilred

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Howdy! When it comes to beauty products, I am really not picky. I’ve never minded using bath and body care from the grocery store, drugstore makeup brands, and basic skin care. Well, that is, until I started working at The Body Shop several years ago, because that turned me into a skin care freak!

For a while, I was strictly using their products when it came to my skin care routine. I have since branched out and I have TJMaxx to thank for that, because they have such a fantastic beauty section with all kinds of fun new brands and old favorites to try. Now, whenever I run out of anything in my pampering routine, I hit up TJs to restock. Check it out:

When it comes to styling my hair, a good heat protector and leave in conditioner are a must for me. Both help to eliminate any frizz and keep my hair silky and sleek for the perfect pin straight appearance. I had purchased my first bottle of thermal serum by RUSK way back in January and I am just now finishing up the bottle. This is astounding, because I use the product almost every day and, at ten dollars, that makes the cost per wear mere fractions of a cent!

This thermal serum works wonders. It smells awesome, it doesn’t leave my hair greasy, and my hair has never looked healthier even with daily heat styling. My ends aren’t fried and my locks are so smooth to the touch so I was very happy when TJMaxx had another bottle of it available because adding it into my cart was a no brainer.

And, of course, I would be nowhere without a good Vitamin C serum during my skin care routine. I chose a bottle of Provence Beauty’s brightening serum and am looking forward to trying it. It was six dollars for one bottle but it seems to be filled to the brim with product so I am hoping that it will last me a long time. Come cold weather, it is easy for your skin to take on a dull appearance from the lack of sunshine. Thankfully, my Vitamin C products keep me radiant all year long and I completely swear by them.

This was a tiny beauty haul but I did get everything I needed and then some… because, seriously, who goes into TJMaxx for just one thing?! 😉

Which beauty products do you swear by? How do you save money on your beauty routine? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct24

Unsung Wardrobe Heroes: Black Crop Top Edition

Posted on October 24, 2019 by lifewithlilred

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Unsung Wardrobe Heroes: Black Crop Top Edition

Howdy! An article of clothing that I don’t think I give enough credit to is my beloved black crop top from Target. I have had this little number for a handful of years and I honestly can’t even tell you the amount of times that I’ve worn it. I do know that for the ten dollar price, my cost per wear is probably down to fractions of a cent! From its perfect cut and soft material to its versatility in styling literally any outfit, my black crop top is definitely an Unsung Wardrobe Hero.

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^^^ See the full OOTD posts from these shoots here and here!

This past summer, I have sported my crop top often simply by pairing it with jean shorts and loads of jewelry for a quick work outfit or with a pleated faux leather skirt for something more dressy seen below:

^^^ Peep me and my boyfriend looking mighty cute!

During the summer, it’s easy to slack on your outfits – believe me, I get it. It was unbearably hot in Ohio this year, with days in the high eighties and nineties more often than not. And, for those of you who don’t know, Lil Red does not function well in extreme heat. I sweat like nobody’s business, I get fatigued, and downright cranky. Despite the major discomfort, still staying fashion forward and slaying the streets was important to me.

My black crop top allowed me to stay cool and comfortable without showing too much skin and for that, I am thankful. Looking like a blogger when I go out is a high priority for me and the fact that I could wear this shirt dressed up or down kept the possibilities endless all summer long. And, it doesn’t just stop there because there is nothing better than a crop top under an oversized blazer come fall, which I have already been rocking heavily compliments of the cooler weather.

It’s easy to hold your more expensive or flashy pieces in a higher regard than your basic staples and that just doesn’t fly with me. Sure, I love my bling, bags, and shoes but I also appreciate the many OOTDs that my black crop top has allowed me to style throughout the years and I definitely consider it one of my wardrobe staples. So, here’s to you, my darling Target crop top and thank you for continuing to serve me well! ❤

What is one of your Unsung Wardrobe Heroes? Which piece in your closet do you think you wear the most? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct10

Trail Blazers: Rrrruss Edition

Posted on October 10, 2019 by lifewithlilred

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Salutations and welcome to the last article from my Trail Blazers series compliments of spending twenty dollars at a North Carolina Goodwill. The last blazer we will be discussing is a more simple one by Rrrruss. But, with the smart grey tweed and adorable chocolate brown elbow patches, this sweet little number is anything but boring! Check it out:

Definitely a far cry from the slouchy, shoulder padded blazers we talked about previously, this fitted grey blazer is perfect for scholarly chic fall OOTDs. Everything about my new blazer just feels so collegiate cool and I have big aspirations to go full Blair Waldorf with it by pairing it with a mini skater skirt, cable knit tights, starched white blouse, and a fun silk scarf, tie, or bow tie to complete the look. And, we can’t forget one of her signature headbands!

Although I obviously love me a good boyfriend blazer, there is nothing better than a sharp, tailored to perfection one to create CEO level confidence by simply slipping it on. A well fitted blazer is a power piece, for sure, and it would behoove every single person on planet Earth to have one in their wardrobe. From work meetings to running woman on the go errands, my new Rrrruss blazer will give me Blair Waldorf vibes and a confidence that is all mine. ❤

How do you style a Gossip Girl inspired OOTD? What is your favorite power piece in your wardrobe? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct9

Trail Blazers: Kasper Pt. 2 Edition

Posted on October 9, 2019 by lifewithlilred

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Howdy! I honestly can’t think of a time when shopping has made me feel bad. Lol, I know such a shopaholic – but seriously. When I’m happy, I shop. When I’m sad, I shop. When I’m indifferent, I shop. But, hey, there’s a lot worse things that I could be doing and at least everything in my Trail Blazers series was from a Goodwill in North Carolina so it definitely didn’t break the bank!

I will admit, that I was not in my normal happy go lucky state of mind during this particular shopping trip. However, purchasing four blazers for twenty bucks in total perked me right up! Lol, check it out:

Now, I am well aware that this olive green cheetah print number by Kasper is super old ladyish. Believe you me, I am the first to admit it. But, I just feel like I can do something cool with it especially because the color is divine. Because fifty shades of green is so flattering on me, it took the old lady element out of this jacket and turned it into a piece that’s quirky and unique compliments of the velvet animal print and slouchy fit.

If I wear this blazer before my boyfriend gets to it for a concert with his band, the plan is to keep things really young and fresh. So, I’m thinking of pairing it with shorts with tights underneath, a sweet crop top, and all of the chunky gold jewelry. And, of course, a cool pair of boots!

When shopping secondhand, it’s easy to just search for the things that are more suitable to your age and bypass all of the other options. Unfortunately, this means that you’re turning up your nose to eighty percent of what’s in the store. When thrifting, you have to use your imagination to turn something seemingly “not your style” into a new wardrobe staple. I felt like I could do that with this Kasper blazer and I’m looking forward to seeing how it works. 😀

Which sections do you love to shop in at your local thrift stores? How do you get creative while secondhand shopping? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct8

Trail Blazers: Kasper Edition

Posted on October 8, 2019 by lifewithlilred

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Salutations! We are on blazer two of four thanks to my twenty dollar haul at a North Carolina Goodwill, so let’s get to it! I used to be so weird about thrift shopping in the past because I was a pretty extreme germophobe. And, I’m not going to lie, I still have my quirks but I’ve learned to take a deep breath and dive right in when it comes to secondhand shopping because I’m not going to let my phobia get in the way of a real life treasure hunt! If I let my fears get the best of me, I wouldn’t have ended up with this menswear inspired number seen below:

I quite like this Kasper blazer! Of course, the shoulder pads, grey scale palette with a hint of red, and the double breasted buttons are all very good. But, what I really like is that I get a very pajama style vibe from it and turning your sleepwear into streetwear is a huge trend right now! My new/old blazer has a more boyfriend fit to it but it still manages to feel constructed, which is a must for me. This is also all the more reason to love a good shoulder pad because it can add a unique structure to even the slouchiest of tops.

Because I am getting such a huge pajama chic vibe from this blazer, I plan on styling it with some comfy cool joggers or a more wide legged trouser for the ultimate stylish take on leisurewear. Keeping it fashion forward is the name of the game, though, which means a sharp stiletto heel is definitely in order as well as all of the bling to keep you looking modelesque as opposed to “I just rolled out of bed”.

How do you style a pajama inspired look? How do you dress for comfort while still looking chic? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

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