Tag Archives: shopping

Jul19

Fun In The Sun OOTD Bloopers

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Fun In The Sun OOTD Bloopers

Hello everyone and welcome to the Blooper Reel from my Fun In The Sun OOTD! These pictures were taken during our Fourth of July getaway to Geneva On The Lake while the pasty pale was still pasty and not pink with the worst sunburns ever. Like seriously, if I could stop peeling any time now that would be GREAT! While the sunburns were a major buzzkill, I can’t say I’m not surprised. This is why you will rarely find your favorite vampire couple outdoors in the midst of summer! Let’s get started by looking at some yikes shots:

Not the most logical footwear for a day on the lake but I stand by my choice!

Queen of The Lake or blocking the sun? It’s both! 😀

Summer breeze, makes me feel fine!

That sunshine got me like

Perfecting my mannequin pose

My arms just have a mind of their own!

Quick lil tummy check lol

As you all know, Johnny and I have a downstairs neighbor who is most beloved to us. We love getting to see him every day and always look forward to our movie nights, dinner club meetings, and going shooting at the range. He is simply the best! Unfortunately, he had to be hospitalized and is currently doing MUCH better and regaining his strength at a rehab center before he comes home. Johnny and I have been visiting him regularly at the rehab facility and, honestly, it sounds like the place to be because my mind was BLOWN during my first visit.

While we were chewing the fat, we got a knock on the door from the Enrichment Director of the facility to talk about the activities for the day. I expected something typical like Bingo or a movie. I was dead wrong! The plan for the day was a resident’s birthday party with snacks, cake, and booze followed by Happy Hour with beer and wine! I have been to several different rehab facilities for loved ones and my line of work and have never heard of such awesome activities. We couldn’t help but have a laugh because I couldn’t not joke about the brilliance of this idea: Get the people good and drunk, they will fall, and stay in the rehab longer! Of course, I kid and it is a doctor approved and monitored drink but, hey, it sure sounds like a lot of fun! ❤

All I have to say is, I know EXACTLY where I’m going if I ever have to go to a rehab facility. The place was beautiful, the staff was lovely, and the activities can’t be beat! 😀

Do you have a favorite neighbor? What do you like to do when you get together? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul18

Simple Summer OOTD

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Simple Summer OOTD

Howdy everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! Today we are going to take a look at a Simple Summer outfit I wore to cheer on Akron’s beloved minor league baseball team, the Rubberducks. My core four crew and I went to a game in April and had the absolute best time. It was, however, cold AF and we left early because we were all freezing our nads off. This time around was simply perfect. It wasn’t too hot or too cold – just right for a baseball game! I wasn’t trying to pull out the fashion stops for this outing, rather something simple and sweet. My boys and I get rowdy at the games and I wanted to be as comfortable as possible while constantly getting up on my feet and rooting for the home team. 😀 Check it out:

Who? What? Wear?

Tank Top: Rachel Zoe, TJMaxx

Jean Shorts: American Eagle Outfitters

Candy Button Platforms: B.A.I.T., Unique Vintage

Hoop Earrings: SugarFix By BaubleBar, Target

Sunglasses: Lucky Brand, TJMaxx

I wouldn’t say that dressing for summer is my time to be lazy, rather my time to be comfortable which results in simpler looks. I’m on a fair bit of medication and almost everything I take increases my susceptibility for heat related illnesses. I have never done great in the heat, but this takes it to the nth degree so I try to wear as little clothes as humanly possible while still being gained entrance to wherever I’m going lol. So, I decided to stick with the classics in this look and what is more classic than a sweet little tank top and jean shorts?!

Being comfy doesn’t have to mean frumpy and I love how form fitting the short and tank top combo was. If I’m going to be wearing basic essentials, I want my curves to be on full display to turn even the simplest pieces into Va Va Voom status. The tank top by Rachel Zoe gets a lot of use during the summertime and for good reason. I’m all about that V-neck, thick straps, and vertical ribbing! The shorts then added a dose of sass factor with their high waist and distressing. With the tank tucked in, it enhanced my silhouette even more to turn these classic staples on their heads.

Next, it was onto shoes and accessories and I knew exactly what I was going to wear. I purchased the darling Candy Button platforms for my Candy Queen Halloween costume last year. They were so fabulous but I was sad that I had to wait until the summertime to wear them again. The baseball game was just the occasion I needed to break them out and It. Was. Awesome. They added such a fun pop of color, were super easy to walk in, and everything I imagined wearing them again would be and so much more! For jewelry, I wanted to let my tattoos do the talking as they were out for god and everyone to see. A sparkly pair of pink, purple, and silver hoops were definitely the move and it allowed for candy cuteness from head to toe!

Did the Rubberducks win the game we attended because of this fit? I think YES! Duck em up!!!!!

What is your ideal temperature for an outdoor outing? How do you stay cool in the summer heat? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul17

Beach Bombshell OOTD

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Beach Bombshell OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! Or, rather, welcome to some pictures of me in a bikini lol. In one of my favorite shows, Superstore, one of the characters claims that bikinis and Halloween costumes are the same thing. You wear them every year until they’re threads and then get a new one. I can confirm that to be true, in regards to the bikini part anyways, because the one you are about to see is probably over a decade old at this point. However, it’s one of the only ones I have so that was good enough for me when Johnny and I went to Geneva On The Lake! Check it out:

^^^ You can peep more from this look on my TikTok @lilred6794 !!

As I was saying, I purchased this bikini a long time ago. In fact, I was still working retail at PacSun when I got it which means I was around nineteen at the time. I still remember it. My coworker went to Victoria’s Secret on her break, bought the exact same bikini you see above for her vacation, showed it to me when she returned, and I fell in love. As a bustier gal, it can be hard to find a suit that is supportive enough and my mind was blown when she told me that the tops went by bra size as opposed to Small, Medium, and Large. It was exactly what I needed and I went on my break and followed (swim)suit by getting the same one lol. Total poser, yes, but I just couldn’t resist because this was the best fitting bikini I have ever tried on and that still remains to be true.

It’s not like I haven’t bought other swimsuits in the twelve or so years since I got this bikini. I just can’t seem to part with it though because it still fits and it’s still cute AF! The bustier top, the sweet and sunny pastel hues, and the sassy strap sides on the bottoms are truly a match made in fun in the sun heaven. And the thing is, regardless of the age of this suit, it really hasn’t been worn all that much for two reasons. 1) As a very pale gal, beach and lake situations aren’t my bag because I burn so easily. As I write this, it has been ten days since visiting Geneva On The Lake and I am still peeling constantly. And 2) I refuse to get my hair wet to increase the longevity of my colorfully dyed hair. In the twelve plus years of having this bikini, I’ve probably only worn it twenty times and even that feels like an exaggeration. Here’s to another twelve years of my Beach Bombshell bikini because I fear I well never find one as good as this!

My beloved Victoria’s Secret swimsuit is blessedly not in threads yet and fingers crossed that it stays that way for forever!

Do you have any super old clothes in your wardrobe? How do you keep them looking brand new? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul15

Fun In The Sun OOTD

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Fun In The Sun OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! For the Fourth of July weekend, Johnny and I enjoyed a lovely little getaway to Geneva On The Lake. We stayed in a fantastic Airbnb with a few of our friends that was literally right on Lake Erie and it was like having our own private beach! On the Fourth, we posted up on our oasis on the water and had a blast soaking up the sun all afternoon. The sunburns that resulted in our lake day were anything but!! Take a look at what I wore before busting out an itty bitty bikini and my skin wasn’t fifty shades of Lil Red. It simply screams Fun In The Sun!

Who? What? Wear?

Kerchief Top: Altar’d State

Jean Shorts: American Eagle Outfitters

Platform Sandals: Sbicca, ModCloth

Sunglasses: Lucky Brand, TJMaxx

Dagger Earrings: These were bought on vacation in the Poconos!

When I was packing this outfit for our trip, I didn’t even put two and two together that it would be featuring a red, white, and blue motif on the Fourth. I was in no mood to celebrate America, lol, it just happened and that’s okay because I love this look and it is a super easy one to replicate. Normally when I am building an outfit, I start from the top down. This time, however, I started smack dab in the middle with the jean shorts from American Eagle Outfitters. I absolutely adore this high waisted, distressed pair and they are oh so sweet with any summer OOTD. They are such a classic summer staple with some extra flare, fit like a glove, and go with anything meaning you can’t go wrong with them!

Next on the agenda was visiting the top department and I knew exactly what I needed: My gingham kerchief top from Altar’d State. This was my first kerchief top I ever purchased and it certainly started an obsession because I can’t get enough of them. They are sassy but not overly sexy and such a unique take on summer clothing. You can only have so many tanks and spaghetti strap tops! This little number paired beautifully with the high waisted shorts and just as I love the Gingham line from Bath & Body Works, I loves me a gingham pattern too. This top gave a somewhat retro pattern a modern update and will always be one of my favorite summer tops.

Finally, it was onto shoes and accessories. For shoes, I opted for a delightful pair of platform sandals by Sbicca. Yes, they were a pain in the butt to walk on the sand in but beauty is pain and I couldn’t imagine a different pair with this look. The straps are an almost perfect match to the blue in the top and they both feature a flower motif. It was like they were made to be worn together! Since I was going to wade in the water as I refuse to get my hair wet, I kept jewelry at a minimum with a pair of cream colored dagger earrings. Sunglasses were a must, of course, and I wore my beloved pair by Lucky. And, no, I didn’t lose them this time! 😀

This fit was Fun In The Sun, fashion fun, and vacation vibes to the T and I felt like the star of our private beach in it!

Are you going on any getaways this summer? What was the best vacation you have been on? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul11

Brunch Babe OOTD Bloopers

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Brunch Babe OOTD Bloopers

Hello everyone and welcome to the Blooper Reel from my Brunch Babe OOTD! There is nothing better than wearing new clothes and I was so excited to bust out my new top featured in this look by Caroline Constas. It was the ultimate Brunch Babe, farmers market fierce little number I needed for a late morning trip to First Watch! Before I could ever so carefully dig into brunch to avoid a spill on my new duds, pictures were in order. Take a peek at these yikes pics and let’s discuss an instance that simply delighted me this past week:

Apparently REALLY deep in thought or sleep

Hanging on for dear life

The queen of brunch making an appearance

Hanger may or may not have been setting in

Flipping the hair to shake off any negativity

When I was little, I prided myself on being the best “finder” lol. Someone in my family was always losing something and I was excellent at finding where the misplaced item was. In my old age, however, I fear I may be losing my touch. My eldest niece decided to put together a scavenger hunt with Bluey toys for her little sister at chez grandparents. Lil sis ended up finding almost all of them, but big sis forgot where she put two of the toys (lol) and my parents asked if I would look for them. I searched high and low for the members of the Bluey gang for what felt like forever and, sadly, had no luck. Luckily, I manifested finding something else instead…

For Christmas, I got my mom a gift card to Elysian Nails. Fast forward a few months later when she was ready to cash in her manicure and we couldn’t find the gift card anywhere. Like the Bluey toys, I looked everywhere and ended up convinced it might have been thrown out on accident. When I was on my own scavenger hunt for Bluey’s friends, I thought about how awesome it would be to find the gift card too. A minute or two later, I took off the lid of a decorative pot in the kitchen and gasped at its contents. The Elysian Nails gift card was sitting three feet from my usual spot at the kitchen table this entire time! It was a Christmas in July miracle but I am not hanging up my detective’s cap yet. I will not rest until the remainder of the Bluey toys are returned back to my nieces!

It took seven months to find the missing gift card so maybe in seven months the Bluey toys turn up? Either way, I am on the case!

Have you found anything that has been missing for a while? Where was it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul10

Brunch Babe OOTD

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Brunch Babe OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! I had a highly successful shopping trip at TJMaxx this past month with my mom and have been so excited to break out all of my new clothes! I had just the occasion to do so this past weekend because Johnny and I enjoyed a lovely birthaversary celebration brunch with my aunt and uncle. We went to First Watch and ate like kings and I did so VERY carefully to avoid a spill on this fabulous, flowery, flowy number. Check it out:

Who? What? Wear?

Embroidered Top: Caroline Constas, TJMaxx

Bubble Skirt: A New Day, Target

Kitten Heels: A New Day, Target

Skull Earrings: Sirius Woods, these were a birthday gift from my BFF!

The piece de resistance of my TJs haul was truly the flower embroidered top by Caroline Constas. I literally clutched my pearls when I saw it and knew in an instant that it was coming home with me. I had been dying to wear it and thought it was just perfect for the weekend brunch we had planned. It’s bright, quirky, and fun and it sounds weird but it just felt like the top to wear to sip mimosas in a trendy restaurant. This top offers so much delightful movement with the huge bell sleeves and I knew I needed a skirt to match that energy. Luckily, I had exactly what I needed compliments of my Valentine’s Day date with Johnny!

In the skirt department, I chose my beloved bubble skirt from Target. I have wanted one for forever and was so happy to have finally found one! This skirt provided the volume and movement that I required to form a cohesive silhouette with the top. I wanted a bold shape and I got it in spades! The high waist meshed well with the fairly close fit of the top’s bodice and then both pieces branched out into flouncy fabulousness. It was so hard not to twirl my way through the streets with this combination!

Last but not least, was shoes and accessories. I went for a darling pair of kitten heels that were also a part of my V-Day ensemble and feature an adorable heart on the toe. These were ideal for the outfit as the slingback strap gave an unbroken leg line. This helped add length to the look by accentuating my legs as the base was quite fabric heavy. I didn’t want to go overboard with jewelry because the shapes of the clothing were eye catching enough. To keep things simple, I chose the gorgeous pair of dangly pearl skull earrings from my bestie and was ready to get my brunch on!

I absolutely love my Brunch Babe OOTD and wearing my Caroline Constas top for the first time was everything I wanted it to be and SO much more! ❤

What is your favorite brunch spot? Who is your go to brunch date? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul7

Feeling Lucky

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Feeling Lucky

Hello! At the beginning of April, I was in need of some new sunglasses and bought two new pairs at TJMaxx. I was especially partial to the pair by Lucky Brand because it is one of my favorite brands and the sunglasses fit me to the T. In fact, I loved them so much that I almost considered buying two pairs of them. I wore those babies everywhere and I just felt so cool in them! Because I wore them everywhere, it’s no surprise that they accompanied me to the Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson concert. It was one of the craziest nights of my life and I ended up losing my beloved pair of Lucky Brand sunnies in the mix. I was absolutely devastated. I went from wearing them every day to not having them at all and I was kicking myself in the butt for not buying that back up pair.

I was feeling fairly confident that if I went to TJMaxx, they would not have another pair of my beloved Luckies. It had been well over two months since the initial purchase so why would they? However, I just had to see for myself so I made a pit stop to the happiest place on Earth. Rather than browse through the store, I made a beeline to the sunglasses department and began scouring the shelves. I started at the left hand side, looked through the rows from top to bottom, and was seeing nothing. I continued the hunt to be one thousand percent sure and, as luck would have it, one pair of Lucky frames remained at the very end of the display. I couldn’t believe my good fortune and snatched them up!

Had there been more pairs of these sunglasses, I would have bought the lot of them. Sunglasses can get broken or lost so easily and I have experienced both firsthand. So the moral of the story is: There is no shame in buying back ups of anything you really love. It could be a great pair of ballet flats, your favorite T-shirt in different colors, and yes – sunglasses too. I learned my lesson when my favorite pair of sunglasses I have ever owned almost got away from me and I am not making that same mistake twice!

The fashion gods were truly smiling upon me when they returned my Lucky frames to their rightful owner. I was feeling so lucky I should have played the lottery! 😀

Do you buy back ups of anything in your wardrobe? Have you ever lost a favorite fashion item? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul5

Country Cutie OOTD Bloopers

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Country Cutie OOTD Bloopers

Hello everyone and welcome to the Blooper Reel from my Country Cutie OOTD! This look was worn to Outlaw Fest to see Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson at Blossom Music Center. Honestly, the whole night was a blooper reel in itself and Johnny and I are still laughing about the antics we got into. I haven’t had a night that wild since the after party at our wedding lol. The bloopers didn’t begin at the concert but during the photo shoot beforehand so take a look at some yikes pics that really helped set the tone for the festivities:

Tinkerbell just hanging out on my nose

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

Getting ready to practice my hoedown

So sick of constantly wiping away upper lip sweat SMH

This hoe was almost down lolol

A measurement of how lit I got at the concert

As you can imagine, Johnny and I were definitely feeling the hangover blues the day after the concert. Luckily for us, we have concocted the perfect cure – AKA: A Day of Lay. Lay days are exactly what they sound like: Staying in bed, watching TV, and moving as little as possible lol. And, luckily for us, we have discovered a new “warm blanket” show (Johnny’s definition of a comfort show) to enjoy. A few weeks ago, we started watching Fresh Off The Boat and have been plowing through it at a speed of light pace. It is absolutely hilarious!

Fresh Off The Boat is based off of a book of the same name by Eddie Huang (I can’t wait to read it!). Eddie’s family is Chinese American and the book and show documents their move from Washington D.C. to Orlando, Florida to open a steakhouse in the nineties and get their own slice of the American Dream. The Huang family is comprised of proud parents, Louis and Jessica and their three boys named Eddie, Emery, and Evan. Louis’s mom, Jenny, also lives with them. She speaks no English but lives for Garfield comics and cruising in her electric wheelchair. 😀

From start to finish, every single episode has Johnny and me in stitches. The Huang brothers are all cute as can be and the littlest, Evan, is our favorite. He is just a doll! We also revel in the pure “Louis and Jessica” of our own relationship. Johnny is a Louis for sure. He is spontaneous, silly, and always has a new big idea. I am one thousand percent Jessica and I own it – strategic, thinks in black and white, never backs down from a challenge, and tears it up in a game of Scrabble. Fresh Off The Boat is the most delightful mix of funny and downright heartwarming and when we aren’t in hysterics, we are going “aww” at how sweet it is lol. It was easy to forget how hungover we were during our marathon when we were laughing the entire time!

Our daily viewings of Fresh Off The Boat are something I really look forward to and it came through in the clutch the day after the concert. We finished a full season in one day! 😀

What is your favorite comfort show? How many times have you seen it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul3

Country Cutie OOTD

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Country Cutie OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! Johnny and I have a spectacular summer concert series lined up and this look was for Outlaw Fest to see Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan at Blossom Music Center. We went to this show in the middle of a full fledged heat wave here in Ohio so I had to make some changes to my original plan which was to wear a Western button down of Johnny’s. Instead, I went with an itty bitty brand new top and shorts to keep me cool and rockin’ all night long. Take a look:

Who? What? Wear?

Crochet Crop Top: Bozzolo, TJMaxx

Jean Shorts: American Eagle Outfitters

Heeled Boots: These were purchased forever ago from Target

Sunglasses and Cross Earrings: Lucky Brand, TJMaxx

The bracelet ring was purchased forever ago from Claire’s

Although I had to swap out shirts to accommodate the weather, this was no problem because I had a back up in mind: My new crochet crop top by Bozzolo. I got this cute crop a few days before the concert during an impromptu TJs trip with my mom and it truly couldn’t have happened at a better time! This crop is oh so sweet and I love the creamy color and the buttons down the front. It also provided beaucoup ventilation which was especially appreciated while being in a sea of people in ninety degree weather. Not only did this top keep me comfortable weather wise but I just feel so comfortable in it in general. The thick tank straps are exactly what I like to keep my bra straps concealed so I didn’t have to worry about them playing peek a boo all night!

Next on the agenda was shorts and I went with a darling pair of blue jean shorts from American Eagle Outfitters. As always, their shorts are the best and I live in them all summer. I couldn’t imagine wearing anything other than classic blue jean shorts to a country show. This pair is pure Americana, Girl Next Door perfection. I like that they are short but not too short and they provided the leg length I needed to make the tall boots I wanted to wear work.

Shoes and accessories were all that was needed to wrap up this look and that was easy peasy. When we got tickets to Outlaw Fest, I already knew I wanted to wear my heeled boots from Target. They are as old as dirt but they still look great! They are a fun twist on a classic cowboy boot and I love being able to put a Lil Red spin on staple items. How fabulous is that sunset coloring and big ol’ buckles?! For accessories, I wanted to drive the Western aesthetic home with turquoise. I put on a pair of turquoise dangly cross earrings as well as a huge turquoise cross ring that connects to a bracelet and I was ready to go!

Outlaw Fest was such an amazing time from start to finish. I adored this OOTD and felt like a boot scootin’ star all night!

What are some of your summer wardrobe staples? Are you going to any concerts this summer? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun28

B-Day OOTD Bloopers

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B-Day OOTD Bloopers

Hello everyone and welcome to the Blooper Reel from my B-Day OOTD! Johnny and I have been celebrating our birthaversary big time all month long and this lil look was worn to lunch at the Olive Garden with my family. It was the best gift! We still have beaucoup plans lined up in our roster and it is honestly kind of overwhelming lol. We went from never doing anything on the weekends to nonstop plans and I am exhausted! But, hey, the birthaversary is a monumental occasion so let the good times roll because when I can relax with a new season of my guilty pleasure show, it is going to be oh so sweet. 😀 Take a look at these yikes shots and let’s discuss:

Style, grace, poise

Your girl really knows how to stick the landing!

Perfecting my flamingo impression

Taking a minute to think about the Olive Garden. It’s never far from my mind!

When you think someone is waving at you but they weren’t

Preparing to speak some truth to Johnny

Straight up barrelling to my phone

Am I the only one who feels overwhelmed by streaming services? Lol, every single day there are a million brand new things. Some might be good, a majority is crap, and it is just a pain in the keister to figure out what to watch. I am one of those people that will spend a solid twenty minutes trying to find a show or documentary and then just end up turning on Superbad! For once, however, I know exactly what I am going to watch whenever I have time to spare. That’s right… A new season of America’s Sweethearts on Netflix just dropped and I am SO there for it! 😀

America’s Sweethearts is all about the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, the audition process, prepping for games, and all that good stuff. I remember when the first season came out vividly because I was sick and I watched it all in one day! I was hooked and you have no idea how happy I was for season two to be released – reality TV is my guilty pleasure and America’s Sweethearts serves on every level. Pretty ladies for your favorite bisexual, insane dancing, hardass coaches, drama, and sisterhood. What could be better?! Do I care about football? The hardest NO ever. Do I care deeply about the cheerleaders? You’re damn right! This new season is a bonus birthaversary gift and I cannot wait to revel in it. Go team!

A new season of a favorite show really is a treat and during my binge-a-thon of America’s Sweethearts, I plan on treating myself even more. I got a Taco Bell gift card for my birthday and am going to have a one person fiesta. Let those birthaversary good times roll on, baby!

What is one of your guilty pleasure shows? Have you watched America’s Sweethearts? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah