Tag Archives: shopping

Aug17

Accessory Story: Claire’s Haul Edition

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Accessory Story: Claire’s Haul Edition

Helloooo everyone! This past week, I took a client to the mall to do a little shopping and, unfortunately (but not really), I was the one who ended up buying something AS PER USHE. But, I just couldn’t help myself, because I got an amazing deal – six pretty accessories from Claire’s for a whole eighteen dollars thanks to clearance shopping and a buy three get three free deal. I am super happy with my new earrings and headbands and I know that without the promo and marked down prices I would have paid well over fifty bucks for everything I got. So, I guess it isn’t all bad! 😉 Check it out:

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^^^ And, yes, the flower headband DOES light up!!

Buying accessories like earrings and headbands is usually pretty low on my fashion priority list. I have a few of each at home that I wear exclusively and that’s about it. I don’t know if it’s the price of them that bothers me or what, but I’d always rather buy shoes… obviously lol. So, when I found such a good deal for some new treats, I couldn’t pass it up.

I love, love, love my new earrings and am looking forward to wearing all of them, especially the gold circle ones – I think those are so cool! I’ve never owned a pair of feather earrings, either, and the black ones spoke to me, no surprises there. And, the cherries were too cute and the drop ones with the translucent pearls were too classic to not add those to the bag, too.

Although I adore the earrings, I am most excited about my headbands! I haven’t bought new headbands since high school I think, so that was definitely a purchase that had a long time coming! The light denim faux suede with the embroidered flowers is SO pretty and it will be a great way to accessorize a collegiate chic OOTD come fall time.

And, can we PLEASE talk about the light up floral one?! So. CUTE! I had no idea it lit up until the girl who was ringing me up told me and that just made the find even sweeter because it’s basically the coolest thing ever. I have never seen anything like that that I would actually want to wear and I cannot wait to style an OOTD and MOTD around it.

Was this little haul necessary? Not necessarily! But, I got a great deal and found some pretty little things that I wouldn’t have bought otherwise. Plus, there is nothing like refreshing your outfits with some new odds and ends that didn’t break the bank!

Where do you like to accessory shop at? How do you refresh old outfits? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug15

More Pretty In Punk OOTD Pics

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More Pretty In Punk OOTD Pics

Hello, hello! Yesterday, you bore witness to a punk inspired OOTD that I am very proud of and I wanted to be able to share more pictures with you. This has definitely been my favorite shoot and OOTD to date and just one post dedicated to it is not enough. So, take a look at some more of my photography and style adventure and be sure to consult yesterday’s post if you want to know more about the outfit and the shoot:

 

 

 

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Believe it or not, there used to be a time when I would shy away from getting my picture taken. Shocking, I know. I just wasn’t happy with myself or my appearance and the last thing that I wanted was to be in front of a camera. But, now, there is nothing that I love more. Being able to showcase my form of art, which is all things fashion as well as my makeup, tattoos, and piercings is something that makes me proud. And, I’ve got to say, it feels amazing to finally be happy with the way I look, as it has been something that I struggled with for longer than I care to admit.

Each photo shoot that I do makes me feel more confident and I am so happy to have created a platform through lifewithlilred to share my journey of fashion, personal growth, Taco Bell, and everything in between with all of you! ❤

What makes you feel confident? How has your hobby helped build your self esteem? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug14

Pretty In Punk OOTD

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Pretty In Punk OOTD

Hello everyone!! As promised (because I have only been talking about it for forever!), I am here today to present you with my Pretty In Punk OOTD inspired by all things It Brit fashion. From the music to the style and everything in between, I have always been enamored with how things are done across the pond in England. And, this outfit pays homage to a country that I so love and want nothing more than to visit soon! Take a look and let’s discuss. And, do be sure to tune in tomorrow for more pics from the shoot!

 

 

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Who? What? Wear?

Fashion and beauty is always something that I have been passionate about and styling this look was the most fun I’ve had in ages. I have been waiting for the right outfit to come to mind that would do my Ginger Spice style platforms justice since I got them and, after some chance shopping experiences while I was with a client, it all came together.

I was so inspired by the tulle fabric that I impulse bought at Joann’s and, like magic, my shoulder padded plaid blazer popped out at me while at the Goodwill. I knew that I could create something cool when combining all of this and in my head, a vision formed. An industrial location with an OOTD giving a posh update to the 1970s British punk style. And, with that, the shoot above happened.

While styling this outfit, it was really important for me to not make it look like a caricature of the iconic punk fashion and I also didn’t want it to be a carbon copy, either. So, making the look modern while still giving a nod to a style that I adore was key. Punk fashion is so textured, with all different types of fabrics and materials being used – we’re talking leather, wool plaid, flannel, studs, chains, and mesh just to name a few. But, it still manages to look cohesive because the color palette usually revolves around black and pops of color.

I wanted to create a distinct breakup between the shoes and the bottom and top half of my OOTD and, to do this, I used three different materials on each part of the outfit. Glitter on the shoes, pleather on the pants, and a wool style plaid on top. It all tied in together perfectly, though, because the color palette was quite minimal and black was incorporated in almost every part of the look, except the shoes, which was my pop of color.

Once I had my outfit styled, it was all about finding a location that embraced a more punk way of life. Some of the imagery that always stands out to me is a group of concert goers outside of a brick or dilapidated building smoking in front of the venue. I wanted that grittiness reflected in the pictures and an industrial setting was just what the doctor ordered. My photographer and I settled on Steelyard Drive in Cleveland, which is actually a shopping center. But, beyond it is train tracks, construction, and electricity towers. This gave us lots of backgrounds to play with and it was a blast to create distinctive looks in each location.

The last part of creating the pictures you see above was having fun. I always say that if fashion isn’t fun, then that defeats the purpose. And, let me tell you, I had a ball with this. Styling my OOTD was a joy, because I will definitely be sporting this look come fall and it was exactly how I envisioned it to be. Being on location and watching my craft as well as my photographers come to life was exciting and I am looking forward to creating more updates of iconic fashion eras in the future!

What is your favorite era of fashion? How do you incorporate that into your OOTDs? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug9

Trail Blazers

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Trail Blazers

Hello!! I have been really lucky at the Goodwill lately. Not only have I got a new air hockey table, but I recently bought two gorgeous blazers for a whopping ten dollars total. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love my TJMaxx to death BUT ten dollars for two blazers that appear to be brand new is a deal you would never get at one of your favorite discount stores. Especially when one of those blazers is from Express, which usually runs for about one hundred dollars, minimum. Check these out:

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The total cost for both of my new finds would have been on the better half of two hundred dollars and paying ten for them felt like hitting the jackpot. I love the clothing at Express, but would never consider paying for any of it because they are way over my budget. So, getting a sleek blazer that looks barely worn from there was super exciting! And, I have wanted a retro plaid blazer for quite some time now so finding one by Sag Harbor complete with shoulder pads was a major highlight.

I think that blazers are a fantastic piece of clothing and I regret not owning more of them. But, I am happy to start increasing my collection with the ones above. Not only are they the perfect business casual staple but blazers are also an amazing option for fall, creating a cozy, studious chic look.

Of course, I love my more form fitting black blazer from Express and anticipate on wearing it for meetings for work or a night on the town. But, I am particularly looking forward to styling the Sag Harbor one. I plan on doing an OOTD photo shoot tipping my cap to the British punk scene by sporting black leather skinnies, my Union Jack platforms, a hat with a veil created from my tulle purchase, and the plaid blazer over top. I have always been enthralled with the punk fashion scene from across the pond and my Sag Harbor blazer gave me such heavy vibes from that wonderful style and I can’t wait to show all of you. Be on the lookout! 😀

How do you like to style your blazers? Which era of fashion gives you inspiration? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug8

Totally Tulle

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Totally Tulle

Hi hi! I am by no means the craftiest person in the world. The only way I can create cute things is with the most straight forward directions off of a Pinterest post or a how to guide. And, that’s okay, because I know that my strength lies in being a fashion forward word girl. However, the craft bug bit me right in the ass when I was at Joann Fabrics with a client and I walked away with six yards of black and six yards of white tulle at eighty-nine cents per yard. What can I say, I was feeling inspired! Check it out:

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I don’t know what came over me, but when I saw this gorgeous tulle, I just had to buy it. I absolutely love tulle, because it is so prissy and posh but when styled correctly, it can be oh so punk rock and that is definitely the look that I’m going for. I had these fantastic visions of vintage style veils worn with or without a hat and wrapped skirts around short shorts or around the skirt of a dress. And, with six yards of each color, I will have enough to play around and make mistakes – I’m pretty excited!

Will everything I make come out just right? No. But, I know that if I left the store empty handed, I would have stayed up thinking about all of the cool stuff that I could have tried, so I had to make the purchase. My philosophy when it comes to fashion is always about having fun with your looks and pushing the envelope, and I think that I can do a bit of both with my new crafting project. 🙂

What would you create with a buttload of tulle? What do you recommend that I do with mine? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug6

Groovy Movies: Dollar Tree Haul Edition

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Groovy Movies: Dollar Tree Haul Edition

Helloooo! One of my favorite stores that I frequent with a client of mine is the Dollar Tree. And, considering everything there is only a dollar, I can definitely afford it! If her and I end up at the Dollar Tree, I usually will end up indulging if there is anything good there, because I’d much rather pay a dollar for food, paper products, decor, etc. than the marked up price at the grocery store.

This time around, aside from food, I ended up purchasing five movies for a dollar each, which is such an amazing deal considering one movie from Target costs five bucks! So, I got five brand new movies for the price of one. Check it out:

movies

I am a huge fan of having movies to watch at home as well as books to read to keep me entertained instead of paying for a streaming service. Getting Netflix or the like will happen eventually, but holding it off by paying five dollars for some new flicks to enjoy definitely saves me money. Not that Netflix isn’t fairly cheap, but you all know that your girl likes to ball on a budget.

Frankly, the only movie that I super like out of the five that I bought is Masterminds. That is one of my favorite comedies and I could watch it one hundred times and still laugh hysterically, so that was a great find. And, as far as the other four go, they will provide me with something to do during a free evening and that’s good enough for me, even if I don’t end up loving them.

Lil Red will never be above bargain shopping and if there is a Dollar Tree in your area, I highly recommend hitting one up. You never know what goodies you’re going to find!

Where do you do the best bargain shopping at? Which streaming service do you recommend? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug5

Beach Babe OOTD

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Beach Babe OOTD

Hi everyone! This past weekend, my parents had the pleasure of watching my sweet niece, Valerie, while her mom and dad were attending a friend’s wedding in Chicago. After running some errands on Saturday, it was a must to break out the kiddie pool to splish splash with Val and have some fun in the sun. And, of course, her TT is extra enough that taking pics was a must. Take a look:

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Who? What? Wear?

To be honest, I wasn’t quite sure if I wanted to post the pictures above because of the visible rolls on my stomach. But, then, I remembered this picture that I saw on Facebook and had the confidence to post my bikini clad pics – and they were a hit!

Ashlie-Molstad

^^^ Amazing image from Handful

This picture gave me the friendly reminder that EVERYONE’S stomach rolls when they sit down, no matter what your body type is. So, why was I expecting my sit down pictures to look any different? And, you know what? I love how I look in my kiddie pool pics. I love how happy I look, I love the sunlight on my tattoos, and I love how good my bikini made me feel, because it can be an intimidating thing to wear. And, of course, I love seeing pictures of my niece with her TT!

It’s amazing what a piece of clothing you really like can do for your self esteem. Whether that be a bikini, a dress, or a pair of jeans that fit you like a glove – it just gives you that extra boost to make you feel like the queen of the world. And, my Little Mermaid bikini does that for me.

The first time I wore it this summer, I thought that I would shy away and just stay in my towel instead of enjoying the lake. But, as soon as I took a breath and dropped the towel, I felt a-okay. I remembered how awesome my bikini made me feel just trying it on in the dressing room and let myself feel that way again, even if other people were seeing me in it. This gave me the confidence I needed to strut about the Metro Park lake or even just my open backyard at home without the fear of what other people are going to think.

I feel like an absolute Beach Babe in my two piece and I hope that all of you feel the same way in your swimwear. Remember, a “bikini body” is just a body in a bikini so don’t let whatever makes you feel insecure prevent you from enjoying your swim time. I promise you, the water is fine. ❤

What kind of clothes do you feel the most confident in? How does wearing swimwear make you feel? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug2

That’s So Fetch

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That’s So Fetch

Hello!! Just a quick show of hands: How many people like Lil Red’s looks enough to shop them?!

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If the answer is yes, then do let me know. Becauuuuuse, I have the opportunity to begin working with an affiliate company that will give me a percentage of the cut if I have readers that purchase clothing and beauty products similar to what yours truly is rocking. But, the trick is that I would need to update my blog to a business plan, which would cost me way more per year. So, I only want to do it if I’m one hundred percent sure that my darlings will participate. Let your girl know!

Are you a member of any affiliate programs? What are your experiences with them? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image By: Rebloggy

Jul27

AmorePacific Treatment Enzyme Peel Cleansing Powder Review

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AmorePacific Treatment Enzyme Peel Cleansing Powder Review

Greetings! During my last Sephora haul, one of the two free samples I chose with my order was the AmorePacific Treatment Enzyme Peel Cleansing Powder. Woo, that is a mouthful! I tested this product out a few days ago and I’m not sure how to feel about it. Of course, it’s always nice to try something new. But, just one tester sample isn’t exactly enough to give you a full idea of how the product works. We’ll get into that further in a sec but, first, take a look at some pics:

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My impression from reading the reviews for the peel on Sephora’s website is that it is viewed as a miracle product by its users. The reviews boasted of how well it exfoliates and that after using it, their skin was perfect. But, I have a hard time seeing how that was possible during my tester run with the powder to foam product.

After adding a few drops of water to the powder seen above, any attempt at “lathering” it onto my skin was in vain because it dried almost instantly. While some reviewers said that the peel tightened their pores, my skin was only left feeling dry and dehydrated. The name of this AmorePacific peel is all very confusing because the reviewers claim that it’s an exfoliater and not a peel. Meanwhile, I didn’t think it was much of anything!

If you have the option to sample this product with your online Sephora purchase, I wouldn’t recommend it. This exfoliater/peel/whatever it is is something that needs to be used several times before you can form an opinion on it and the amount that I was given really wasn’t enough to do anything for me. And, maybe this product is a holy grail one – but, I just wasn’t seeing it.

Has anyone used the AmorePacific peel before? What were your thoughts on it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul22

Sephora Haul

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Sephora Haul

Helloooo everyone! I promise you I’m done shopping for a while, just kidding I will never be done shopping so I have a Sephora Haul to share with all of you! This needed to happen, though, because I can’t live without my leave in conditioner by IGK and I was almost out. So, I stocked up by getting two bottles of that and a bunch of free goodies. Make sure to check in tomorrow and the following day for swatches of the lip colors by Clinique and Jouer!

haul

The Haul:

  • Two IGK Mistress hydrating hair balms
  • Jouer lip creme in Rose Gold (FREE!)
  • Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey (FREE!)
  • Belif The true cream aqua bomb sample (FREE!)
  • AmorePacific enzyme peel sample (FREE!)

When it comes to shopping Sephora, I always try and get the most bang for my buck. And, although the IGK product I got is expensive, I got all kinds of free goodies and free shipping to make up for it. I can’t wait to show you guys swatches of the new lip colors because they are GORGEOUS. I am especially obsessed with the metallic Jouer lip creme in Rose Gold – you guys are going to love it!

I am also always up for aqua bomb style moisturizers so I will be looking forward to giving the sample by Belif a go. But, I am most curious about the enzyme peel by AmorePacific. So, be on the lookout for my post on giving that a try and we’ll figure out just what the heck it is together. 😀

How do you score the best deals at Sephora? Which stores offer the best online deals? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah