Tag Archives: simple

Warm Fuzzies

Standard
Warm Fuzzies

Hiiii everyone! We interrupt today’s scheduled post on the Huda Beauty Emerald Obsessions palette to report some Warm Fuzzies bestowed onto Lil Red compliments of my beloved mother. As you guys know, I had some major surgery complications this past month and was a hot mess express for basically all of December. I was in a lot of pain and I’m just now feeling like I’m on the mend.

During the first day of my upswing, I spent it watching TV and reading in a big comfy armchair in my living room instead of being cooped up in my bed too groggy to move. My mom was home from work that day and sat on the futon next to me to fold some laundry.

While she was going through the clean clothes, I noticed a new towel that she scored through a JCPenny or Kohl’s Cash coupon FO FREE (A classic mom trick!). I had used that towel a few days ago after struggling through a shower and told her that it was nice and soft and that I liked the color, a dark heather grey. She told me that she liked it too and that I should have it in my bathroom.

When I woke up the next morning, this is what I noticed on my towel rack:

towel

I am in the worst pain of the day when I wake up and going into my bathroom and seeing the soft towel waiting for me made my misery slightly more tolerable. I was so touched by such a simple gesture and it can really only be described as the Warm Fuzzies. I love sweet little somethings like this so much and, despite hurting so badly, it made me happy. Moms always seem to know just what to do, even in the worst of times and I think my mom knew that one extra warm hug is just what I needed that day. ❤

What is something that gives you the Warm Fuzzies? How do you show kindness in simple ways? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Small Steps To Big Changes: Simple Ways To Get Your Health Back On Track

Standard
Small Steps To Big Changes: Simple Ways To Get Your Health Back On Track

We’re approaching that time of year when we start to think about the months ahead. As we near the New Year, many of us will be making resolutions. Often, we take vows and make promises to improve our health and boost our happiness, but many people lose interest in resolutions very quickly. Sometimes, this is due to the fact that we tend to be a little too optimistic when it comes to goal setting. If you’re keen to get your health back on track, the key to success lies in taking small steps. Here are some simple measures that will make a massive difference to your health and well-being:

Adjust your sleep routine:

Are you one of those people that doze off in front of the TV every night and then struggle to get up in the morning? If you’re not getting seven to eight hours of quality sleep on a regular basis, modifying your sleep routine is one of the best ways to improve your mental and physical health. You have an internal clock, and it is possible to get into a routine, which will help you get more sleep. Instead of curling up and nodding off on the sofa, go to bed an hour earlier. Rather than hitting the snooze button, get up at the same time every morning. Your body clock will soon adjust to these new times, and you should find that you’re enjoying better quality sleep, as well as more downtime.

small

Catch some Z’s!

Drink more water:

Are you guilty of turning to sodas when you’re thirsty or is your body fueled by coffee? If you don’t drink enough water, this is a really simple resolution to stick to. Aim for two liters of water per day, and carry a bottle around with you so that you can sip and go. If you’re not keen on the taste of water, consider buying sparkling water with a hint of fruit flavor or add sugar-free cordial. Dehydration increases the risk of headaches, muscular pain, fatigue, and dry skin.

small1

Cheers!

Be more active:

It’s very common for people to go on a fitness drive after the holidays. It’s a brilliant move to try and get into exercise, but often, we try and do too much too soon, and we lose interest and motivation. You don’t have to join the gym and go every single day to get in shape. You can increase your fitness gradually, and you can try a whole host of activities. If you know you don’t enjoy running on a treadmill or spinning, consider joining a sports team or trying classes like boxing, Pilates, or high-intensity interval training.

Aim to work out a couple of times a week, and increase the frequency as you get fitter and stronger. Exercise is often used as a means of shifting festive pounds, but it’s so much more than a weight loss tool. Being active reduces your risk for lots of serious physiological health issues, such as diabetes and heart disease, and it’s also proven to lower the risk of depression, stress, and anxiety.

If you’re on a mission to get your health back on track, start by taking small steps and setting manageable goals and watch yourself succeed!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Quick & Easy Skin Care Tips

Standard
Quick & Easy Skin Care Tips

Caring for your skin doesn’t need to be complicated. You simply need to adopt the best skincare routine, use the right beauty products, and avoid items that could cause an unwanted reaction that could damage your skin and dent your self-confidence. If you want to enjoy a clear, radiant complexion day after day, find out how to look after your skin easily with these tips:

Wash Your Face in the Morning and Evening:

If you want to have a clean and healthy glow every day, you must wash your face in the morning and once again in the evening. It should be the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning, and one of the last things you do before bed to keep yourself radiant. Once your skin is properly cleansed, then it can more fully accept the products you put on afterwards. As you build your beauty routine, research different options like skin-nomad.com or must try brands that your friends recommend. If you stick to your regime, you will be rewarded with a more radiant complexion.

Choose the Right Cleanser for Your Skin Type:

You also should pick a facial cleanser that is right for your skin type. For example, avoid products that contain benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid if you have either oily skin or acne. However, if you are living with dry skin, pick up a gentle, fragrance-free face cleanser for optimum results.

Turn Down the Heat in the Bath or Shower:

Hot water can damage your skin because it can strip away its natural oils, which can lead to dryness – so turn down the heat in the bath or shower. Try to only use warm water in a bath, and you would also be wise to limit your bathing time to just twenty minutes.

Try to avoid using fragranced soaps, as well, as they can be harsh on your skin. Once your bath or shower time is over, pat your skin dry instead of rubbing, and leave a little water on your skin so that it can soak up the excess moisture.

Buy Nickel-Free Jewelry to Avoid Irritation:

If you want to avoid an unwanted skin reaction, you should only buy hypoallergenic jewelry. Unfortunately, people living with a nickel allergy can struggle to find the right necklaces, bracelets, and earrings for their skin. Don’t make the mistake of triggering a flare up and turn to Blomdahl USA for fashionable, nickel free jewelry to complement your personal style.

Limit Exfoliation to Only Twice Per Week:

Many people make the mistake of believing that the key to healthy, clean skin is to exfoliate every day. But, this can be a huge problem, as it can seriously dry out your skin. If you want to scrub away dead skin cells to enjoy softer skin, you should limit exfoliation to twice per week.

Give a New Product Time to Work:

Unless a beauty product has resulted in an adverse skin reaction, such as a rash or redness, you should give it time to work. It can take time for you to feel the benefits of a fragrance-free moisturizer or cleanser, so have a little patience before you start seeing the desired results. If you use the product multiple times and experience little or no change, you should then look for a different option for your skin.

Skin care doesn’t have to be difficult and, with the steps above, you will be well on your way to a beautiful complexion in no time.

May 2018 Finishes

Standard
May 2018 Finishes

Hello everyone and TGIF! If you can believe it, another month is almost done here on lifewithlilred! And guess what that means – IT’S ALMOST MY BIRTHDAY! I will be turning 24 on June 7th, so do be sure to mark it in your calendars! 😉 But I digress, so let’s get on to viewing this month’s finishes:

mayy.jpeg

Would I Use Again?

  • Le Petit Marseiliais White Peach & Nectarine shower gel: YES
  • Simple Micellar Cleansing Water: YES
  • The Body Shop Satsuma scrub: YES
  • The Body Shop Vitamin C moisturizer: YES
  • The Body Shop Oils Of Life serum: YES
  • Tarte Amazonian Clay blush: YES

Why/Why Not?

LPM Shower Gel: This shower gel and brand in general is awesome. The White Peach & Nectarine scent was so invigorating every morning and, although this was a gel and not a creme, I was still left feeling moisturized after my shower. I finished this body wash in about two and a half months and I am looking forward to using the two other scents that I have by Le Petit Marseiliais soon!

Simple Micellar Water: Even though I am not a huge fan of micellar water, it is way cheaper than eye makeup remover so I am okay with it! I can’t say much for the Simple brand, because I don’t really like it. BUT, I just purchased a bottle of Garnier cleansing water, so we’ll see if I like that kind better. It took me close to two months to finish this bottle.

TBS Scrub: The scrubs from The Body Shop are a must for me when I am shaving and the Satsuma scent is always amazing! I got this as part of a Christmas gift and I got about seven uses out of one of the mini sized bottles.

TBS Moisturizer: I LOVED the Vitamin C moisturizer from The Body Shop. It lasted me two months, it sat well under makeup, and my skin felt nice and hydrated after each use. I would definitely use this again and I hope that they have it back at TJMaxx soon! 😀

TBS Serum: And, of course, I loved the Oils Of Life Serum from The Body Shop, too. One bottle lasted me for five and a half months of daily use, it sat well under makeup, AND MY SKIN FELT NICE AND HYDRATED AFTER EACH USE!!!!!! I am lucky, because I have one more bottle of this and I know that it will last me for close to another half a year!

Tarte Blush: Normally, I don’t write about makeup finishes, but this Tarte blush is different. I got it for my Sephora birthday freebie last June and I JUST FINISHED IT last week. This was my most used blush for the year. The color was gorgeous and I wish that it wasn’t just a one time birthday color. 😥

May brought me a lot more finishes than normal and it was fun being able to use up all of them – especially since I enjoyed each product so much!

Have you used any of the products seen above? What are your thoughts on them? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Adorable Garden Decor

Standard
Adorable Garden Decor

Hi! As you all can tell, I am loving all outdoor everything right now. Part of what comes with that is being friggen OBSESSED with Adorable Garden Decor. This includes garden gnomes, bird baths, wind chimes, pinwheels, the works. But, my favorite outdoor decor as of late has been anything solar powered. I have seen lovely flowers that turn into glowing blooms at night and bird baths that looks like the imaginings of fairy tales once it gets dark out.

At my home, we go for the simpler route and have our front area illuminated by one solar paneled lantern – and it looks awesome! Take a look:

lanternlantern1

I don’t know what it is about this outdoor decor that I love so much. It just looks so sweet to me – like something that should be in a picture book. At night, the lantern is surprisingly bright thanks to being hit by the sun’s rays all day. And, during the day time, it looks cheery and fun because of the chubby little gnome holding his butterfly balloon. It’s two completely different looks as the day transitions to night and I think that they both look great. 😀

Whether one’s outdoor decor is simple or something big and elaborate, it makes me smile all the same! How do you like to decorate your garden? Do you have any solar powered decor in your yard? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

The Art Of Simple Living

Standard
The Art Of Simple Living

With the world in somewhat uncertain times, and things like the fuel, food, and the cost of living rising, budgets are getting more and more stretched. So while this is going on, many people are looking to cut back in different aspects of their lives. In essence, they have been looking to live a more simplistic life, that can lead to being happy and healthy, in spite of all that is going on around them.

But what is simple living and how can you apply it in your life? In short, it is about living with the things that you need to survive and to make you happy; it is living a life without excess. We can so often confuse what our real needs are with the things that we want. Things like cable TV or processed fast foods are not necessary for living, but we often think that we need them. It might be easy to think that these kinds of things will help to make your life easier or better, but in many instances, this isn’t the case. So if this sounds like a type of living that you’d like to start embracing, here are some practical ways that you can bring simple living in at home:

Declutter:

One of the best things that you can do to start off with is decluttering. Whether that be looking for somewhere that does skip bin hire and throwing things out that you don’t need (or selling them) or decluttering your personal life, it can all help to give you some much-needed clarity. When you have a home that is filled with only the things you need, and not full of excess, it is a good place to start. It clears your mind and can actually be good for you.

simplee.jpg

Decluttering is key!

Establishing Wants And Needs:

As has been described, it is a great thing to distinguish between the wants and needs in your life. This can stop you from overspending and stop you from filling your life with excess. So get back to basics; what do you need in your life? If you write things down and make a list, it will help you to know the areas that you need to cut back on. Many people spend more than they think about, especially for things like socializing. Grabbing a coffee here or going for a drink there can all add up. Are they essential in your life, though?

One Step At A Time:

It is important to not give up everything all at the same time, especially if there are certain aspects of your life that are really essential to you. Being able to go the gym may be a vital part of your mental health and wellbeing, so that could stay in there. Some people enjoy going out to eat. While you could still do this, you could just get a main course, rather than a three-course meal, for instance. You’re just going for what you need to sustain you, and not wasting money or calories on excess.

Simple living is an amazing way to bring clarity into your life as well as saving some extra moolah!

Are You Struggling With Your Health?

Standard
Are You Struggling With Your Health?

Are you constantly feeling run down, as though you’ve got no energy left to do anything at all? It’s a common occurrence for people to start feeling like that. There are so many things that we could be doing to potentially harm our bodies, yet we carry on doing them. Even the littlest things like how much sleep we’re getting can dramatically reduce our health within a few weeks. But to get to the point where you feel as though you’re struggling with your health can be pretty worrying, so we’ve got some ways to solve the most common ways that people could be damaging their health:

Toxins:

The main reason why so many people struggle with their health is due to the many toxins that they’re including in their diet. It can be a range of things, but one of the most common ways we’re doing it is through the abuse of alcohol. A cheeky drink at the end of every day can so easily turn into an addiction, and an addiction can be hard to crack. One thing you might want to consider doing if you ever got to this point would be addiction counseling. It is one of the easiest ways to get out of the habit that you’re in, and it is always good to talk to someone about what you’re going through.

Depending on the level of your addiction, you might need something more intensive than counseling alone like an outpatient treatment center or a live in rehab. If this is the route you want to take, be sure to find a facility that fits your preferences. It could be a program that’s out of state, a rehab specific for men or a rehab for women, or a facility with a pretty view to inspire. You want a place that you can thrive so make some calls and take tours to find your best fit. It can feel scary to make a big change and taking tours of different facilities can help ease your mind. That way, you will know exactly what you’re getting into. Take the time to research different Drug and alcohol rehab centers and be proud of yourself. This is a big step!

Other toxins that so many of us are putting into our bodies is through food. We’re going through a time where people are skipping the vital vitamins and minerals from their diet, and replacing them with foods that are high in fats and sugars. If you want to get back on track with your health, consider changing to a diet that includes a lot of leafy greens and fruits.

Mental Health:

Struggling with mental health is something that countless people deal with and it’s important to know that you don’t have to face these challenges alone. Whether you are talking to a therapist or a trusted friend, confiding in someone can lessen the burden as can a course of medications prescribed by a psychiatrist. There are plenty of resources out there including telehealth, hotlines, and websites that offer guidance. The page for strong spirit strong mind is an excellent place to start as it offers ideas that can be easily done to soothe your symptoms. It also features the information to find professionals that specialize in the struggles you are facing. Taking care of your mental health is a big step and it will only benefit you.

Aging Problems:

Some things we can’t help, but it is just something that we go through as we get older. For example, menopause for women is not a nice experience to go through. A lot of women actually really struggle with the process, and it can make their health feel really low. There’s the sweats, mood swings, and fatigue, among many others to try and cope with. But, it is a natural aging process that can’t be stopped. Another, possibly more crippling problem, is arthritis. Again, something that can’t be avoided, but can be managed. The best thing to do is use anti-inflammatory gels to reduce inflammation and, more importantly, keep the joints active so that it doesn’t seize up.

Work Related Problems:

The work that we do sometimes can cause us the biggest issues. Even something that might seem so easy as sitting at a desk can cause us to struggle with our health. For one, you’ve got the postural issues to contend with. Sitting at a desk for hours a day will no doubt affect it, but you can get foam cushions that will support your back to keep it up right. Then, there’s the issue of weight gain if you’re a snacker at the desk. It might not seem bad in the beginning, but the lack of exercise during the day coupled with a poor diet will eventually equal weight gain. Try and stay as active and healthy as possible by walking around the office and standing every hour to stretch after a stint in your chair.

Lifestyle choices can be altered and can improve your health for the better, one simple change at a time.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Simple Ways To Make The House Safe

Standard
Simple Ways To Make The House Safe

Your home should be a fortress of safety for you and your family. It is the place we keep everything which is important to us and because of this, we should keep it safe and sound. If you are looking to make your home a little safer this year, here are some easy ways to do it.

Secure the front door:

The first way to keep your home safe, is to make sure that the main entrance is totally secure and safe. Your front door is the most crucial door in the home to keep secure, so it is worth investing a little extra money to make sure that you get the best one possible. Instead of looking for a hollow door, go for one that is solid and this will make things much safer for you and help to put your mind at rest.

Secure the windows:

The windows are the main place where burglars will look to enter the home. This is the reason why it is so important to make sure that these parts of the house do not serve as weak spots for them to get inside and harm you. To secure the windows, you will need to invest some time and energy. If you can place a metal rod on the track, you can also prevent them being opened from the outside.

Tidy the garden:

One of the things which people don’t think about is that the appearance of your home from the outside can tell a potential burglar a lot about you. For example, if your garden is overgrown, wild, and messy, this will suggest that no one lives here to look after it and, therefore, it will become an easy target for thieves. Make sure you tidy your garden and keep it trim to prevent this from happening. Another reason to trim the garden is so that there are no hiding places for thieves to wait. This will deter them from coming to your home because they are more likely to be caught.

Know your neighbors:

Not enough of us spend time getting to know our neighbors, which is a crying shame really. The sense of community we once had isn’t quite there any more, and this can be dangerous for your home while you are away on holiday or out of town. By getting to know your neighbors, you build that level of trust needed where you can ask them to watch out for your home when you go away. This is incredibly useful and is something which you want to work for.

Don’t give thieves a chance:

The easiest way to deter would be criminals is to install a security system which they can see from the outside of the home. The first thing to add would be motion sensor lights on the perimeter of the home which light them up if they come near your “fortress”, most of the time this will immediately stop criminals from trying to break in. Extra precautions are security cameras on the outside of the home, an alarm system on the inside, and even a panic button in case thing get nasty.

Everyone deserves the utmost safety in their home, and the above tips can definitely help to achieve that!

Featured Image By: Public Domain Pictures

Easy Peasy Scarecrow Costume Makeup

Standard
Easy Peasy Scarecrow Costume Makeup

Hi everyone and welcome to a simple and sweet scarecrow costume makeup tutorial compliments of my friend, Sarrah, from Vegan From Mars. Sarrah created this look special for the readers of my Halloween Heaven guest bloggers series who are in need of a fast and cost friendly costume. So grab your blue jeans, a huge flannel, and braid your hair and follow this step by step guide to becoming the most adorable scarecrow at the Halloween party that starts in two hours!

Easy Peasy Scarecrow Costume Makeup

Hello friends! Halloween is upon us and it’s time to get creative. I’ve come up with this super cute scarecrow makeup look for those who want to keep it simple or are not the most skilled with a makeup brush. It’s insanely easy – just five steps! And the best part? You can complete this look with the makeup that you already have in your collection (I only had to buy one product!).

scarecrow1

Step By Step:

Step 1: Do your makeup how you normally would. For me, that means a tiny winged eyeliner, some mascara, and the lightest of all light contours. Now you’re ready to get spooky-cute!

Step 2: Start by smiling. That’s right, look right in the mirror and give yourself a big smile. You see the cute apples of your cheeks? You’re going to draw big orange circles right there. I used a light orange from my Wet N’ Wild “Brights” paint palette to get the shape down. Then, I went over it with the Wet N’ Wild Liquid Catsuit liquid lipstick in the shade “Terrifying Tangerine”. I used this same technique on my lips.

Step 3: Take any black eyeliner (I recommend any liquid eyeliner) and draw a curved line from the corners of your lips to your new circular orange cheeks. Then, draw vertical lines along that line to form your stitches.

Step 4: Using the same technique as your cheeks, use your orange color to fill in the tip of your nose and bring it to a slight point towards the top. Afterwards, trace around the shape you just made with the black eyeliner and draw stitches along the outline.

Step 5: Use this time to add any finishing touches and little details! I added some stitches to my forehead. I also took white liquid eyeliner to add a little dimension to my nose, cheeks, and lips.

And that’s all, folks! I hope you loved this quick tutorial and will try it out for yourself!

^^^ Many thanks again to Sarrah for creating such a darling makeup look for my Halloween Heaven guest bloggers series! Lil Red is so not a makeup girl and this tutorial gave me hope that I, too, can pull together a fun and cute costume if my Halloween activities this year calls for it!

What are some costume ideas for those who have no idea what they’re going to be yet? What are some other simple and sweet last minute costumes? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

August 2017 Finishes

Standard
August 2017 Finishes

Hi everyone and welcome to my August empties! Today, we have quite a few skin care and bath and body products, as well as a mascara to discuss, so let’s get to it:

august.jpeg

Would I Use Again?

  • Softsoap Juicy Pomegranate & Mango Infusions body wash: YES
  • Bath & Body Works Mango Mandarin body spray: YES
  • Simple Micellar Cleansing Water: MAYBE
  • Bath & Body Works Pretty As A Peach lotion: YES
  • The Body Shop Vitamin E moisturizer: YES
  • Lancome Monsieur Big mascara: MAYBE

Why/Why Not?

Softsoap Body Wash: I would absolutely use this industrial sized body wash again. It lathered well, smelled amazing, and was great for bubble baths. Not only that, but the value was excellent, as it took me three months to go through it. I think that Softsoap shower gels are underrated and I always really enjoy using their products, so more for me, I guess!

B&BW Body Spray: You guys know that I love me my Bath & Body Works! Whenever B&BW has their summer sale, I always stock up on my Country Apple and Mango Mandarin body sprays because you can’t beat three bucks a pop for five months of use! I like layering this scent with my Satsuma body spray from The Body Shop for a longer lasting fragrance. The Mango Mandarin scent was perfect for the summer time, but now it’s all about the Country Apple with fall coming in hot.

Simple Cleansing Water: I feel very meh about Micellar Cleansing Water. I genuinely don’t understand what the big deal about it is, so it just makes using it kind of disappointing. It took me a month of daily use to finish this product and I can’t say that I noticed any differences in my skin or even remotely enjoyed using it, for that matter. I labeled this product as a “maybe” for using again because it acts as a pretty good makeup remover, but that’s about it. Whomp whomp. -___-

B&BW Lotion: Anyone who is a true lifewithlilred fan will know that my two favorite scents are anything apple or peach. With that in mind, of course I would use this lotion again! I got this product as one of my B&BW freebies so it didn’t cost me a penny and I got about six full body uses out of it. I love the sweet and fresh scent of this lotion and it left my skin feeling creamy and hydrated. The Ultra Shea ingredients for Pretty As A Peach were no joke, and my body felt like peaches and cream perfection after a nice, long bubble bath. Freaking love!

TBS Moisturizer: You guys know the drill for this product already. It took me a month to finish, I would use it again, blah, blah, blah.

Lancome Mascara: I got the sample size of Lancome’s Monsieur Big mascara from Ulta for my birthday and I really liked using it. It took me a little over a month to finish up the tube, which I would say is pretty good for a sample size. I thought that the length and volume that it gave my eyelashes was excellent, but I do wish that it would have been more black in color so that’s where points get taken off, for me. Regardless, if given the opportunity to use this mascara again, I would, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to buy it.

All in all, August was a really successful month for finishes. I got to use up a lot of products that were taking me forever to complete, and I got to start some goodies that I’ve been looking forward to using because of that. Here’s to more amazing empties in September!

So there you have it, my August 2017 Finishes! What products did you finish up this month? Has anyone used any of my empties before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah