Tag Archives: style

Makeup Fun At MAC

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Makeup Fun At MAC

Howdy! A few weeks ago an old friend who works at MAC reached out to me to ask if she could do my makeup. I was so surprised to hear from her as we just kind of fell out of our friendship when I was in college. Surprised, yes, but really happy too! It was so nice to be thought of and I never pass up the opportunity to see old friends. Johnny and I made the trip to Southpark Mall in Strongsville for my girl to do her thing and it was magical. The only time I have ever got my makeup done was for my wedding so it was a huge treat. What was even better was that my makeup artist and I were able to pick up like no time had passed at all! Take a look at her handiwork and peep the OOTD with the special MOTD soon!

Makeup is, honestly, very unknown territory for me. I like the brands I like, the products I like, and the colors I like and never stray far from it. Part of it is out of habit but I guess the other part is that I would rather spend my money on new clothes over new makeup! As I sat in my makeup artist’s chair, I was dumbfounded by all of the products that she compiled to beat my face with. It confirmed that I really do know nothing about makeup lol but I couldn’t wait to see the end results. Each step was fascinating and it was wild to see so many techniques used because all I’m familiar with is my lack thereof!

Prior to my appointment, I asked my pal if she wanted me to wear anything specific and she said to wear whatever and she’d make it work. I decided on a 70s chic outfit and was so curious to see her takeaway from my look. What she landed on was a phoenix inspired MOTD and it absolutely blew my mind. I’m not going to lie, I was initially a little worried as the eye makeup was SO different than anything that I could manage on my own. Then, I saw the full effect and ate those worries right up. This MOTD was giving David Bowie a la Thin White Duke and I was feeling myself SO hard.

This makeup session was a blast from start to finish but it was, first and foremost, so impressive. As soon as I walked to the MAC counter in Macy’s, a vision came to my artist and she expertly saw it through. Every step was so precise, each color used was a perfect match, and she applied it like it was nothing. Not to mention she was applying it while we were chattering away too! I have a feeling that there will be many more collaborations in store for us and be sure to peep my TikTok at lilred6794 for more from this experience!!

I am in love with the look that we created together and can’t wait to see what we dream up next!! ❤

Where do you like to shop for makeup? Do you get your makeup done often? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

On The Go OOTD Bloopers

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On The Go OOTD Bloopers

Hello everyone and welcome to the Blooper Reel for my On The Go OOTD! This casual ensemble was worn for a birthday treat day for our birthday girl niece and we all had a blast. Well, minus me absolutely EATING IT when we were roller skating. As a former competitive figure skater, everyone makes the assumption that I would be good at roller skating. That is SO far from the truth lol. My niece was skating circles around me and when I fell I literally saw my life flash before my eyes. I was so sore the next day, had a ginormous bruise on my knee, and came to the conclusion that I think that’s enough roller skating for my lifetime! Smh. Take a look at these yikes shots and then let’s discuss an activity that doesn’t make me feel like I’m thirty-one going on ninety:

Johnny and I LOVE playing co op puzzle solving games together like Little Nightmares, Reanimal, and Unraveled Two. It’s so fun to work together to move our characters forward and we both revel in the challenge. We are always on the hunt for more puzzle games to play and It Takes Two had been recommended to us by several people. It was on sale this past week for eight dollars on the PlayStation store so Johnny purchased it for us. We played it all of Saturday evening this past weekend and it was a delight. The game play was very reminiscent of Unraveled Two, which is our all time favorite. Jumping, swinging, switching levers, and workshopping all options to move along. Yes, we were moving minus one glaring issue…

The cut scenes! For anyone who has played It Takes Two, did you actually watch the cut scenes? Lol, we sure as hell didn’t! We watched about five minutes of the opening scene that depicts two parents on the verge of divorce. We decided we would rather play the game than watch this sad, sad tale and promptly skipped over every one afterwards. From what we saw, there is a magic spell, a talking book, and a whole lot of other stuff that we just don’t care about. And the cut scenes just kept coming! Did this game really need a feature film too? Who’s to say? Did not watching them effect our enjoyment of the game? It made it even better! If you are looking for a fun puzzle solver, a depressing story, or both then we highly recommend It Takes Two. I can’t wait to play more! 😀

All of the arcade games we played with our niece during treat day definitely inspired the purchase of It Takes Two. Unfortunately, we just can’t win any horror plushies for beating it! 😦

What is your favorite puzzle solving game? What is your favorite arcade game? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

On The Go OOTD

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On The Go OOTD

Hi! The weekend of my new hair jamboree was a big one as the following day we were taking our niece for a birthday treat day. Fun n’ Stuff, which is an indoor attraction that boasts tons of arcade games, laser tag, roller skating, rides, and a playground, was the move and we had a blast! For my outfit, I wanted to wear something comfy enough to chase after my niece in but still cute because I wanted to take pictures lol. I didn’t get my hair done for nothing! Check out these pics from my On The Go OOTD and let’s discuss:

Hoodie: Forever 21

Leggings: These are Under Armor and a hand me down from my sister!

Heeled Combat Boots: Forever 21

^^^ I am just as shocked as all of you that I wasn’t wearing anything from TJMaxx!!

I rarely dip into my comfy wardrobe when I am out and about because I’m always trying to show out lol. However, given the circumstances, that is exactly the department of my wardrobe that I needed to visit! For a brief moment I played around with jeans and a cardigan but thought better of it, especially if we were going to be roller skating. And we most certainly did and I most certainly fell HARD smh. But that’s neither here nor there! In the cozy corner of my closet, I opted for a knee length hoodie from Forever 21 that says Killin’ It. I purchased this hoodie in 2016 and have been killin’ it every day since! Although this hoodie has lots of additional length, it is incredibly lightweight and was perfect for our afternoon of frivolity. I also like that it is slightly oversized without the bulk to keep me cool as we went about our adventure.

In the pants department, I went with a pair of hand me down Under Armor leggings from my sister that were a huge treat. I own leggings but they are all old as dirt and I never wear them outside of the house. These leggings fit like a glove while still being really breathable and are actually the best pair of leggings that I have ever worn. I loved the way they fit and they played up the bagginess of the hoodie as they hugged every curve. In the best way possible! 😀

I didn’t bother with wearing jewelry because I didn’t want to think about rogue earrings or bracelets falling off. So, I headed straight for the shoes instead. My favorite place to be! For shoes, I selected another Forever 21 number with the stark white heeled combat boots. They were nice and sturdy for all of the walking and running we did and tied the look together from head to toe. With that, I was ready to be On The Go with my lil bestie and main squeeze for a birthday bash!

No matter how simple the look, I always want to have some fashion fun. And, with that new hair, I could have been wearing a paper bag and no one could tell me NOTHIN!

What is your favorite brand of leggings? What is your typical On The Go outfit? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Faux Fur Fierce OOTD Bloopers

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Faux Fur Fierce OOTD Bloopers

Hello everyone and welcome to the Blooper Reel from my Faux Fur Fierce OOTD! These pictures were taken as soon as I returned home from getting my hair done and I am SO in love with the results. I always say that every time my stylist does my hair is my favorite but I honestly think this Spring Sunset palette takes the cake. It is just so good and I legit will never be over it. We like to change up my hair at every appointment but these new colors might have to stick around for a while because I can’t get enough! Unlike my fabulous new do, these yikes shots leave a lot to be desired lol check it out:

I don’t know about all of you, but Johnny and I LOVE watching game shows. Whether it’s Jeopardy, Family Feud, The Floor, or The Quiz With Balls we just have a blast playing along and revel in our success when we get answers right. Our newest favorite game show has got to be The Greatest Average American hosted by Nate Bargatze. We are avid fans of his comedy and were completely hooked after a few minutes of watching the first episode. The game is all about thinking like the average American when it comes to questions like “If you weren’t going to get injured, what would make the best story?” with options like getting struck by lightening, falling from a plane, or getting swept up in a tornado. If you answer in line with the people questioned, you are one step closer to winning the average American salary of $67,920. Even this amount is funny because classic game shows offer one hundred grand at least!

For the past several Thursdays we watch The Greatest Average American as soon as I get home from work and it’s just the best. Thursdays are my long days and I love being able to shake it off by tuning into something interactive and hilarious. Our favorite part of the show has got to be when Nate has to complete physical challenges including throwing footballs from a recliner or hitting wiffleballs into the audience. The piece de resistance, however, is Nate’s Favorite Things. Should the contestant win the grand prize, the audience wins one of Nate’s Favorite Things. It could be a Stouffer’s meal, an Uncrustable, or a package of Red Vines. Johnny and I would have loved to score the Applebee’s gift card as, like Nate, we appreciate a Middle Class Fancy meal too. 😀

If you are in the mood to have some fun, I can’t recommend The Greatest Average American enough. You will be in stitches!!

What is your favorite game show? Do you have weekly shows to tune into? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Faux Fur Fierce OOTD

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Faux Fur Fierce OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! I had too much fun getting my hair freshened up for spring at The Shear Shop last week. My stylist created the most dreamy Spring Sunset palette and I couldn’t wait to get home and show Johnny… And take pictures to show if off, of course! Whenever I return home from the salon, Johnny always greets me with “Who are you and what have you done to my wife?” and it never gets old. ❤ After he shared his usual Middle Class Fancy sentiments, I rushed to put together the outfit I was daydreaming about at the salon to get the content train rolling. Check it out:

Faux Fur Vest: Thread & Supply, TJMaxx

Bling Collar Button Down: H&M

Jeans: Gap, TJMaxx

Heeled Mules: Dolce Vita, TJMaxx

Snake Bracelet: Earthbound

Prior to my appointment at the salon my stylist and I will discuss what colors we are thinking so she can purchase them for me. Originally, we were planning on a paler blue called Blue Tux with the Shag Rug orange. Then, we pivoted hard! However, I definitely still had blue on the brain as my color sat and began styling an OOTD around my Thread & Supply faux fur vest. I absolutely loved the Blue Tux Pulp Riot dye and it actually closely matches the lighter blue in the vest but way more vivid. With that, I knew what must be done next.

Black jeans were a given, as per ushe, but what to wear underneath the vest? I toyed around with a few different options before landing on my blingy collar button down from H&M. This shirt is as old as dirt but I still love it all the same and that collar just adds so much fun to any OOTD. The faux fur vest is, without a doubt, a statement piece while the button down is a basic staple with a twist. That is exactly what I like and thanks to the collar, it was able to hold its own under the vest with that bedazzling that made this look even better.

Finally, it was onto shoes and accessories. For shoes, I went with a gorgeous pair of snakeskin patterned heeled mules by Dolce Vita. While I love the idea of a classic mule, mama needs a heel and these ones are perfect and feature my favorite animal print. They might not have been great for where we shot pictures because the skinny heel kept getting caught in between the wooden walkway but, hey, I made it work! To keep with the snake theme, I wore my new favorite snake wrap bracelet from Earthbound. My sister treated me to it when we were in New Orleans and I was so excited to bust it out. Last but not least, I put on a dangly pair of earrings with a big amber gem to play up the new tones in my hair. With that, I was ready to rock my new do!

I am an avid fan of faux fur and this fit turned out just as I imagined it. I love it when that happens! 😀

Are you updating your wardrobe for spring? Do you like to rock faux fur too? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Accessory Story: Earthbound Bracelet Edition

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Accessory Story: Earthbound Bracelet Edition

Howdy!! My sister and I had the most fantastic time in New Orleans and it was such fun to explore the city with Kristen. Prior to our cousin’s Saturday evening wedding we shopped till we dropped in the French Quarter. We hit up plenty of markets and quirky souvenir shops and had to laugh at the random CVS because it stuck out like a sore thumb. There weren’t many chain stores to visit but we did end up stopping in Earthbound as we have never been there before and the closest one to us is an hour away. It was a cool, hippie chic shop that boasted clothing, decor, and beautiful jewelry. They were also running a buy one get one half off sale which was a score! Kristen ended up purchasing a lovely bracelet for her daughter and treated me to this dynamite snake wrap bracelet. Check it out:

When I saw this bracelet on display, I literally clutched my pearls. I absolutely love snake themed jewelry and have several pieces in my collection. None of them are like this one, though! Unraveled, this bracelet stretches two feet long and then you can wrap it up as a bracelet or a necklace. All of my bracelets are just cuffs and this number by Earthbound is the perfect jewelry embodiment of a real snake. The salesperson at the store told me they got the bracelet back in stock the day before and that they sell out very quickly. I can definitely see why!

As this bracelet was a bit pricier at twenty dollars, I told my sister I would buy it and get the bracelet she wanted for the half off price. Instead, she got it for me and it was just the sweetest! The whole weekend away warmed my heart and it was so special to have a memento from her to commemorate our trip. I have worn it several times since our mini vacation and it’s impossible not to smile about it. Not only is this bracelet insanely fun to put on but it instantly takes me back to all of the amazing memories we created. Spending all of that time one on one with my sister was the greatest gift I could ever ask for and this bracelet from big sis to little sis was the cherry on top. ❤

Tune in tomorrow to check out an OOTD featuring my new hair and this fabulous Earthbound find. See you then!

Which store has your favorite jewelry? What is your favorite kind of accessory? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

New Hair, Who Dis?

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New Hair, Who Dis?

Hello! After a long weekend of travel, I had a blessedly easy week as I was due at The Shear Shop on Friday to get my hair done. I had been chomping at the bit to transform my hair for spring! Prior to my appointment, Anna and I were thinking of a blue and orange palette using Pulp Riot’s Blue Tux and Shag Rug. Then, that plan turned on its head as soon as I was in her chair! Anna showed me an array of colors that she picked just for me and we were definitely on a similar wave length. We both came to the same conclusion that instead of blue, why not do purple? Anna said her inspiration was a spring sunset and that perfectly describes the color palette we ended up using. Check it out:

^^^ Lol idk what I’m doing here but you can see the colors really well!

Top Left: Satire

Top Right: Shag Rug mixed with Lava

Bottom Left: Jam mixed with Lilac

Bottom Right: Pyro mixed with Fireball

Prior to this appointment, my hair featured a peacock palette with red, blue, and teal and I washed my hair every day to try and lighten the colors as much as possible. Pulp Riot’s formula has changed to increase the dye’s longevity and after multiple hair washes, the colors were still quite vivid. We were genuinely worried that the bleach wouldn’t lift all of it to achieve the spring sunset palette but we just had to give it a try. We let the bleach sit with no heat for about fifteen minutes and then turned on the heat for ten more. And you know what? It worked! There were a couple random spots that Anna needed to bleach again but by the time we were done, my hair was pale blonde and ready to rock.

Once the bleach was washed out and we could breathe easier, it was onto painting the hair. Anna and I were most excited because Pulp Riot brought back one of our favorite colors – the gorgeous marigold Satire and it was just what we needed for a sunset inspired look. We always mix Pyro and Fireball for my red and Satire is fantastic as is. However, both Jam and Shag Rug needed an extra dose of vividness. So, Anna created custom colors to brighten them up by mixing Lilac into Jam and Lava into Shag Rug. That was much more like it!

Rather than do our usual horizontal application of the dyes, Anna and I wanted to switch things up by going vertical. To frame my face, we used our red concoction and I love having that Lil Red right at the forefront. She painted underneath my hair and on top with strips of Satire and the Shag Rug + Lava combo. Then she painted the back half with the Jam + Lilac. She also applied Satire to the ends of my hair so we could get that pop of yellow the whole way through. All that was left to do was sit and wait for an hour as we eagerly anticipated the grand finale…

And this finale definitely deserved a standing twenty-four hour ovation because holy WOW! We were both amazed that my hair went from peacock to sunset in an afternoon because getting it all out with bleach was so up in the air. Everyone at the salon was oohing and ahhing and for good reason – this new do is everything! My hair feels strong and healthy and I will never be over the custom colors that Anna created. I am the only client of hers that she does funky colors for and she nails it every time. I am SO lucky to have her as my stylist and friend for over two decades!! ❤

Shout out to my wonderful stylist for creating this spring sunset magic. I am totally and completely obsessed!

How often do you dye your hair? Are you changing your hair color up for spring? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

New Orleans Wedding OOTD

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New Orleans Wedding OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! The weekend of Friday the thirteenth was a fantastic one as my sister, Kristen, and I were in New Orleans to celebrate our cousin’s wedding. We went to a wonderful pre wedding party on Friday and then the big show happened on Saturday evening. The wedding was absolutely beautiful and we even got to parade through the street after the happy couple said “I do”. It was way cool! It was such fun to get dressed to the nines with my sister and be with our extended family and new friends. Take a look at what I wore and let’s discuss:

Floral Dress: ModCloth, Coconinno

Fringe Shawl: TJMaxx, Laundry

Gloves: These belonged to Johnny’s grandma!

Heels: Steve Madden, Kohl’s (I think!)

I think the earrings are from Target!

Outside of going to Playhouse Square for a play or musical, I rarely have the chance to get super dressed up and definitely took advantage of the wedding to do so. Styling formal wear is something that I get to do maybe once a year and there is no better occasion than a wedding to get all dolled up! For my wedding look, I started with a gorgeous dress by Coconinno. I actually wore this when my oldest brother got married over ten years ago and am very glad it still fits lol. From the fitted top to the a-line skirt and the stunning medley of colors, this dress is so charming. This Coconinno number is also quite light making it ideal for a summer wedding or an early spring one in New Orleans. I just love the movement of the skirt and it was perfect for dancing the night away!

Next up was shoes and accessories. For accessories, I added a little bit of everything! First was an adorable fringe shawl by Laundry which is oh so pretty and unique. Although the dress could have been worn without it, the shawl covered up the bra area and I really appreciated that as I could attend the wedding without worrying about bra straps being visible. It also added movement to the top half of the look with the fringe bouncing with every step I took. I also decided to wear a pair of gloves that belonged to Johnny’s grandma which I thought looked so elegant. If you look closely, you can see that there are ruffles going around the wrist and it was yet another sweet detail that elevated this fit.

Last but not least for accessories, I added a pair of dangly three tiered black gemstone earrings. I styled my hair in a chignon inspired do and the gems looked so pretty as they danced around my bare neck. For shoes, I went with the very first pair of heels I ever owned – a strappy little pair by Steve Madden. I will never part with them and that is a good thing because they were exactly what I needed to wrap this OOTD up. That wooden heel is so funky and it was a thrill to hear them clacking across the brick sidewalks! With that, I was ready for a night to remember at the most lovely wedding. ❤

I felt like a star in this look and am so in love with how it turned out. The dress was already great but the accessories took it over the top!

Are you going to a wedding this year? Do you get the chance to rock formal wear often? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

New Orleans OOTD Bloopers

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New Orleans OOTD Bloopers

Hello everyone and welcome to the Blooper Reel from my New Orleans OOTDs! Be sure to stick around this week to see the actual OOTD post for what I wore to my cousin’s wedding. 🙂 Without my resident photographer, Johnny, my sister pulled through in the clutch to take my pictures and TikTok videos. It took a little bit of coaching for Kristen to get them just right but she was a quick study! Huge shout out to her for putting up with my nonsense not just with OOTD shoots but for always taking a selfie with me every other minute lol. Hey, sister time is a rarity for us so I had to milk it for all it was worth! Let’s get to these yikes shots:

After my cousin got married, we paraded around the street and it was absolutely amazing. The entire block was going freaking nuts and I think we all felt like celebrities during that five minute trek! Because the experience was so exciting, I wasn’t looking where I was going whatsoever. In the streets of New Orleans, that is a big mistake because their walkways definitely need some love. As I strutted my stuff, I was so unaware that I walked right into a pothole with a huge cone in it lol SMH. It was a shock to the system but I think I recovered beautifully and made the rest of the parade without further incident. That was to come later…

When the dance floor opened up after dinner and speeches, my uncle and I were cutting a rug. My cousin’s dad is the literal coolest and he is very tall and very broad. For the beginning of our dance, we were in perfect step and it really was lovely. Then, came the spin. Oh, that spin lol. We were dancing on brick and combined with that, my heels, and my uncle’s sheer strength without even trying, I completely ate it when he spun me out. I went from being on my own two feet, to in flight, to on the ground in two seconds flat. You guys, it was SO embarrassing I can’t even put it into words. In my defense, however, literally everyone said that my uncle straight up hurled me and that made me feel a lot better… Kind of. Once again, SMH!!!!!

Weebles wobble and in this case they fell down. But, hey, all that matters is that I got up again, right?!

Has anything embarrassing happened to you recently? Would you consider yourself clumsy? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Wedding Party OOTD

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Wedding Party OOTD

Hi! After my sister, Kristen, and I landed in New Orleans on Friday we were whisked away in an Uber to get to our hotel. We stayed at the Chateau Orleans and it was absolutely gorgeous. The staff was so wonderful, the decor was stunning, and the location couldn’t be beat as it was right in the heart of the French Quarter. We arrived at our digs around three thirty and relaxed until it was time to partay at a pre-wedding party for my cousin and his beautiful bride at the Napoleon House. It was such fun to get glammed up and let the good times roll! Take a look at the little look I put together for the celebration:

Polka Dot Slip Dress: Talia Benson, TJMaxx

Faux Fur Collar: St. Tropez, TJMaxx

Platform Heels: Bamboo, TJMaxx

The earrings were a Christmas gift from my blogging bestie!

I wanted to bring the drama to the pre-wedding party and I couldn’t imagine a better dress than this fabulous number by Talia Benson. It is one of my favorite dresses I have ever owned and I love it so much that I don’t even care about the slight difficulty getting it on and off. Those connected slip dresses can be tricky! This dress invokes my edgy girly style to the T and I felt like a star in it. That sheer mesh overlay, the dropped waist, and ribbon ties to cap the sleeve truly allow the eyes to dance as there is a lot going on but it still feels so cohesive. It was also the perfect dress to wear in the warm weather of New Orleans as the fabric was so light and breezy!

While this dress provided an excellent base, I wasn’t done yet and felt like something was missing. As I racked my brains on what I could add, I landed on faux fur and decided to pair it with an amazing lavender collar by St. Tropez. Regardless of if the dress had a pattern or not, it was still a neutral piece which meant that I could have some fun with accessories and I sure did! The faux fur collar elevated the dress to a whole new level and the silhouette it created was so striking. I have never paired this dress with the collar before and I can’t believe it took me this long to think of it smh.

For the remainder of my accessories, I chose a pair of sword earrings that my bestie gifted me with and it was like she was there for the party too. She is always very close to my heart! Finally, it was onto shoes and I went with a killer pair of platforms by Bamboo. They might have taken up a ton of space in my suitcase but it was so worth it because wow. That pop of red with the colorful embroidery made this look special from head to toe. With that, I was ready to celebrate good times in New Orleans!

There is a lot more fashion fun from my trip so stay tuned on lifewithlilred!

What do you normally pack on a vacation? Where is your favorite place to travel to? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah