Tag Archives: style

Crop Top Cutie OOTD Bloopers

Standard
Crop Top Cutie OOTD Bloopers

Greetings, earthlings! How are you? I am currently in a state of freaking annoyed AF, thanks for asking. As I began typing this, a freaking fly that has posted up in my apartment was doing acrobatics around my head and it is driving me absolutely batty! It is seriously the most lousy roommate ever SMH. Woo… *Deep breaths* Okay! I know I could use a laugh so let’s get to this Blooper Reel, baby! Take a look at these yikes shots from my Crop Top Cutie OOTD:

I am an avid bookworm and try my best to finish at least two or so books per month. Whenever I have any spare time during the day, you can almost always catch me with my nose in a book! This past week, I began reading a book called Darkwater Lane by Rachel Caine and Carrie Ryan and was very intrigued by the plot. Then, about sixty pages in, I realized that something wasn’t quite adding up. Throughout the first handful of pages I read, the author was referring to plot points and characters that seemed important. I assumed that it would be clarified later but it kept on happening. And, as you all know, assume makes an ass out of U and ME!

Once I was fed up enough with feeling out of the loop, I decided to give the book a little Google and *face palm*. It’s no wonder nothing was making sense because it was the last book in a seven book series lololol. In my defense, there was literally nothing on the back of this book or its first few pages to indicate that it was part of a series so how was I supposed to know? In hindsight, I should have looked it up earlier but I was already invested! On the bright side, I have a new series to read and got the first book, Stillhouse Lake, from the library. Stay tuned for a Lil Red’s Book Club review coming soon and, in conclusion, SMFH.

This book blunder was a definite whoopsy daisy on my end so I guess the moral of the story is: Always check if you are starting a book at the end of a series first lol!

What is your favorite book series? Have you ever started a series not at the beginning? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Crop Top Cutie OOTD

Standard
Crop Top Cutie OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! I am writing this on Friday the 24th and TGIF, amiright? I don’t know about all of you but last week was a freaking DOOZY for me so bring on the sweet, sweet weekend and here’s to a more low key week! Mama needs it lol. I hope that wherever you are, spring is springing so hard and you are enjoying time in the great outdoors. It has felt SO good to go on long hikes again and my brother and I are already on our way to completing our third year of the Spring Hiking Spree. While the look you are about to see would be no good on the trails, it sure is cute! Check it out:

Crop Top: This was purchased forever ago at PacSun

Pantaloons: Oat New York, TJMaxx

Embroidered Platforms: Sbicca, ModCloth

I think the earrings are from Target?

When it comes to styling OOTDs, I always begin building an outfit around a focal point. In this case, it was my new Oat New York pantaloons from my most recent TJMaxx trip. I am absolutely in love with these bad boys and was so excited to break them out! As you all know, I am a sucker for all things embroidered and those flowers adorning these slacks are such a fun and unique touch. While I basically live in skinny jeans, I do enjoy a slouchier fit and the straight leg of the pants provided wiggle room without looking oversized.

My rule of thumb when I am wearing a looser fit is to always pair it with something tighter so I am not drowning in the look. So, I chose an itty bitty crop from my PacSun days to wear on top. How adorable is that “he loves me, he loves me not” motif? This crop top is literally as old as dirt and I hate to age myself but it is probably close to fifteen years old. Lol, I refuse to part with it because I just like it so much! And, it comes in handy for OOTDs just like this!

In the shoes and accessories department, I opted for a fabulous pair of baby blue embroidered platforms by Sbicca. The light tan threading on the embroidered flowers was an almost perfect match to the pants and that really pleased me. 😀 It also added a nice little pop of color to an otherwise neutral palette. In the spring and summer, I like to let my tattoos do all of the talking for accessories since they spent the fall and winter covered up. I swear, when it warms up I genuinely forgot I even had half of the tattoos that I do lol. A simple pair of cross earrings was the move and, with that, I was ready to rock!

Simple, sweet, and a look that can be easily replicated this Crop Top Cutie OOTD had me swooning!

Do you have any embroidered clothing in your wardrobe? What are your favorite colors to wear in the spring? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

So Spring OOTD Bloopers

Standard
So Spring OOTD Bloopers

Howdy everyone and welcome to the Blooper Reel from my So Spring OOTD! I love creating content of all kinds but OOTDs just hit different as they are a triple whammy. I’ve got the pics that definitely made the cut, the yikes shots, and a little TikTok video for good measure. OOTDs are where my creativity and personality truly shine – especially in the bloopers! I am a huge goof and am always laughing at myself and it just makes me happy to showcase that. What fun is life if you can’t have a chuckle at your own expense? Let’s all have a titter together with these shots:

When I was FaceTiming with my blogging bestie last weekend, we took a trip down memory lane. We always have to discuss which shows we’re binging and DVDs were brought up. We both agreed that two decades ago, our minds would have been blown if we knew that all of our favorite entertainment would be collected onto streaming services. We had fond memories of visiting the library to check out movies, hitting up BlockBuster for rentals, and treasure hunting in the DVD bargain bin at Walmart. The last example definitely hit hard for me.

When I moved into my first apartment, all I had for entertainment was a small TV, DVD player, and a handful of movies to watch on repeat. As I was ballin on a budget, I straight up refused to pay for streaming services and I couldn’t even if I wanted to because the TV was old as dirt. To rectify this, I became obsessed with the five dollar DVDs at Target, Walmart, or 5 Below. Whenever I visited any of those stores, I always walked away with a couple of new movies to add to my collection. Then, I would go home, cook my dinner, and watch whatever I selected.

Was it the most practical? Not really. However, I was so proud and happy with my little dollhouse apartment and my after work movies quickly became my favorite tradition. When Johnny and I started dating, he introduced me to his plethora of streaming services and our running joke was that it was the only reason we were together. It’s totally true! Lolol, I am totally kidding! Despite the streaming services we have now, I still have my DVD collection proudly displayed and it was so much fun to reminisce on them with my best girl. Should streaming services ever go extinct, I have a healthy five dollar movie selection on standby! 😀

It’s so crazy to think about how entertainment has changed since the 2000s and my chit chat and DVDs hit me right in the nostalgia!

Do you still have DVDs at home? What is your favorite streaming service? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

So Spring OOTD

Standard
So Spring OOTD

Howdy! Spring weather in Ohio has been flip flopping hard and I honestly can’t keep up. It goes from the seventies to the thirties in a snap and it’s just all around confusing and, frankly, annoying lol. It is impossible to get the apartment to a comfortable temperature and it is always too hot, too cold, and never just right. Where’s Goldilocks when you need her?! On the blessedly warm days, it has been so nice to break out some spring clothes like the ones in this super cute OOTD. Check it out:

Cami Top: Banana Republic, TJMaxx

Mini Skort: Kyodan, TJMaxx

Platforms: Free People, TJMaxx

Earrings: You can’t really see them but they are made out of Lego by AbbieDabbles!

Both bracelets were purchased forever ago from Aerie!

This little look is simple and incredibly easy to replicate but oh so much fun! When it comes to dressing for the warm weather, a skort/cami combo can’t be beat to keep cool AND serve fashion. I started this OOTD by browsing in my cami collection and decided on an adorable floral number by Banana Republic. I just love all of the sweet colors that this top features and am a huge fan of the fit. The V-neck is high enough that I still feel comfortable in it and I really appreciate the thicker strap to keep my bra straps in check. I never really care if I have bra straps showing but this top conceals them perfectly making this look girly sweet over sexy chic.

Next on the agenda was a skirt or skort and I picked one of my favorites by Kyodan. The skorts I own from this brand are meant to be worn playing tennis. I don’t play tennis nor do I have the desire to but this skort still serves! See what I did there? I freaking loves me a skort and actually just added a new one into my wardrobe. They are just right for being on the go and not worrying about a sneak peek of my underoos lol. This stark white skort made all of the pretty colors in the cami pop even harder and provides such delightful movement. I loved shimmying and shaking in it when I went to see The Struts last year! 😀

Finally, it was onto shoes and accessories. For shoes, I opted for a darling pair of platforms by Free People. It was a close match to the red flowers in the top and tied this look together from head to toe. I also can’t get enough of those studs and the wrap around strap! In the accessories department, I went for the cutest pair of Lego earrings. They have a ladybug sitting on top of a green leaf and, although you can’t see them, I know that they’re there and that’s good enough for me. I added a few cuff bracelets to the mix and was ready to rock in my So Spring OOTD!

The weather might be ping ponging but no matter what the forecast shows, I am always ready to style for whatever season the day may bring!

What does a typical spring outfit look like for you? What is spring weather like in your neck of the woods? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

New Chrome Riot Skort

Standard
New Chrome Riot Skort

Hi! I have been enjoying updating my spring wardrobe and it’s always fun to add in a few new pieces to shake things up. Yesterday you all saw the beautiful Lark + Grey dress that I purchased from Ross and I also walked away with one of my favorite spring and summer staples: The skort! I don’t know about all of you, but I LOVES me a good skort. No one is any the wiser that the majority of skirts I own actually have shorts underneath and I like the comfort that they provide. It’s nice to know that I can go about my day without anyone getting a sneak peek at my underoos lol. 😀 This Chrome Riot number is going to be perfect for a date night out and I can’t wait to rock it! Take a look:

Like my new dress for an upcoming wedding in May, I knew that this skort was an instant winner. The price was right too as it was only eight dollars. Yes please! This is a relatively simple piece but that lace just hits different. There are several different kinds of lace – dreamy and ethereal, classic and timeless, and sexy too! This lace definitely falls under the sexy category and I am so excited to break it out on the next date night with my main squeeze. Fine dining at Taco Bell, perhaps? *Fingers crossed*!!

Although this skort can definitely be worn for play with a cute crop or tank, my date night fit will feature a lovely black lace cami top by mittoshop. It is a bit flowy but that is no matter because I plan on wearing it tucked in to form a pseudo dress. For the shoes? A darling pair of Nine West kitten heels with an adorable pop of bling! When I try clothes on, an outfit comes to mind like a That’s So Raven vision. This is the look that magically appeared and I just know it’s going to be fab. Keep your eyes peeled for a brand new OOTD showcasing my Chrome Riot skort soon!

For just a little over twenty dollars I walked out of Ross with two new gorgeous additions to my wardrobe. And, I have to say it, I am SO sorry, TJMaxx. I will be back soon, I promise! ❤

How would you style this skort? Do you have a date night coming up soon? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

New Lark + Grey Dress

Standard
New Lark + Grey Dress

Howdy! Although I am a TJMaxx girl through and through, I do love popping into Ross from time to time. My family will be attending a wedding in May and I wanted to find a pretty little something to wear to the ceremony or the reception after. I scored big time because I found the perfect dress for the reception and it only costed thirteen bucks! Talk about a steal!! I cannot wait to dance the night away in this adorable ruffly, polka dotted number by Lark + Grey. Check it out:

The racks of dresses at Ross were jam packed and I was very hopeful that I was going to find something that spoke to be amongst all the fabric. For the most part, there was a whole lot of nothing. Then, my eyes locked on my Lark + Grey dress and it was game on. When I am shopping, I tend to know instantly if something is going to work or not and this was an instant winner. In fact, I was SO confident in this dress that I almost didn’t even bother trying it on. Of course I did anyway lol because that would have been breaking my “always try clothes on at the store” golden rule!

This dress was even better than I imagined once it was on. I just love the fitted tank top into that glorious cascade of gauzy, ruffly, polka dotted goodness. I am all about clothing that offers a unique silhouette and the one this dress provided is insane! The movement of this dress is just divine and visions of me cutting it up on the dance floor swirled in my head. Sans falling like what happened at the last wedding I attended! SMH. I plan on pairing my Lark + Grey dress with a darling pair of Barbie pink platforms by Marc Fisher and I cannot wait to show you guys the end result. I hate to toot my own horn, but I know for a fact it is going to be magical!

I feel a little bad about cheating on my beloved TJMaxx with Ross but I know TJs will understand because this dress was just too good to pass up!

Do you prefer Ross, Marshall’s, or TJMaxx? Do you have a special event to attend soon? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

If The Shoe Fits: Shein Wedges Edition

Standard
If The Shoe Fits: Shein Wedges Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of If The Shoe Fits! My family is attending a wedding in May and I was hoping to find a new dress for it the last time my mom and I went to TJMaxx. I did find a dress and it was perfect. However, it was much too big and that was the only available size. When I got home I scoured the internet to find the dress and order it. The only one I could find was on Poshmark for a whopping seventy dollars and that was a definite no go. I did end up finding a look alike on Shein and it worked great! I also couldn’t resist ordering these funky wedges on the cheap. Check them out:

^^^ Still confused about this clasp. Help!!

When it comes to shoes for spring and summer, I like unique wedges and platforms that I can just slip on and go. These wedges from Shein really caught my eye because I loves me a chunky heel and that olive green color is so cool! This was my first time ordering anything off of Shein and, honestly, I don’t plan on doing it again but I just needed that dress. I can’t wait to show you all! Of course, with any fast fashion website quality is always the concern and these wedges were very average. They’re sturdy enough to feel comfortable but do I anticipate them lasting longer than this summer? Hard no. Will I be wearing them until they fall apart? Absolutely!

Quality aside, I like everything about these wedges. Except for one thing… How in the HECK are you supposed to attach the straps?! I have never seen anything like it before and it is essentially a clasp and a buckle. It’s a major head scratcher for sure! The only thing I could figure was to put the clasp right in the middle of the buckle because that was the only way to keep it together. Or is it? I have no idea! When I discovered this anomaly I immediately went to the reviews to see if other people mentioned it and literally no one did. I’m not sure if I got a dud or what but I guess the buckle clasp method is how I will wear these shoes.

You truly never know what you are going to get on a website like Shein. I was expecting minimal quality but not expecting the challenge of attaching ankle straps SMH!

Does anyone have any idea what do to about these straps? Have you ordered off of Shein before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Random 5 Below Finds

Standard
Random 5 Below Finds

Hi there! Johnny and I delight in being the fun aunt and uncle and love spending time with our nieces. This past weekend we took our middle niece out for a special morning before meeting up with her big sis, mama, and their Uncle Andrew to see the new Mario movie. Our little was so sad she couldn’t join us for her sister’s birthday treat day and we promised to take her on a solo outing ASAP. Before the movie we shopped till we dropped at 5 Below, visited the animals at Petsmart, and went to Mickey D’s for lunch and Play Place time. It was a blast!

At 5 Below we let her pick out anything and everything and got some treats for ourselves and her sisters too. It was a full fledged shopping spree! As you all know, I loves me some 5 Below and just couldn’t say no to the following:

I saw the freaking hilarious Pitbull shirt the last time I was at 5 Below with a client. I was going to purchase it but they only had extra larges at the time. Am I a huge Pitbull fan? Isn’t everyone secretly? Lol I will be the first to admit that he has some straight BANGERS! During this shopping trip I was so happy to see that the sizes were restocked and I just had to get it. How could I not when it was only five bucks?! Mr. 305 happens to be coming to my neck of the woods in September and I am SO trying to go. I already know exactly what top I’ll be wearing! 😀

And, of course, the K-Pop Demon Hunters sticker went into the cart immediately to decorate my laptop with. My nieces love that movie so much and I do too! We are always listening to the soundtrack together and singing and dancing like crazy. It’s just pure joy and I honestly tear up every time I hear Golden because it makes me think of them. I adore the Huntrix girls and now I get to see them every morning when I work from home. This was the very last K-Pop Demon Hunters sticker on the shelves so we visited 5 Below at the perfect time. Great success!

These Random 5 Below Finds featured two very different musicians for sure. Future Mr. Worldwide/Huntrix collab? I think YES!

What is your favorite song from K-Pop Demon Hunters? How about Pitbull (lol)? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

New Democracy Blouse

Standard
New Democracy Blouse

Hello! Although I am not a huge fan of dressing for summer, I absolutely love dressing for spring. Spring weather is just the best because it’s not too hot or too cold so you don’t have to commit to bundling up or rocking shorts every day. I always enjoy updating my spring wardrobe with a few new pieces as blouses, cool slacks, and light jackets can be utilized across multiple seasons. During my last shopping trip to TJMaxx, I wasn’t sure what I needed to freshen up my outfits for spring. That was okay, though, because TJs told me what I needed. Like this new blouse by Democracy that I am obsessed with. Also, don’t mind the wrinkles – it needs ironed so badly!!

Like the pants you saw yesterday, I wasn’t sure what to think when I saw this top. It didn’t blow me away but I didn’t outright hate it. It was somewhere in between. However, the pale butterscotch color reminded me so much of my grandma. Anything yellow was her favorite! I, too, adore wearing yellow and it’s like a hug from her when I do so. So, into the cart it went! I genuinely wasn’t expecting this blouse to come home with me because I had several other tops to try on. To my surprise, none of them did anything for me while this little Democracy number was doing the most.

This top is such a light, breezy material which I love for spring and summer. What I don’t like, though, is when gauzy fabrics are too billowy and hide my figure. That is not the case with this top in the slightest. Despite the movement that the material provides, it fits close to the body while still allowing for a little wiggle room. And, of course, I can’t get enough of that embroidery and the rouching on the neckline and cuffs. You all know I am a sucker for anything embroidered! I can see myself sporting this top with a sweet pair of denim shorts for play and tucked into flouncy skirts for a date night look. Stay tuned for a brand new OOTD featuring this pretty little something soon!

With that, I think that my wardrobe is perfectly updated for spring. Until the next time I go to TJMaxx, anyways… !!!

What is your favorite color to wear? Is there a color that makes you think of a loved one? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

New Oat New York Jeans

Standard
New Oat New York Jeans

Hi! This past Tuesday my mom and I had a fabulous shopping trip to TJMaxx to scope out some prezzies for my birthday girl sister. And, of course, I had to scope out some treats for myself too! Spring has officially sprung at TJs and I was hoping to find a few new pieces to shake up my warm weather wardrobe. It’s always nice to have a couple of new things when the seasons change! I walked away with a gorgeous top and a funky pair of pantaloons by Oat New York. I am just as shocked as you are that these are not black skinny jeans! Take a look:

When I first saw these jeans on display, I couldn’t decide if I loved them or hated them. And, honestly, that is exactly what I like lol. If they don’t work then it’s no harm no foul. If they do, however, then I walk away with a totally unique item that other people might have passed by. When it comes to shopping, I say try on everything so into the cart they went. I wasn’t married to these bad boys either way but, I’m not going to lie, I was hoping they would work. They are so different from anything I own and I love introducing that variety into my OOTDs.

My hopes and dreams were answered when I tried these jeans on because they are everything! The fit is so exciting to me as they clearly balloon down the legs and taper at the ankle. There is nothing skinny about them and, I daresay, it felt good to branch out! And, of course, how cute are those embroidered flowers going down both legs? I am a sucker for anything embroidered and have many a top with my favorite details but no pants! As these jeans are such an exaggerated wide leg fit, my vision is to pair it with an itty bitty tank top to create a silhouette that makes the eyes dance. I can’t wait to rock them so stay tuned for a brand new OOTD coming soon!

Stick around for more from my TJMaxx trip – there may or may not be some marked down bunny decor too. Love that post Easter shopping! 😀

Are you giving your wardrobe an update for spring? What is your favorite season to shop for? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah