Tag Archives: style

Oct30

Candy Queen COTD

Posted on October 30, 2024 by lifewithlilred

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD… or should I say COTD on lifewithlilred! Today, we are going to take a closer look at my Candy Queen Halloween costume. When I had the idea several months ago for a Candyland themed couples costume, we immediately fell in love with it. Johnny would, indeed, make a stellar Lord Licorice as you saw in yesterday’s post. My Candy Queen costume was one that was pieced together as there were no costume options for Queen Frostine or Princess Lolly. This hodgepodge costume stressed me out more than it should have, but it was well worth the headache – I felt like a star!

Who? What? Wear?

Candy Hearts Dress: Secret Wishes, Amazon

Candy Button Platforms: An online order by the brand B.A.I.T.

Giant Lollipop and Lollipop Earrings and Headband: Amazon

Wig, Pink Tutu, Thigh Highs, False Eyelashes: Spirit Halloween

After a lot of struggle, I finally ordered the Candy Hearts Dress and said a prayer to the fashion gods that it would work. This costume was my complete and total last resort. You could imagine the flood of relief I had when it arrived in the mail and I found that it was both cute and it fit! The only problem was that the skirt was insanely short, but I knew that ahead of time as per online reviews. My plan was to pair it with a tutu underneath to keep everything from hanging out lol. As soon as the dress was on was when I started getting excited because I essentially built the rest of the costume in that moment.

While shopping for the dress itself wasn’t ideal, you know your girl had an easy time in the shoe department! This was a cake walk in comparison and I ordered the pair of Candy Button Platforms by B.A.I.T. after five minutes of browsing. There were SO many incredible candy themed shoes, but they were SO incredibly expensive. The platforms I chose were under fifty dollars, can definitely be worn outside of Halloween, and featured an iconic candy print. I was sold and can’t wait to wear them next summer! The colors in the shoes also perfectly matched some of those in the dress, which was a nice touch. 🙂

Finally, it was time to accessorize! The accessories are really what turned the pieces I had into a true costume. I knew that candy themed jewelry was a MUST and I also wanted a gigantic lollypop to hold to drive the point home. I ended up with a set that contained the candy headband and earrings, and everything was aces after I superglued some of the lollipops back on the band. I also got the slightly dented pink lollypop, but what can you do lol. Similarly to the shoes, the jewelry and props went from relatively cheap to very pricey and I went with Option A.

Spirit Halloween is where I purchased the remainder of the accessories which included the wig, tutu, thigh highs, and rainbow false eyelashes. The tutu was just what I needed for underneath the dress and I adored the tiered effect that it gave. The dress should have been made like that all along! And can we PLEASE talk about the wig?! You guys have no idea how weird it felt to actually have long, flowing locks. This wig was everything and I couldn’t imagine anything different for my costume. I was so lucky it was the last one available! I didn’t think this costume could get any sweeter until I put the thigh high socks on. And, of course, the final candy surprise was the rainbow lashes for the ultimate pop of color!

My Candy Queen COTD was everything I wanted and so much more. Stay tuned for some bonus pictures tomorrow because I love this look that much. See you then!

What is your favorite Halloween candy? What is the best Halloween costume you saw this year? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct29

Candyland Costume Reveal

Posted on October 29, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! This past Saturday, Johnny and I got dressed up in our Halloween’s best to pass out Trick or Treat candy in my parents’ neighborhood. Our couples costume this year was Candyland inspired with Johnny as Lord Licorice and myself as his Candy Queen. My costume was an absolute pain in my keister to put together after several trials and tribulations, but it was SO worth it. I am absolutely in love with the end result! Check it out:

After two failed attempts for a Halloween costume, I had to go with a last resort option for my Candy Queen dress. I wasn’t particularly thrilled about it until the look started to come together with the right shoes and accessories. Once I had everything I needed, I was feeling much better but still had that annoying thought that it wasn’t one of the two costumes that I really wanted. Then, I put on the costume in its entirety on Saturday and ate my words – my Candy Queen costume turned out perfectly and I was so glad that what I originally had in mind didn’t work out. If this COTD (Costume Of The Day) doesn’t scream “Candy Queen”, then I truly don’t know what does!

While I spent what felt like an eternity shopping for a costume that was just right, Johnny had no problem with his. Our running joke is that he literally just makes a costume with clothes he already owns and that was very much the case this year. He used his own pants, top, shoes, hat, and the jacket was compliments of my costume from last year. His only purchases were the wig, cape, and supplies from Menard’s to craft his own cane. My handy guy! Johnny looked amazing as Lord Licorice and he turned our old duds into a costume that fit our Candyland aesthetic to the T.

We had SO much fun creating our costumes and I am absolutely obsessed with how they turned out. That evening, we truly were Lord Licorice and a Candy Queen and all I can say is look out for next year. We plan on being Alice Cooper and Cold Ethyl!! (And, yes, chances are Johnny will be wearing a variation of his Lord Licorice costume lol!)

How did you celebrate Halloween? What did you dress up as? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct26

Autumn Errands OOTD Bloopers

Posted on October 26, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello everyone and welcome to the Blooper Reel from my Autumn Errands OOTD! During the work week, you are never going to find me with a full face of makeup or wearing anything but Misny Merch lol. The weekend, however, is my time to shine! Regardless of if I wear the outfit all day or change into my pajamas immediately after, it always feels good to get dressed up. In this look’s case, I was absolutely back in my PJs as soon as we got home from Spirit Halloween. Short lived, yes. Still cute? Definitely! Maybe not these pictures, though…

Howdy partners!!!!

When something is so funny you forgot to laugh

Awww shucks

Clearly about to say something REALLY important…

But it appears I lost it judging by this blank expression lol

As always, something STANK

NAILED IT!

Having a partner who revels as much as I do in Halloween like Johnny is truly a gift. We live for it and no matter how we spend Halloween celebrating, it is never not a good time. One thing we particularly enjoy is helping out with Trick or Treat in my parents’ neighborhood as my apartment community doesn’t participate. We come armed with bags and bags of candy, Johnny prepares a big bonfire, and then we sit back for a viewing of the costume parade.

In my youth, my siblings and I would literally wear the exact same costumes every year until we outgrew them. They were all super generic, but no one could tell me NOTHING in my Discount Drugmart princess costume lol. It is a scientific fact that the costumes from our trick or treaters put my old duds to shame and there is nothing cuter than seeing all of the kiddos in their Halloween best. We have seen several noteworthy costumes throughout the years, but one specific instance always is the first to pop into mine and Johnny’s heads. There was a two or so year old dressed up as a cup of coffee and her parents were baristas. When we offered her the candy bowl, her parents asked her what piece she wanted. Then, the girl pointed her little finger and declared “DAT ONE”. We still find ourselves saying it years later!

I hope all of you are getting into the Halloween spirit and have the best, spooky time celebrating!

What are you doing for Halloween? What were you for Halloween when you were little? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct25

Autumn Errands OOTD

Posted on October 25, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! This past weekend was a pretty chill one because I had to work on Sunday at an event. So, Johnny and I opted to take it easy and continued to chip away at our 31 in 31 scary movie challenge for October. Before the movie marathon, we made a trip to Spirit Halloween to complete our Candyland themed costumes. It was a short errand, but one worth dressing up over in a fun lil fall fit! Check it out:

Who? What? Wear?

Chartreuse Sweater: Cynthia Rowley, TJMaxx

Skinny Jeans: 1822 Denim, TJMaxx

Heeled Boots: Olivia Miller, TJMaxx

The necklace was my mom’s and the floppy hat is Brandy Melville!

I would never, ever call my personal style “basic”. However, I do love me some basic fall fashion trends – flannels, huge knit sweaters, tall boots, and floppy hats too! Hey, when in Rome and the weather in Ohio is finally matching the autumn aesthetic I have been yearning for. In this particular instance, basic is honestly exactly what I was looking for as I built the outfit. I wanted something quick to throw on with minimal think work for what was an in and out shopping trip. So the Autumn Errands OOTD was born.

My first order of business was sweaters because I have countless ones that I have been dying to wear as the temperature continues to cool. The sweater I was most looking forward to breaking out was the chartreuse number seen above by Cynthia Rowley. It is my absolute favorite! I am a huge fan of anything chartreuse as it is so bold and unique and the stark white boxes on the sweater made it even more special. Chartreuse is one of those colors that scream “look at me” and it is such a nice change of pace from the normal burnt and gemstone hues associated with fall.

After pairing the sweater with a black pair of skinnies as the obvious choice, it was onto shoes and accessories to spice things up. I have several floppy hats in a variety of colors, but the mauve one spoke to me. Green and purple are complementary colors and even though the sweater and hat weren’t “true” green and purple, the sentiment remains the same. I then pulled from the muted mauve hue and selected a hand me down necklace from my mom. It is incredibly special to me and the choker fit with delicate purple crystals was just right against the faux turtleneck of the sweater. To complete the outfit, I slipped on a pair of my go to heeled boots by Olivia Miller and I was ready to go!

Despite changing into my pajamas immediately upon our arrival home, my Autumn Errands OOTD served its purpose well – albeit a little basically!

What is one of your cold weather staples? What is your favorite color to wear? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct23

Final Halloween Costume Sneak Peek

Posted on October 23, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! Johnny and I are going to be Lord Licorice and a Candy Queen for Halloween. You would think that such a fun costume would be a joy to shop for. That was, unfortunately, far from the case and it proved to be a massive pain in my nads. I ended up having to settle for my last resort costume and it’s cute, just not what I wanted. The candy button platform heels did help perk me up, though! We both needed a few finishing touches on our costumes so we made a trip to Spirit Halloween on Saturday. Thankfully, we managed to find all of our requirements because the store was already pretty picked over. And, thankfully, I am feeling WAY better about my costume now with these additions (Including some Amazon purchases!):

So the candy headband and giant lollipop both came from Amazon and 0/10 do not recommend. The lollipop came with a huge dent, as you can see, and also you just kind of had to shove the stick into the foam lol. The candy headband also came with a really cute lollipop necklace and earrings (Totes forgot to include those!) and the jewelry was okay. The headband, however, came with three popped off lollipops that I had to superglue back on. It all ended up working out, but it definitely added to the annoyance of my top pick costumes NOT working out.

While the accessories were going to help this costume, they weren’t going to make the look. So, I turned to Spirit Halloween to kick it up a notch. First on the agenda was a wig and I scored massively with a gorgeous pastel blue, pink, and lavender in long, curly tresses. It was also the last one in the store. NICE! Next was a tutu to add some volume to the skirt as well as provide some extra coverage to the very mini length! The pink tutu was also the last one available which was DOUBLE NICE and everything was coming up Lil Red.

The last order of business was thigh highs and eyelashes and things went down slightly lol. I was really hoping to find some pastel pink thigh highs but came up with nothing. The white ones will be okay, though, and I love the bows! For eyelashes, I chose a wonderfully rainbow set to pop against all the pastel. I left the store with *almost* exactly what I wanted/needed and it was a much needed great success after the struggle bus ran me over time and time again!

I am honestly so excited to put this whole costume together over the weekend. It was not what I originally had in mind but maybe that’s a good thing because I’m already obsessed!

What was your favorite Halloween costume? What is your favorite Halloween candy? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct19

Chilly Day OOTD Bloopers

Posted on October 19, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello everyone and welcome to the blooper reel from my Chilly Day OOTD! These pictures were taken before an amazing afternoon with my main squeeze. That day, Johnny and I drove to Burton, Ohio so he could be a featured musician on the PBS show The World According To Polka. It was the best experience and Johnny absolutely crushed. I always say that we are a power couple but that week further solidified the sentiment. While Johnny filmed for PBS on Monday, one of the videos that I shot for Tim Misny aired on CBS that Friday! How cool is that?! Thankfully, none of these yikes shots were on TV so, naturally, I put them on my blog instead. Lol, check it out:

WOW. Talk about a come hither shot! 😉

Disregard my roots that desperately need touched up… And my face.

Weebles wobble but they don’t fall down!

I’M SEXY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I appear to be malfunctioning so big ups to Johnny for capturing it

Who’s up for a game of Peek A Boo?!

A bow or a potential face plant? The world may never know! End scene.

During the work week, I feel like I am ALWAYS driving and that’s probably because I am. Driving to the homes of clients, driving clients, making the voyage to Misnyland, errands, appointments, it’s never ending. With the amount of time I spend in the Little Red Love Machine, you would think that I would listen to a book tape or perhaps a podcast. While Johnny loves them, they are not my bag at all. So, I opt for radio stations that play either rap (My favorite!) or Top 40 hits. Do I enjoy what I listen to? Not always – it often feels like there is literally nothing on. But, the music I do hear keeps me company and is familiar enough that I can perform solo concerts in my whip. It’s fun, keeps me alert and focused, and makes constantly being in my car something that doesn’t feel like a complete chore.

One thing that I have been living for recently as I listen to the radio is a new emergence of pop singers. IE: Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo, and Chappell Roan. I was born and raised on Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera and have never stopped loving them. These new gals on the scene bring such a fresh take to old favorites and I am so there for it. As soon as I hear ANYTHING by my three main baddies on the radio, it’s game over. I transform into lead singer, backup singer, and musician at the drop of a hat. I’ve got to say, I sound excellent (Not) and maybe Sabrina, Olivia, and Chappell could learn a thing or two from Lil Red (Still not)!!

It’s basically one person Carpool Karaoke all day every day for yours truly. It’s a lot, yes. But, when the jams are on nobody can tell me NOTHING!!

What is your favorite genre of music? Who is one of your favorite new artists? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct18

Halloween Costume Sneak Peek

Posted on October 18, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Howdy! It is no secret that Johnny and I revel in all things Halloween – not just during spooky season but all year round. We simply love it and, normally, something like costume shopping would be a complete joy. This year, however, was a totally different story because it proved to be a nightmare. I thought it would be easy as pie to find a costume inspired by sweet treats for our Candyland themed couples costume dreams. This was far from the case and I ended up striking out HARD twice before snagging my last resort costume. Is it what I really wanted? Not really. But, I think with the right accessories I will still be a Candy Queen yet! Check it out:

Prior to purchasing the Candy Heart costume seen above, I had two options that I wanted badly. The first one was rather expensive but I was willing to pay the top dollar price tag for it until I ran into Issue Number One. The costume was only available in what I guesstimated was my size on a website where all sales were final. Had I been absolutely certain that it would have fit, I would have went for it. Suppose it didn’t, though. Then I would be stuck with a too small costume, no way to return it, and my bank account would be down a pretty penny. So, Option One was a no go.

After having my first plan fall through, I had to pivot and scour through a million costumes I had seen before and hoping something new would pop up. What felt like an endless search resulted in me finding a costume I liked even better than Option One and I eagerly placed my order. Everything was coming up Lil Red for like a day and then… I got an email saying JK because my size wasn’t available after all. I was honestly crushed because the costume was perfect. It was exactly what I wanted, the price was nice, and I had all but forgotten the disappointment of failure for Option One.

With both of my desired costumes officially off the table, I was back where I started – with absolutely nothing. At this point, I was getting straight up pissed lol. In fact, I was ready to just throw in the towel and wear my costume from last year. Had I not made a premature announcement of our couples costume on social media, I would have! So, it was back to the drawing board and fruitless browsing, scrolling, begging, and pleading for something – ANYTHING that would work. You all know I live for online shopping, but this was getting ridiculous.

As I painstakingly searched through every corner of the internet for a candy costume, I came to the realization that I was just going to have to make do. Which brings us to the Candy Heart costume. It is super cute and I love the lace up front with the huge heart smack dab in the middle. While it is cute, it is also pretty basic lol. This is where shoes and accessories come into play. I found a darling pair of candy button platforms to wear with it, which I think will be simply charming. Then, I ordered a candy headband, a giant lollipop to hold, and a pair of lollipop earrings too. When Johnny and I visit Spirit Halloween this weekend, I will buy a pink tutu because the skirt is REALLY short, some sheer pink thigh highs, a pink wig, and pastel hued fake eyelashes. Like I said, I will be a Candy Queen yet!

Shopping for my Halloween costume was legit the worst and I am SO happy to be done with it. Although I had to settle for my last resort option, I still think this costume will offer Candyland vibes once it’s all put together!

What is your favorite thing to shop for? How about your least favorite? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct16

If The Shoe Fits: B.A.I.T. Candy Button Platforms Edition

Posted on October 16, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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If The Shoe Fits: B.A.I.T. Candy Button Platforms Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of If The Shoe Fits! Johnny and I are going to be sporting Candyland themed costumes for Halloween. He will be Lord Licorice and I will be a Candy Queen. I honestly thought finding a candy style costume would be like taking candy from a baby lol. Unfortunately, I was dead wrong and the hunt for the perfect costume was not only insanely difficult but insanely annoying too. However, finding the perfect shoes for the cause was a piece of cake! Check it out:

After several failed attempts for finding a Halloween costume to my liking, it was a gift for the shoe buying process to go without a hitch. I’m not surprised, though, you all know I am a shoe girl through and through! The hardest part of finding heels for my costume was narrowing down my options. There were an abundance of candy inspired shoes to browse through, each one cuter than the next. With great cuteness comes great cost or whatever Uncle Ben said because goodness me were some of them expensive. Then, I came across these adorable platforms by B.A.I.T. for under fifty dollars and I knew we were in business!

I went with this pair of candy dot platforms for a lot of different reasons. The price was nice and I also have a pair of mules by B.A.I.T. in my shoe boutique so the fit wasn’t a concern. The primary factor wasn’t either of these even though they were both important. The main selling point was the fact that I could absolutely wear them with an outfit that isn’t a costume. Yes, the candy dot motif is ideal for what I have picked out for Halloween but it wasn’t limited to one time use and that was very appealing. While I am overjoyed that it’s fall, I am kind of sad that summer is over now that I have these platforms. How fun would they be with a little pair of denim shorts?! 😀

I’m not going to lie, costume shopping was more disappointing than enjoyable this year. These platforms definitely helped perk me up and I’m happy at least one aspect of the process was blessedly simple!

What are you going to be for Halloween? Where do you normally purchase your costumes? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct14

Chilly Day OOTD

Posted on October 14, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! This past Monday was a really exciting day because Johnny was a featured musician on an episode of The World According To Polka on PBS. We took a day trip to Burton, Ohio to film with the Chardon Polka Band and it was an excellent, albeit chilly, time. Unfortunately, the OOTD you are about to see wasn’t quite warm enough for an afternoon of outdoor filming. Fear not, because I dethawed in the car afterwards lol. Check it out:

Who? What? Wear?

Poncho: Modena New York, TJMaxx

Elbow Patch Sleeve Sweater: Blu Pepper, Dry Goods

Skinny Jeans: 1822 Denim, TJMaxx

Heeled Combat Boots: BCBG, TJMaxx

The stud earrings were purchased forever ago at PacSun!

Other than being at the location and proudly supporting my husband, I had absolutely nothing to do with the PBS filming process. It honestly felt like a mini vacation because I am so used to being the one behind the camera filming content! As all I had to do was literally just stand there for several hours, I wanted to wear something that was comfy, cute, and would keep me some semblance of warm. With that in mind, I knew what needed to be done and began to browse the poncho department of my boutique.

I freaking LOVE a poncho for fall. They are so low key yet still manage to look chic and it’s nice to feel like you’re wrapped in a blanket! I chose a taupe plaid poncho by Modena New York. It is my favorite one because of the clasp on the front and adorable hood. The dusty colors are so autumn and it is a perfect piece to wear while strolling through crunchy fallen leaves. This poncho gives me Disney Princess in the woods vibes and I am so there for it!

For underneath the poncho, I selected a thin sweater by Blu Pepper with darling elbow patched sleeves. I am a sucker for anything with an elbow patch and this sweater is one of my go tos for fall. The color was just right for pairing seamlessly with the muted palette of the poncho. They were made to be worn together! Next, I put on a pair of black skinny jeans by 1822 Denim and it was onto shoes and accessories.

I opted for a no muss no fuss pair of army green heeled combat boots by BCBG (One of my favorite brands!). These boots are old as dirt but are still holding strong and remain a much beloved staple in my fall wardrobe arsenal. Like the Blu Pepper sweater, the boots enhanced my established palette and provided the extra height that I always require. Finally, I popped on a pair of huge stud earrings with giant roses in the middle and I was ready to watch my husband make music magic!

Although this Chilly Day OOTD would have been better if the temps were the slightest bit warmer, I still love how it turned out. Johnny and I had the best day! ❤

What are your favorite fall colors? Have you updated your fall wardrobe this year? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct10

Fall Flannels OOTD Bloopers

Posted on October 10, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello everyone and welcome to the blooper reel from my Fall Flannels OOTD! Today, we are going to take a look at the bad and the yikes that definitely didn’t make the first cut. Hey, every single picture can’t be a winner. In fact, sometimes I scroll through seemingly endless options that make me audibly say “woof” until I can find that diamond in the rough shot. Let’s see some of these said woof pics and then chat a bit about my most recent obsession…

The most fake ass laugh ever

I swear to stoned I’m not god

A simply electrifying shot

Not half bad! Ba dum chhhhhhh

My special “I’m feeling sexy” face 😉

TFYM when Johnny constantly asks if he can be done taking pictures yet. (The answer is a firm NEVER)

See ya next blooper reel! BYEEEEE!

When it comes to my preferences for TV shows, it’s a mixed bag. Yes, I love me my horror and true crime programs. I enjoy game shows, comedy series, documentaries, and political satire reports. I do, however, have a huge guilty pleasure – that being reality TV. Sometimes, I am just in the mood for something I don’t have to think about and reality TV checks all of those boxes. It’s mindless, can be funny, and always promises to be juicy. I take great pleasure in discussing these types of shows with my best girl, Kate. During our last FaceTime gab session, she told me about a show I just have to watch called The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. Right off the bat, I told her that sounded dumb AF but she insisted. Because I trust Kate with my life and TV choices, I decided to give it a go and… I. Was. Obsessed.

Long story short, this show is set up like a Desperate Housewives series and revolves around the Mormon gals of the popular TikTok channel, MomTok. As you can imagine with any close group of girls, things aren’t always what they seem and it was drama central. I was SO there for it and was hooked within minutes. The scandals, the different personalities, and all around different culture piqued my interest. What I liked best of all wasn’t so much the drama as it was delving into social media as I could relate to a lot of it being a professional myself. Before I knew it, I had binged the entire series and Kate and I are eagerly awaiting Season Two. I have ate my words about my initial sentiments on the show and am now recommending it to everyone. And, if you do or did watch it, hit your girl up so we can gossip!!

Just because The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is wrapped up for a while doesn’t mean there’s not still plenty of dirt going around and you already know I’ve been keeping tabs. Bring on Season Two, baby!

What is your guilty pleasure entertainment? What is your favorite reality show? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

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