Tag Archives: style

Jun26

New Gottex Swimsuit

Posted on by
Standard
New Gottex Swimsuit

Hello!!! As all of you know, I am a certified shopaholic. I pride myself on my own personal boutique room with a huge collection of clothes, shoes, purses, jewelry, hats, skin care, and bath and body care. There has always been one thing missing from my wardrobe, however. That being, swimsuits. Every year when the pool opens at Timber Top, my sister mocks me for having the same swimsuit for almost a decade. But, in my defense, my Victoria’s Secret bikini still looks great and also bathing suit shopping sucks lol.

For years and years, I have avoided swimsuit shopping like the plague. My thought process being that I’d rather spend the money on something that I can wear anytime. I have seen bathing suits that I like online, but they are SO expensive. And, many of the options in store don’t have a bra style top which is what I need to feel comfortable. Rather than order suits that might not fit and spending time being disappointed in a fitting room, I turned my attention to other things in the store time and time again.

During my birthday gift card shopping spree at TJMaxx, I decided I would look through the swimsuit section just to say that I tried. I was not expecting to find anything as it was very picked over already. So, you can imagine my surprise when I found a one piece option that might work if luck was on my side. I am writing about it now so, clearly, the summer fashion gods were in my favor. Check it out:

image_50424321(9)image_50417921(6)image_50398209(8)

When I found this little number by Gottex hanging on the rack, I thought it was too good to be true. This one piece is in a style that I LOVE with the frilly skirt bottom, it was in my size, and there was a bra clasp on the inside of the suit for the top. I didn’t let myself get too excited because that would have really bummed me out if I tried it on and it didn’t work. I definitely had some anxiety going into the fitting room because I didn’t want to mentally go back to all of those times that I tried a suit on and it didn’t fit. Then, I mustered all of the courage that I had and slipped it on…

AND IT WAS AWESOME!!!!!! Oh my GAWD was I happy when the suit was on and it was everything that I was hoping it would be. The straps were thick and supportive, the bra top was perfect, the rouching on the tummy was flattering, and the skirt was cute as can be. I loved the way my body looked and I loved the way I felt even more. In fact, if I didn’t have a late afternoon shift after my shopping, I would have headed straight to the pool to show off!

I am so thrilled with this purchase and I feel very confident in my new suit. I have grand plans of a poolside OOTD complete with a sun hat, huge sunglasses, and sandals. And, now, I am officially ready to splash around in the pool with my nieces while frantically trying to not get my hair wet lol. This suit was originally one hundred and sixty dollars and I got it for forty – it was worth every penny and then some. You can’t put a price on feeling amazing in a swimsuit after almost a decade of bathing suit shopping abstinence!

TJMaxx came through for me during this shopping trip and I still can’t get over the fact that I found a swimsuit from there. My expectations were so low and now my confidence is sky high. I can’t wait to wear it!

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

Jun23

Going Gingham OOTD Bloopers

Posted on by
Standard
Going Gingham OOTD Bloopers

Hello everyone and welcome to the blooper reel from my Going Gingham OOTD! As you all know, this wasn’t the outfit that I had originally planned on creating. And, the pictures you are about to see were ones that I definitely hadn’t planned on being captured lol. Instead of deleting these yikes shots, it’s way more fun to share them with all of you so let’s get to it:

This freaking stank face haha

image_50426625(6)

Looking like I just got electrocuted

image_50419713(6)

I swear to high I’m not god

image_50452225(2)

Lol, idk why this picture is so funny to me! Taking a brief pause to think about my life.

image_50413825(6)

I LOOK GREAT!!!!!!!!!!

image_50428673(5)

I have NO idea what I was trying to convey in this pic, but it’s clearly working 😉

image_50434817(7)

I feel like I look half asleep in all of these!

image_50435841(4)As always, lumbering around an apartment complex near you!

image_50460161(6)

As you all also already know from yesterday’s post, I TMI mentioned that I was on the rag during this shoot and feeling bloated. During this time of the month, I tend to get cramps, feel fatigued, and bloat. The cramps and tiredness, I can deal with. The bloating, however, really irks my nerves. I don’t struggle too much anymore with self image issues, but they sometimes rear their ugly head in when Aunt Flo comes to visit!

Because my original outfit didn’t happen, I was feeling irritated. Because I felt bloated, I was even more irritated! I knew that I looked good, but I wasn’t completely thrilled with it because of the wrench in my plans. It wasn’t until Johnny picked his jaw off the floor that I felt fully confident in myself and the desire to have my pictures taken came back.

Honestly, if Johnny didn’t have the reaction he did, I probably would have scrapped the outfit above altogether. But, that isn’t a good thing and I realize that now after reflecting on it. I created this outfit because I knew it would be cute and flattering. The only reason I was hesitant is because I felt bloated and that’s just ridiculous. It is my goal to do lots of OOTD posts this year and, in this case, the only thing standing in my way was me.

The lesson learned? If you feel bloated or not your best: Take the picture. If your hair isn’t behaving: Take the picture. If you have any doubt about your outfit: Take the picture. If people refused to take their pictures when they feel self conscious – pictures wouldn’t exist! Bloopers and all, I felt better as soon as my shots were taken and forgot what I was even pressed about to begin with!

What is something that makes you feel self conscious? Do you ever feel camera shy? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun22

Going Gingham OOTD

Posted on by
Standard
Going Gingham OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! The look that you are about to see is not what I originally planned on. What I had in mind for my weekly outfit was a gorgeous black and white high low skirt with a black Rachel Zoe tank top and slide on wedge heels. However, I couldn’t find the tank top I wanted to wear anywhere! I still have no idea where it could be, which upsets me deeply because it’s my favorite. To add salt to the wound, the only comparable top that I could have used had a deodorant stain on it. SMH.

I was, honestly, so close to throwing my hands up, saying “screw it”, and not shooting an outfit at all. But, where’s the fun in that?! After having a hissy fit in my mind, I decided to switch gears and create a look that’s perfect for 4th of July. Picnics, fireworks, and rooftop drinks anyone? Check it out:

image_50387969(4)image_50449153(3)image_50436609(4)image_50398465(3)image_50401025(2)image_50408705(2)

 

Who? What? Wear?

Gingham Tie Back Top: Altar’d State

Distressed High Waisted Shorts: American Eagle Outfitters

Army Green Wedge Sandals: Guess, TJMaxx

Rain Cloud Earrings: These are a birthday gift from my bestie and are created by Janell & Co.

The gold bracelet is from American Eagle Outfitters and the bronze one is from the zoo I think lol.

While I was digging around in my dresser for the missing tank top, my eyes kept locking in on my tie back top from Altar’d State. It is such an adorable little number and screams summer fun. It has also not been featured on an OOTD post before. Once I came to the conclusion that The Case of The Missing Tank Top wasn’t going to be solved, I had to problem solve. And, with 4th of July just around the corner, the kerchief style top was an obvious choice. I guess I was onto something when it kept catching my eye during the search party!

I wish that I had tie back tops in every color and pattern imaginable. They look so sweet from the front, but daring as soon as your back is turned. The best thing about them, though, is that my back tattoos finally get their day in the sun! I remember when I first tried this shirt on in the dressing room and I was feeling my damn self. That feeling has never left and I felt so good as soon as I put it on. The palette, gingham, and delicate floral pattern create such a fun take on summer classics. And, although I was still feeling a bit disappointed that my original plan didn’t come to fruition, I was starting to perk up.

The tie back top was begging to be paired with blue jean shorts and instead of my usual mid rise, I went with a pair of high waisted shorts. This was most flattering because the shorts hit exactly where the crop in the top ended. TMI, but I was on the rag when I shot this look and was feeling bloated so a high rise was a simple fix. The distressing on the front also helped add some edge to the look against the cute as can be top.

With the base of the outfit settled, it was time for shoes and accessories. Normally, selecting shoes is something that I don’t even think about. This time around, however, was a bit of a struggle. The one pair that I would have loved to wear is broken beyond repair and I hang onto them because I refuse to throw them out. My collection of platforms wouldn’t work either because they all feature a high ankle strap. Finally, I decided on my army green heeled sandals by Guess. After putting them on, I don’t know why I didn’t choose them right from the jump. They didn’t interfere with my leg line and the green served as a cool and different neutral against the red and blue base.

Accessories were next on the agenda and I already knew which earrings I wanted to wear; My rain cloud pair from my BFF for my birthday! They are such a gorgeous statement piece and the movement they make is unmatched to anything else I own. I LERVE them so much! Since almost all of my tattoos were visible and the earrings were so bold, I put on a few bracelets and that was that!

I admit that even though I liked this outfit in its completion, I still wasn’t fully feeling myself. It wasn’t until Johnny’s jaw dropped when I walked down the stairs that I realized this outfit was a banger! He told me I looked like Daisy Duke and played the Dukes of Hazzard theme song on the guitar and I couldn’t have asked for anything better. And, yes, I was definitely feeling myself afterwards! 😀

Has any of your favorite clothes gone missing? Where did it turn up? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun20

BFF Birthday Gift

Posted on by
Standard
BFF Birthday Gift

Hello!!! My bestie, Lea, and I have been BFFs since we started high school in 2008. We have fifteen years of best friendship under our belt and our love only grows fonder with each passing day! For this past decade and a half, we have celebrated holidays and birthdays together and for my 29th birthday jubilee, I requested a low key hang out. We had a slumber party in her brand new house and it was the best! It’s funny because we have only had one sleepover in our teens and have now had another when we are almost thirty lol.

During our celebration, I received the grand tour of her home while we sipped on champagne like the rich and famous. We dug into oven pizza, White Claws, and girl talked the night away while her precious cats, Fin and Win, kept us company. It was a blast and just what I needed as Johnny and I didn’t have a big birthaversary celebration this year.

For all gift giving occasions, Lea and I love to spoil each other and she truly knocked it out of the park this year. For my birthday, she surprised me with a GORGEOUS new pair of earrings that you can see soon in an upcoming OOTD! Check it out:

image_50450945(6)image_50444033(4)

Lea and her mom and sister enjoy going to craft fairs together, which is where she found this amazing pair of earrings from Janell & Co. She actually bought them half a year ago because she knew that they would be perfect for my birthday. As always, she was SO right! I literally gasped when I opened my parcel because I have seen similar items on Facebook ads, screenshotted them, and never bought a pair for myself. These were even better than anything I could have purchased because they supported a local artist and were way prettier than I remember the other pairs being.

I am a huge fan of big statement earrings and I was so eager to wear my birthday gift that I just had to incorporate them into an OOTD shoot the following day. As soon as I put them on, I couldn’t stop shaking my head to make the rain drops dance! Every step invited delightful movement of the earrings and they were magnificent when they caught the light just right. I am so lucky to have such wonderful besties who spoil me so much every trip around the sun!

Thank you times a trillion to my darling Lea for the best birthday gift and hang out in the world. Here’s to not waiting twelve years for our next slumber party! I love you! ❤

What is the most “you” gift you have received? Who is your favorite local artist? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun15

Simple Ways To Make Your Clothes Last Longer

Posted on by
Standard
Simple Ways To Make Your Clothes Last Longer

Are you constantly replacing clothes? Or maybe your clothes aren’t looking as good as when you bought them? By learning to extend the life of your clothing, you could save yourself a lot of money. Below are a few tricks to make your clothing last longer:

Invest in high quality clothes:

Cheaper clothing typically isn’t built to last. After only a few months of regular wear with fast fashion purchases, you can expect shoes to have worn soles, sunglasses to scratch, bras to become loose, tights to rip, and sweaters to dethread. Paying a little more for higher quality clothing is often worthwhile as these items will last longer. You may be paying more upfront, but you won’t have to replace them as often – they could last many years without getting damaged. Of course, this doesn’t mean that all of your clothes should be high-end designer items. Being prepared to spend $10 extra may be all it takes to improve the longevity of your clothes. You can often find reviews from customers online by entering a search for “Chummy Tees Review” (or the specific brand you are looking for). Take the time to read through them before making a purchase to ensure that other people are satisfied with the quality of the clothing.

Stick to timeless fashion pieces:

Another reason some of us regularly replace clothing is because we buy into fads. Such clothing can end up quickly going out of fashion. Instead of following fast fashion trends, try to stick to timeless fashion pieces. These are items of clothing that stayed trendy for decades. Prime examples include trench coats, blazers, little black dresses, blue denim jeans, black leather jackets, button down tops, black pumps, and ballet shoes.

Learn how to sew:

Sewing is a useful skill that can extend the life of many different clothing items. It can help you to sew buttons back on, repair broken seams, or even tighten clothing that has become too loose. You can learn to sew using a needle and thread or you can buy yourself a sewing machine. If you choose the latter, make sure to take the time to shop for high quality sewing machines. You’ll find many tutorials online teaching you how to sew clothes.

Follow washing instructions:

Many clothes end up getting destroyed in the washing machine because people do not read the washing instructions. For example, it can be important to consider the heat setting – heavy items like jeans should always be washed on a high heat setting, while stretchy items like yoga pants should be washed on a low heat setting. You may also want to avoid washing delicate items on a fast spin setting.

In most cases, you can find washing instructions on the label. Alternatively, you can find instructions online. Try to learn the best washing machine settings for each item so that you can separate them accordingly.

Hand wash delicate clothes:

Some delicate items like sequined dresses, silk blouses, lingerie, and cashmere sweaters can get easily damaged in a washing machine no matter what setting you choose. Hand washing these items is the best way to prevent damage. Yes, hand washing is more time-consuming, but it could help to save you money on replacing clothes. It’s also likely to use less water and energy, saving you some money on your utility bills.

Air dry clothes in summer:

Tumble dryers can also contribute to clothing damage. The heat combined with the tumbling motion can cause items to unravel or tear. To prevent this, consider air drying your clothes in the summer. If you’re not allowed to use a washing line in your neighborhood, consider simply using a laundry rack indoors. If it’s a hot day, the clothes should dry in a few hours. You’ll not only save money by reducing clothing damage, but you’ll also save money by using less energy.

When you know the ways to make your clothing last, you can keep that brand new feel all of the time!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Jun15

Classic Summer OOTD Bloopers

Posted on by
Standard
Classic Summer OOTD Bloopers

Hello!!! Yesterday, you saw my Classic Summer OOTD styled for playing outside with my niece who moves a mile a minute and, of course, to show off my new hair. This was an interesting OOTD shoot because I experienced a phenomena that everyone is familiar with – thinking you look amazing in the pictures being taken and then finding out otherwise. Lol, we’ll discuss that further but, first, let’s all have a good laugh together at these outtakes:

Simply flabbergasted (I love that word!) by whatever Johnny just said.

image_50726913

Did a sniff test and am pleased to report that I was fresh as a daisy!

image_50454529(6)

Rocking my don’t mess with me face lol

image_50754561(2)

Genuinely not sure what face I’m rocking here, but my hair looks bomb!

image_50430465(6)

Princesses and queens wave like this, right?

image_50437889(6)

Hahaha, almost took a tumble there!

image_50756609(2)

And here too apparently

image_50748673(2)

Lil Red is on the move!!!

image_50457345(4)

So, as I was saying… Your girl was feeling her damn self during this OOTD shoot despite a massive hangover. Lol, I had to turn up for my birthday!! But, I digress. Where were we? Oh yeah, I was feeling GREAT! My outfit was adorable, my hair looked fabulous, and seeing my nieces gives me all of the warm fuzzies. Naturally, I assumed the pictures that Johnny was snapping were going to be fuego but this was a case when assume made an ass out of U and ME.

Now, I’m not saying that I’m America’s Next Top Model status BUT I have been taking OOTD pics for such a long time that I know what works and what doesn’t. Usually, I can take a quick scroll through the pictures that Johnny has taken, find a handful that I’m pleased with, and move onto the next set of poses. However, that just wasn’t happening this time around. I would look at the pictures, spot maybe one or two that were satisfactory, and was drowning in an endless stream of “wtf”.

I have no idea what was going on, but the HUGE selection of pictures that Johnny took did nothing for me. I wouldn’t say that I’m picky, but I was struggling to find any redeeming qualities in just about any of the shots. I was so annoyed lol. The last time I can recall a similar situation was way back in a February OOTD so this felt so out of left field!

I would be a liar if I said that I wasn’t a little disappointed with how this shoot turned out. I was expecting a huge cache of winning pictures and that simply didn’t happen. Then, I remembered that even though I didn’t have a ton of successful shots to show off, I still felt fantastic. It helped ease the sting, but I was still like “come on!”. Hey, we can’t be winners all of the time, amiright?

I like to fancy myself a seasoned OOTD blogger and this Classic Summer shoot was a bit of a buzzkill. That’s okay, though! We all have good and bad picture days and getting discouraged takes the joy out of it. Fashion is, first and foremost, fun even during unsuccessful photo shoots. I know I looked good and I know I had a blast and, at the end of the day, that’s all that matters!

Has anyone had a similar experience to mine? What is your favorite and least favorite thing about having your picture taken? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun14

Classic Summer OOTD

Posted on by
Standard
Classic Summer OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD starring my brand new hair! I recently stepped off of the OOTD train for a few weeks due to my crazy life and also tired, but your girl is back and better than ever. Strange how new hair and new nails can do that. 😉 The pics you are about to see were taken after babysitting my nieces. I knew my best gal, Val, was going to want to play outside so I wanted to put together a Classic Summer look that was cute and comfortable for some fun in the sun.

This OOTD features summer staple pieces that almost everyone has in their wardrobe, making it very easy to recreate. Let’s get to it:

image_50734849(6)image_50451457(4)image_50736385(2)image_50730753image_50742273image_50739969(1)

Who? What? Wear?

Tank Top: Rachel Zoe, TJMaxx

Denim Shorts: American Eagle Outfitters

Platform Sandals: ModCloth

Daisy Earrings: Forever 21

The silver bracelet is from American Eagle Outfitters

Styling OOTDs for summertime has taught me a lot about creating looks that are simple yet exciting for being on the go in the heat. This Classic Summer OOTD required minimal think work, but I still love the way it turned out and I felt like a million bucks in it! I had a few things in mind when I began scouring my wardrobe, the first being that I would most definitely be playing outside that afternoon. The second one being that I wanted a neutral palette to make my new hair and tattoos pop.

With these guidelines laid out, the pieces of the puzzle came together and I knew exactly what to do next. To start, I grabbed my white Rachel Zoe tank top. I got this tank in a set of two and they are, easily, the best that I have ever owned. They fit perfectly and hug my body in all of the right places. I love the V neck, which is a unique twist on a classic scoop neck tank. I am also a huge fan of the material, which is so soft and a bit thick – reminiscent of a super thin sweater rather than the rougher fabric of a regular old tank top.

A simple white tank is just begging to be paired with denim shorts. Originally, I tried on a pair of distressed, high waisted shorts from AEO but the fit just wasn’t meshing with the tank top. So, I swapped it out for a mid rise pair and that was much more like it! Yes, the base of this outfit is simple but it was doing everything that I envisioned by making my hair the star of the show. I also felt like Daisy Duke and it really doesn’t get much better than that! 😀

For shoes, I wore a pair of Nikes to run around the yard with Val in. Then, for pictures, I brought one of my favorite pairs of platform sandals from ModCloth. These shoes were SO ideal for this outfit because of the palette. The base of the pattern is orange, which brought cohesion from the top of my head to my toes. The other colors in the pattern are navy and white and that was just right with the other pieces in the outfit. And, note the low ankle strap, which still gave the illusion of length since it didn’t cut my leg line off at the upper ankle.

Next up was accessories and, like the rest of the outfit, I went the minimal route. Anything more would have been fighting against the base that had already been established. For earrings, I chose a super cute pair that looked like daisies. They had a stud shape, but because they were huge, there was still movement and I loved seeing them poking out from underneath my hair. Then, I slipped on a simple silver mini cuff bracelet and my look was complete!

This Classic Summer OOTD used summertime staples Lil Red’s way and it was a look that I felt amazing in. Keep it locked for the blooper reel from this post and lots more summer fashion here on lifewithlilred!

What is one of your summer wardrobe staples? What is the most important thing to you when styling summer looks? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

 

 

Jun5

Summer Sass OOTD Bloopers

Posted on by
Standard
Summer Sass OOTD Bloopers

Hello everyone and welcome to the blooper reel from my Summer Sass OOTD! I am writing this on a Friday morning in between corralling the bunnies from underneath the couch but TGIF amiright?! I am still working hard at my goal of weekly OOTD posts so keep it locked for a new one soon… The only catch: I have no idea what to wear! Did I mention a few times how much I dislike dressing for summer? Lol. Summer outfits are an interesting challenge, but there was nothing challenging about bypassing these pics for the original post from this look:

Staring into the souls of all of my darling readers ❤

image_50401025(1)

Lumbering around an apartment complex near you!!!

image_50423041(5)image_50422529(5)

I LOOK GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

image_50397185(6)

Gazing up flirtatiously beneath my bangs that desperately need cut 😉

image_50387969(3)

My “wtf” face about the conversation some youngsters were having when they walked by

image_50420993(5)

Lol, YIKES

image_50429697(7)

I feel like I was really feeling myself in this shot *face palm*

image_50411265(4)

Although I am not a summer fan whatsoever, there has been one GREAT improvement from summers’ past. That being, mine and Johnny’s bigger apartment. Johnny and I currently reside in Timber Bottom at the base of Timber Top, but our old place in Timber Middle was the freaking worst. It wasn’t the lack of space at the first apartment that sucked, but the lack of air conditioning that made it absolutely unbearable in the summertime.

At our old apartment, we had one rickety old AC unit that was high up in the loft. It just so happened to be at the exact same level of a window way above our door, essentially counteracting anything that the AC barely did. During the summer, it was miserable and the apartment was our own personal sweat lodge. Portable fans did nothing and the space wouldn’t start cooling down until after it got dark, making for very long summers, indeed.

At our new apartment, we have a functional AC unit and it has been working like a dream! In fact, as I write this, I feel chilly and the only way I would get that feeling at Apartment One was by sticking my head in the freezer for a few minutes lol. Our place has us feeling like icy royalty even on 90 degree days and that is not a blooper at all. The only one being, the fact that there is currently a raccoon sitting on our balcony and eating trash from a dumpster. Well, not everything can be perfect!

Although dressing in the summer doesn’t thrill me, it is hoodie temperature inside and for that I am thankful. Keep it posted on lifewithlilred for all of the daily content, fun, and future updates on the raccoon who has turned our balcony into its favorite snack spot lol SMH.

What kind of wildlife is in your neck of the woods? What is your perfect indoor and outdoor temperature? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun3

Summer Sass OOTD

Posted on by
Standard
Summer Sass OOTD

Hello everyone!! After a brief hiatus from my weekly OOTD shoots due to personal reasons, I am finally getting back into the swing of things and it feels great! We are experiencing pure summertime temps here in Ohio and, although summer isn’t my favorite season to dress for, I’m having a blast doing what I do best – styling awesome outfits. Today, we are going to take a look at a sassy little number that I created with drinks on the patio of mine and Johnny’s favorite bar (The Cashmere Cricket) in mind. Check it out:

image_50431489(6)image_50417665(6)image_50422785(6)image_50381313(2)image_50430209(6)image_50407169(5)image_50417409(5)

Who? What? Wear?

Mesh Crop Top: Gaze, TJMaxx

Skort: Almost Famous, TJMaxx

Floral Sandals: L’Artiste, ModCloth

Blue Flower Earrings: Bella Jack, TJMaxx

Hair Accessory: Hot Topic

Johnny and I live a vampire lifestyle and basically melt in the sun. I am also on medication that makes me more susceptible to overheating so styling outfits in the summertime for me means a 100% focus on keeping cool – even if I am in all black lol. In this regard, summer looks kind of bore me because layering or options other than shorts, skirts, or dresses are eliminated. I don’t have the most expansive summer clothes collection so it requires a bit of creativity to make looks that are fun and still feel like me.

When I started styling this look, I didn’t know where to start because I have been quickly breezing through a majority of my summer clothes on previous OOTDs. Then, my mesh crop by Gaze caught my eye and I decided I could work with that. This top is SO cute and it reminds me of something that one of the characters on Euphoria would wear. And, because it’s mesh, the keeping cool factor was already built in.

The high crop of this top also made it very easy to decide what to wear on my bottom half. Anything mid rise would expose a lot of my stomach and that was going to be a no from me. So, I selected my skort by Almost Famous, which featured a high rise and complimented the shirt perfectly. I also liked how the white floral pattern on the top seemed to pop more with the two black bases on the top and bottom. And, although this skort is of a thicker cloth fabric, it was short enough that I still could keep my cool.

With the base of the outfit settled, it was time to accessorize! For shoes, I chose one of my absolute favorite sandals by L’Artiste. These were a requested by me Christmas gift from my mom a few years ago and I still can’t get over them! I tend to avoid sandals like the plague because they are usually so flat and the kitten heel on these were just right. The floral pattern is absolutely gorgeous too! These sandals added a pop of color, length, and accentuated my leg line just the way I like.

For jewelry, I kept things minimal due to the long sleeved top and fairly deep neckline. I went with one of my favorite pairs of dangly earrings by Bella Jack that feature the softest shade of blue flowers. They are SO adorable and added movement while also complimenting the neckline I was working with. Then, I threw my hair up, stuck in my hair pin from Hot Topic as a final hurrah, and my outfit was complete!

Although summertime clothes and summertime in general aren’t really my thing, it has been a fun challenge to think outside of the box. I love my Summer Sass OOTD and it is one that can be very easily replicated!

What is your favorite season to dress for? How do you stay cool in the summer? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May31

Mini Mall Haul

Posted on by
Standard
Mini Mall Haul

Hello!! After a very long tenure of working retail in the mall, I tend to avoid it like the plague now lol. I can probably count on ten fingers the amount of times I have been to the mall since being employed there and that is fine by me! You know your girl is a TJMaxx frequent flyer at heart. This past week, however, I crossed the threshold into Summit Mall because my brother had some birthday gift cards. I told myself that I wasn’t going to buy anything for myself, but that changed when I saw the most perfect T-shirt I have ever seen at Hot Topic. I also had a freebie coupon from Bath & Body Works to cash in! Check it out:

image_50414849(3)image_50439169(7)image_50733825(1)

Bath & Body Works has recently switched up their freebie options and it has been most exciting! For the longest time, a free travel size product coupon left you limited to shower gel and lotion. Then, they upped their game to mini fragrance sprays, bar soap, and hand cream and they are all fair game for the free coupon. It is awesome and turns every time I get a B&BW coupon in the mail into an “I need to go there right now” event!

Johnny’s mom gifted me with some bar soap this past Easter and I forgot how much I enjoy a good ol’ bar of soap every now and again. With plenty of B&BW shower gel and lotion in my stockpile, I decided that trying out their bar soap for the first time would be the move. There wasn’t a huge selection of bar soap scents to pick from and I went with Coco Paradise to welcome summer with. Coco Paradise is a combo of coconut (obviously lol) and the softest hint of tropical flowers and it is lovely. It also is a shea butter based bar so I’m sure it will be ultra lush and hydrating. I can’t wait to try it out!

After browsing at other stores, my brother and I ended our rounds at Hot Topic. As a reminder, I truly had no intention of buying a single thing… Until I saw the AFI T-shirt that I just had to have. AFI’s album, Sing The Sorrow, was the first album I ever bought with my own money. It was and will always be in my top three favorite albums and seeing them live was one of the best moments of my life. I was so lucky because they only had one size small in this shirt among a sea of XLs and believe me when I say, I literally snatched it from the shelf!

The last T-shirt I bought from Hot Topic was from a few years ago and now I understand why almost all of Johnny’s T’s come from there. When I sported my AFI T the following day, I was blown away by how soft it was! It felt like a hug when I was wearing it and I honestly regretted not buying a few more! The fit was also perfect – not too loose and not too tight but just right. I am freaking obsessed with my new favorite T featuring my forever favorite band. 😀

After this trip to the mall, I don’t think I will go again for another handful of years lol. But, I was able to treat myself with an awesome pick me up purchase and for that I am grateful!

What was the first album that you ever bought? What is your favorite band? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah