Tag Archives: style

Jul28

A Stroll In The Garden OOTD Bonus Pics

Posted on July 28, 2022 by lifewithlilred

Hello everyone and welcome to some bonus pics from my Stroll In The Garden OOTD! This is neither here nor there but, as I type this, there is something stuck in my eye and it’s super uncomfortable/annoying. Happy Monday, am I right? ANYWHO, this little OOTD was shot by my dad and he did a bang up job! And, something very special happened afterwards so let’s get to it:

My niece, Valerie, was over when we were taking these pictures and was outside with my mom while my dad was snapping pics. Val is my lil BFF and she is always joined at my hip whenever we are together so it was pretty amazing that these pictures could even happen! Now, normally, Val refuses to get her picture taken so we were all shocked when the unthinkable happened… She said she wanted to take pictures too!

After a few more minutes of OOTD pics, I was able to take Val’s pictures and it warmed my cold, bitter heart like no other. We all knew it was because she wanted to be doing what I was doing and it was just so freaking cute. Her and I ran around the backyard finding good patches of grass because, oddly enough, she didn’t want pictures by flowers. She showed off her cool dance moves and took her TT’s directions well when she felt like it. 😀

I couldn’t wait to share the pics that I took with my sister and brother-in-law and they were equally as surprised from Val’s apparent change of heart for getting her picture taken. Val makes me proud all of the time but this moment is definitely in my top five. Maybe we have a future blogger in the family?!

Do you like having your picture taken? Or do you prefer to be the one taking the pictures? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul27

A Stroll In The Garden OOTD

Posted on July 27, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello everyone!! After a most fruitful TJMaxx haul, I was so ready to take all of the pictures with my new duds. I also had the perfect setting in mind – my dad’s garden! Come summer, it is absolutely glorious and filled with delicious veggies and stunning blooms. There is nothing better than taking a leisurely stroll and taking in all of the beauty or running around with my niece on the lush lawn…. And taking pictures, of course! Check it out:

Who? What? Wear?

Crochet top: Rebellion Again, TJMaxx
Floral pants: Nicole Miller, TJMaxx
Embroidered heel platforms: Bamboo, TJMaxx

This is an OOTD that I love very much and I think it is just so fun and unique. I have nothing like the Rebellion Again top or Nicole Miller pants in my vast wardrobe, which made it an exciting look to wear since it’s far from the norm. I felt so lucky during my haul because there was only one pair of the pants in the store and doubly lucky because I found the perfect top to go with it!

What I like about this outfit is that the styling spoke for itself. It was also planned well ahead of time in the TJMaxx dressing room so not a lot of thought went into it the day I took pictures. Each piece felt like an accessory in its own way – the embroidered heels of the platforms, bold floral pattern on the pants, and intricate crochet work on the top. So, it really didn’t need much in terms of actual jewelry and I kept it simple with a few of my favorite bangle bracelets.

Normally, I like to start from the top down when building an outfit. In this case, however, I started from the middle with the pants. While I could have pulled from a color in the floral pattern for the top, I decided that I wanted to go with a neutral to really make it pop. The cream Rebellion Again tank was the ideal choice and it was exactly what I had pictured. I thought it looked fabulous against the grey/blue base of the pants and the floral crochet pattern complimented them so well too.

For shoes, my Bamboo platforms were an obvious choice. The denim color is a neutral too and it meshed seamlessly with the blue undertones in the base of the pants. The floral embroidery on the heel also tied together with the same motif in the other pieces of this outfit. Not to mention that it has cream, pale blue, and yellow flowers featured on the heel so it matched even better than I originally thought.

My Stroll In The Garden OOTD is going to be such a delightful look for a date day exploring downtown Cuyahoga Falls or a botanical garden. Now, the trick is going to be to find more tops to go with the pants lol. I guess I’ll need another shopping trip soon! 😀

What is your favorite flower? What do you love about summertime? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

PS: Tune in tomorrow for bonus pictures from this shoot!

Jul24

TJMaxx Haul: Zara Top Edition

Posted on July 24, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello everyone and welcome to my favorite and final piece of clothing from my TJMaxx haul! The past several shopping trips that I’ve been on were not fruitful in my need for more tops in the slightest. This time around, however, I walked away with three different tops that I am so in love with. It was a GREAT SUCCESS and I now feel content with the top department of my wardrobe. Let’s check out this fabulous little number by Zara to wrap things up:

As I mentioned in my pro tips for shopping at TJMaxx, I utilize a two rounds throughout the store method. There is just too much to see in one go and I often find some of my favorite things the second time around. Like this Zara top, for example. Maybe someone was standing in front of it on round one because I can’t believe I didn’t notice the huge sheer puff sleeves on my first trip! It was also the only one like it in the entire store. 😀

In terms of shirt sizes, I am a solid small or medium and this top was an extra small. Like my new Nicole Miller pants, I was thinking “please fit” when trying it on because I liked it so much! Thanks to a side zipper, button up back, and the fact that Zara clothing runs bigger, I was in luck. This top fit perfectly and I love how the tighter fitting bodice makes the puff sleeves seem even larger than life.

I have grand plans for this newest addition and I cannot wait to shoot some amazing autumn OOTDs with it! Pair it with a little navy skirt? Yes, please! I would also really like to find a good pair of navy or red slacks to go with it. I know, it’s shocking to me too that I’m branching away from my standard black skinny jeans lol. Now, all I’ll need is a killer pair of white platform loafers and we’re in business!

Tomorrow, tune in for the skin care portion of my haul and it will be onto a brand new OOTD and July finishes. See you then!

How would you style this top? What are some pieces that you would like to have in your wardrobe? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul23

TJMaxx Haul: Zara Dress Edition

Posted on July 23, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello everyone!! Welcome back to more from my TJMaxx Haul after a brief pause for a Lil Red’s Book Club discussion. Today, we are going to be chatting about a dress from Zara which I am so happy with but just a *smidge* disappointed by. I saw the same dress in a 1970s style pattern during my birthday gift card haul and it was fabulous but too small. I scoured the dress selection this time around hoping to find it in a bigger size and found it in this pattern, instead:

I don’t shop Zara often because the closest one is at a mall about forty-five minutes away from me. So, I am always excited when I see the brand at TJMaxx! My new dress is a great consolation prize for the one that could have been and, on the bright side, it fits lol. I could have gotten away with the original in a small but it was short enough that I would have had to been adjusting myself the entire time and that’s never a good look!

Although this pattern kind of looks like Saint Patrick’s Day, I am stoked about it because I love to wear green. I used to wear it often when my hair was all red and have fell off of it a bit when I began experimenting with different Pulp Riot colors. However, come September, I am going back to full fireball hair with red, yellow, and orange and this dress will compliment that change perfectly. 😀

This little Zara number is an ideal spring or early fall dress with its long sleeves and lower thigh length. The material is also light enough that you could probably get away with it during a chilly summer night. Since the pattern is so bold, I plan on letting it speak for itself with a pair of simple black heels and some minimal silver jewelry. A pattern is an accessory in itself so this dress doesn’t need much to make a gorgeous OOTD with!

Tune back into lifewithlilred tomorrow for the final (and my favorite) piece from my TJMaxx haul and, afterwards, we will move onto my skin care purchases. See you then! ❤

Do you like to buy the same piece of clothing in multiple patterns or colors? What color compliments you the best? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul21

TJMaxx Haul: Nicole Miller Pants Edition

Posted on July 21, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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TJMaxx Haul: Nicole Miller Pants Edition

Hello everyone and thanks for stopping by on lifewithlilred! Yesterday, we took a look at a new crop top that I got to wear with a pair of Nicole Miller floral print pants. And, today, we are going to be discussing said pants! There was only one pair of these bad boys in the entire store and I fell in love with them instantly. In fact, I was thinking to myself “please fit” before I tried them on lol. Obviously, they did so let’s get to it:

Patterned pants are a relatively new phenomenon to me because I much prefer my old standby of black skinny jeans. That’s not to say that I don’t like the idea of a good pair of patterned pants, though, and I just never found the right pair for me. Thanks to some recent TJMaxx hauls, I was able to explore this side of clothing that I never got the chance to before and I am so there for it! Now, the main concern is finding things to wear on top lol and we’ll discuss some pro tips for that shortly.

These Nicole Miller pants are, honestly, everything that I have ever wanted in a patterned pair of pants and MORE. When I saw them hanging up, I couldn’t believe my good luck and would have been so disappointed if they didn’t fit so thank god for an elastic waistband! I adore the jogger shape, watercolor style flowers, and the adorable back pockets. 😀

Looking back on my experiences with trying on patterned pants and instantly vetoing them, I now realize what I was doing wrong. Every pair that I liked even a little got put back because I had nothing at home to compliment it. Rather than finding something that would work with it, I just said no and that was my mistake. As you all know from yesterday’s post, I made my second round in TJMaxx specifically to find a shirt to go with these pants and had GREAT SUCCESS. This is what shopping and building outfits is all about!

Other than my new Rebellion Again top, I genuinely don’t have anything else at home to wear with this purchase. However, that doesn’t mean that I don’t have ideas! There are so many different colors that I can pull from the pattern to assist me the next time I go shopping. I hope to find a dusty rose or yellow cami to wear on top and tying it all together with a tighter fitting jean jacket. I can’t wait. 😀

I like to fancy myself as an excellent outfit builder and this Nicole Miller number taught me something that I never considered before. TJMaxx continues to surprise me and soothe my soul every time! ❤

Are you a fan of patterned pants? Why or why not? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul20

TJMaxx Haul: Rebellion Again Crochet Crop Top Edition

Posted on July 20, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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TJMaxx Haul: Rebellion Again Crochet Crop Top Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to the next item up for discussion from my most recent TJMaxx Haul! It is amazing what a little retail therapy can do to lift my spirits so who needs regular therapy anyways? …. Me and probably everyone, actually, but I digress! Today, we are going to be talking about a darling crochet crop top by Rebellion Again that I found during my second round throughout the store. Let’s get to it:

In my TJMaxx Shopping Pro Tips post, I talked about the importance of making two rounds in the store. This is essential if you feel like you missed something or you need another piece to build an outfit with something you plan on purchasing. The second example was the case for this top because I found a gorgeous pair of Nicole Miller floral print pants and had nothing to wear with it.

I decided that I wanted a cream colored top to pair with the earthy grey base of the pants and found it in this Rebellion Again crop. It was exactly what I had in mind and knew that it would work perfectly before even trying it on. I loved the floral crochet pattern, the scalloped edging on the bottom, and the tank style straps to hide away bra straps. It looks fabulous with the pants that you will see tomorrow!

Not only is this top ideal for what I needed but it also makes for an amazing summer top in general. As you all know, my wardrobe was severely lacking in that regard and my haul helped remedy this massive problem. This top will be adorable paired with shorts or high rise jeans. I also have visions of wearing it over the top of a dress or a tighter fitting long sleeved top come fall for some layering fun. 😀

Stay tuned into lifewithlilred for more from my TJMaxx Haul as well as a new Lil Red’s Book Club post coming very soon!

What is your favorite neutral color to wear? How would you style this top? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul19

TJMaxx Haul: Solitaire Top Edition

Posted on July 19, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! After a simply awful week and change, your girl needed some retail therapy so, naturally, I went to TJMaxx to ease the pain lol. It was just what I needed and I FINALLY found some new tops, which I am thrilled about because I was having no luck in that regard for a while. Today, we are going to start off my latest haul by checking out a gorgeous new top by Solitaire in a perfectly persimmon hue. Let’s get to it:

As I was making my rounds at TJs, I spotted this top on one of the display racks and knew instantly that it was going to be a winner. I was in love with the unique color and I have nothing even close to it in my wardrobe, which made it even better. The shape of this top is what really sold me, though. The exaggerated puff sleeves paired with the bold collar and tighter fitting middle is divine. And don’t even get me started on the sweet buttons and floral embroidery! This top is *chef’s kiss* perfection.

When I first saw this top, it instantly made me think of Halloween since I am an elder emo and I’m always thinking about it. I cannot wait to style it with the happiest season of all in mind and already have lots of ideas. In fact, it will be featured soon in a new OOTD so keep it posted for that. But *spoiler alert* I’m thinking my black Almost Famous skort, Adora hat, and Kenneth Cole heels for a super fun color blocked look. I’m swooning just thinking about it!

There is nothing like a good shopping trip to put some pep back in my step. Tune in all of this week for more from this amazing haul!

Has anyone else had some retail therapy recently? What did you find? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul18

Top 2022 Home Decor Trends

Posted on July 18, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Do you want to upgrade your home or give it a new look, but you’re not sure where to begin? When you want to make a change in your home, it can be overwhelming with the plethora of options that you can choose from. This can turn what should be a fun and exciting project to embark on into a stressful one. It shouldn’t have to be that way!

To help you on your journey to create an improved space, you may wish to learn the top home decor trends in 2022. This can help you see what is popular right now and hopefully spark some inspiration while you design your rooms. It can be great fun to experiment with new furniture choices and color palettes that you may not have thought of before. The fun thing about trends is that they introduce you to new ideas and concepts. Here are some of the most popular decor trends you should know about:

Patterns:

While 2019 to 2021 took you in the direction of neutral color palettes, it looks like 2022 is taking you in the opposite direction with bold and unique patterns. People seem to be embracing large and bold prints on their wallpaper and furniture while contrasting this with a more subtle flooring installation such as vinyl. The most popular patterns being used are animals print.

Vintage:

Decor from the 70s and 80s is quickly coming back into style and there appear to be no limits. From the bright, neon colors to the chunky furniture, it is all making a comeback. Elements from the 70s and 80s are a great way to add pops of color and visual interest into any room and can be adapted to suit your personal color preferences. You can even opt for additional features such as neon signs, brass shelves, tropical prints, rounded accessories, and much more.

3D Art:

Perhaps as a result of spending more time inside from the COVID-19 pandemic, people are pushing toward adding more life into their homes. 3D art is an excellent way to make your home unique and turn the heads of your guests. Whether it is sea shells or portraits that pop out from their frames, they are both stunning and whimsical additions to your home. They can bring your walls to life and add character to a bare room.

Smart Storage:

The increase of remote working has changed the way that people live and use their homes. Many rooms have been adapted into multi functional spaces so that they can do more at home. This is a great way to make the most of your space. This is anything from home offices, home gyms, libraries, nurseries, craft rooms, and much more. For a multi functional space to work, you will need smart storage solutions. These are custom designed storage spaces, such as cupboards, that keep your space free from clutter and able to adapt for multiple uses.

If you’re not sure what upgrades to make to your home, follow these top decor trends of 2022 to help you spark some inspiration. Happy decorating!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Jul18

TJMaxx Shopping Pro Tips

Posted on July 18, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! I often get asked my secrets for my numerous successful shopping hauls at TJMaxx. So, I decided to share them today before we start diving into my new purchases tomorrow! I will be the first to admit that shopping at stores like TJs, Ross, Burlington, or anything similar can sometimes be hit or miss. That’s okay, though! Walking away empty handed makes the GREAT SUCCESS of a good haul even sweeter. Just remember the following:

Go Without A Specific Purchase In Mind:

If you go to a store like TJMaxx looking for one specific style or item, chances are that you are going to be disappointed. When you are looking for one thing and one thing only, it really limits your opportunity to explore for something different. In this case, the best plan is no plan so go in with an open mind and see what catches your eye.

Give Yourself Time:

I refuse to go to TJMaxx when I’m on a time crunch because then I wouldn’t be able to go through each department with a discerning eye. When I’m on a shopping trip, I will make one round throughout the store, try clothes on, and then make a second trip back to certain areas. It’s honestly amazing what you miss the first time around and I found two gorgeous items in my haul that I didn’t even notice on my second trip.

The two trip method is also especially effective because it gives you the opportunity to build outfits with the pieces you plan to purchase. For example, I found an amazing pair of floral pants but had no top at home to wear with it. Then, I was able to narrow down a style and color palette that might work on top and found just what I needed. This past shopping trip took me about two hours and I enjoyed and needed every minute of it for optimum success.

Try & Try Again:

There are some pieces on the racks at TJs that I would simply never wear and that’s fine. However, if there is an item that you are on the fence about – try it on anyways! Not everything is going to be a winner but you’d be amazed at the things that are so give yourself a chance to find out. The whole point of stores like TJMaxx is finding purchases that you never would have found elsewhere so have fun with it and explore all of your options.

During the pandemic, it was hard to take risks with shopping when buying everything online was the norm. Take advantage of the fitting rooms being open and try styles, colors, and shapes that you would usually pass on. Your winners will open up whole new worlds of possibilities and will help develop your personal style even more.

I follow these three simple rules every time I go shopping at TJMaxx and always walk away satisfied even if I haven’t bought anything. Keep them in mind and you will be a Maxxinista in no time! Be sure to tune in tomorrow to discuss my favorite haul in forever! ❤

What is your favorite discount store to shop at? What are some of your shopping pro tips? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul11

White Hot OOTD Bloopers

Posted on July 11, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello and welcome to the final segment of my White Hot OOTD – the blooper reel! When Johnny takes my pictures, he snaps away to make sure I have lots of options to pick from. These photos range from the good, the bad, and the yikes but that’s okay because it’s all part of the photo shoot process. Any influencer will tell you so! Take a look at some of the yikes that definitely didn’t make the cut… Until now that is!

A brief pause when I felt a cobweb on me. Yuck!

A classic dismount shot:

Smelling fresh to death.

Party people say ayyyy. Party people say ohhhhh.

Almost took a tragic tumble when I lost my footing! 😮

Oh, hiiiiiiii!

Epic failure of a hair flip picture lol.

Wait for it….

Nailed it!

When I first started doing OOTD shoots, I would delete the bad pictures immediately and never gave it a second thought. Now, I do the polar opposite. Bad pictures teach us what not to do the next time around and, if nothing else, they provide me and Johnny with a good laugh. I hope this blooper reel does the same for you! 😀

Do you like getting your picture taken? What do you like to take pictures of? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

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