Tag Archives: tgif

Giving Any Look The Wow Factor

Standard
Giving Any Look The Wow Factor

An important event looms near. It could be a first date, a job interview, or a presentation at school. You’re mentally prepared and feeling confident, but you know that the right look will give you that extra boost you need to turn the tables of success in your favor. But how to get the look right eludes you. You’ve got a pretty good idea of what you want to wear and maybe how you’d like to arrange your hair, but for some reason your look doesn’t pop. It needs a little something extra. Something that will turn heads and get you noticed. Something that will give your look that elusive wow factor.

Let’s take a look at some of the ways that you can do this. Don’t worry, none of them are bank breakers!

It’s all about the eyes:

The eyes are the windows into the soul and whether you’re on a date or in a job interview they play a huge part in how you are perceived. Drawing attention to your eyes and making them look bigger and sparklier communicates openness, honesty, and approachability. But the eyes also command attention and, if you want them to, they can steal a heart. Be sure to shape your brows well to create a flattering frame for the eyes, and never underestimate the power of a good mascara. Also remember to use the color of your eyeliner to your advantage and you’ll have eyes that pop in an instant.

What’s a girl’s best friend, now?

Diamonds are not just gorgeous, but they’re extremely versatile. They can dazzle, mystify, and imbue you with an air of class and sophistication. When they catch the light they can draw the eye wherever you want it to but, perhaps the most beneficial thing that a diamond brings, is the sense of prestige. Check out http://yourdiamondguru.com/reviews/james-allen/ for information about how different colored diamonds can be used in different settings to add an extra wow factor. Diamonds can either create an aura of success or an air of allure. It’s all about how you use them.

The shoes!!!

There’s a reason why one can never have too many shoes. The right pair can make you command attention as soon as you walk into a room. They can change your height, the way you walk, and the way you stand. They can make you seem formidable and imposing or sultry and seductive. Just make sure that you wear shoes that you feel comfortable in. Wincing with every step won’t wow your prospective new boss or your potential new beau!

Belt up!

The humble belt may spend a lot of time unused in your closet, but it’s the perfect way to tie any look together. Plus, it can help to lend you a more flattering shape and prevent a layered look from swallowing you whole. Find a belt that gives your outfit a pop of color and see how it transforms any look.

Now, you’re ready to dazzle with the extra wow factor in all of your looks!

Featured Image By: Good Free Photos

Advertisement

Movie Time!

Standard
Movie Time!

Hello one and all and TGIF! After discovering the magic of the five dollar movie selections while shopping in store at places like Target and Walmart, collecting movies has become a new interest of mine. It’s nice to have all of your favorite flicks readily available to you, no trip to the library or being upset if it isn’t on Netflix required. Throwing in a five dollar movie is a cheap night in and I’d be lying if I said that I didn’t love displaying them on my book shelf!

As a horror movie junkie, I couldn’t say no to snagging these two DVDs for a whopping ten bucks at Walmart. Check it out:

31

What makes a movie fall under my “favorite” category is if I can watch it multiple times a year and not grow tired of it. This rule applies to all genres, which gives me an overall pretty eclectic list of my fave flicks. Especially because Don’t Breathe and 31 are considered a favorite to me along with movies like The Heat, Napoleon Dynamite, Harry Potter, and Pan’s Labyrinth.

Despite both of these movies having a fairly classic story line, they are both done well and have enough twists and turns to keep it interesting. But, that’s just my opinion. Don’t Breathe had excellent reviews, while many found 31 to be a disappointment. I couldn’t disagree more. I am a huge fan of Rob Zombie movies and I felt like he had such fun with this one, and you can certainly tell. It’s campy and raunchy in all of the best ways and can we talk about Sheri Moon Zombie’s killer crop top?! Forget about it!

Who else enjoys purchasing movies? How many flicks are in your collection? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

New Black & Opal Nails

Standard
New Black & Opal Nails

Hiii everyone and TGIF! After having my acrylics on since October of 2017, it was finally time to get a new full set. My talons were overgrown, lifting, and getting super uncomfortable. But, now, they are obscenely short for my liking, which is uncomfortable in a different way! I’m still getting used to typing with tiny talons, so hopefully they’ll start growing out to reach their full lengthy potential soon! Check it out:

opalll

Although it cost me a pretty penny to get my new nails, it was a necessary evil, because my old ones were breaking constantly and it was stupid annoying. For short nails – well, short by my standards, my nails look good. But, I definitely won’t be completely happy with them until they grow some extra length! Despite my complaints, it was sure nice to spend a morning at the salon after five weeks in between nail maintenance. I spent more than what I would have liked on this set, but for nails that won’t break and a morning to myself, it was so worth it!

What length do you prefer to keep your nails at? What color of nail polish do you have on right now? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

A Summer Bouquet

Standard
A Summer Bouquet

Hey hey everyone and TGIF! I hope that you all have had a fabulous week and are looking forward to a fun weekend ahead. Us Mushenheims are a plant loving people. My mom’s mom and my dad have the greenest thumbs of literally anyone I know, and they can make something grow out of nothing. It really is amazing.

Because of my dad’s talent, our front and back yards are simply overflowing with beauty. From flowers and greenery to herbs and veggies, we have a little bit of everything and can appreciate it from any window that we look out of in our home. Our supply of flowers grown by my dad never seems to run low, and almost every week he will arrange a lovely summer bouquet for the kitchen table – like the one below:

wildwild1

For as long as I can remember, my dad has always been a master flower arranger, whether it be with bouquets from the garden or store. He seems to know exactly which bloom should be placed where and every arrangement turns into a work of art. The wild flower bouquet seen above is a particularly inspired one and it’s so lovely that I just had to share it with all of you!

What is your favorite flower? Who else has a green thumb? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

My Girl Power Anthem

Standard
My Girl Power Anthem

Hello! Once upon a time when my sister and I were on our way to X-Fest, my ex-boyfriend and I had just broken up and your girl was not really FEELING HERSELF. Even though that day ended up being one of the best days of my life, it initially started out very mopey until things turned around by hearing one song. Kristen decided that I was in desperate need of hearing “Smile” by Lily Allen and, as always, she was totally right. Take a listen:

(I have no rights to this song or video.)

I feel like this song is the perfect Girl Power Anthem. It completely sums up the feelings of a break up all while telling you to just smile instead of wallowing in your own misery for days on end. Being happy and moving on with your life is the best revenge in any relationship or friendship that has turned sour and there is nothing like a totally catchy song encouraging you to do just that to motivate you to do it, too. This has been my go to song whenever I start feeling even a little sad for the past month, and with Lily and her devil may care attitude on my side, nothing can stop me.

What are some of your girl power anthems? Are there any songs that you like to start the day with? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sunshine Blogger Award #6

Standard
Sunshine Blogger Award #6

Hi everyone and TGIF! Lifewithlilred recently got nominated for its sixth Sunshine Blogger Award by the wonderful and immensely talented Lady Lazarus. This lovely lady is a freaking hoot and her writing touches me because of its candidness and relate-ability. Do be sure to check out her blog and a huge thank you to Lady Lazarus for the nomination! Now, let’s get on to the rules for this award:

The Rules:

  • Thank the blogger who nominated you in the post and link to their blog
  • Answer the 11 questions asked of you
  • List the rules and include the Sunshine Blogger Award logo in your post
  • Write a new list of 11 questions for your nominees
  • Nominate 11 bloggers for the Sunshine Blogger Award

Q & A:

If you could have dinner with anyone, living or deceased, who would it be? I always find this question difficult to answer, because I don’t have a set in stone reply. Right now, I’m on a huge Hunger Games kick so probably Jennifer Lawrence.

If you were a pro-wrestler, what would your theme song be? Lunchbox by Marilyn Manson, for sure.

If you could have any job, what would it be? I would actually love to be a Developmental Pediatrician like my mom, but I don’t want to be in school for forever!

What is at the top of your bucket list? To explore Europe in its entirety.

What’s your favorite color and why? Black, because it’s slimming, it goes with everything, and I like it.

What were your top three favorite movies from when you were a kid? Oooooh…. I would say that The Little Mermaid, Shrek, and FRAGGLEHOUSE ROCK (lol) were my childhood jams if memory serves me correctly.

What song evokes the most emotion from you? Beautiful Day by U2.

What cartoon character do you most identify with? None. I don’t do cartoons.

What is the last thing you thought of before bed last night? Probably that I was full because I ate hella pita bread and spinach dip before bed haha.

What is your biggest fear? Not telling.

What does ” The Sunshine Award” mean to you? That you brighten someone’s day enough for them to nominate you, which is really special.

My Nominees (I’m only doing three):

My Questions For You:

  1. Are there any foods that you’ve never tried simply because it looks gross?
  2. What was your favorite childhood toy?
  3. How do you like to spend your days off?
  4. Biggest pet peeve?
  5. Would you rather not shower or wear the same outfit for a week?
  6. Do you have any nicknames?
  7. Do you have any unique talents or party tricks?
  8. What song or musician can you not stand?
  9. How do you get inspiration for fashion or beauty looks?
  10. Besides writing, what are some of your other hobbies?
  11. Is there anyone in your family who people say that you look a lot like?

Major shout out again to Lady Lazarus for nominating yours truly to participate in my sixth Sunshine Blogger Award – it was a blast! How would you answer some of the questions asked by my nominator? How about some of the questions that I had for my nominees? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Unique Differences In U.S. Military Weddings

Standard
Unique Differences In U.S. Military Weddings

Each of us is dreaming and planning of how to make our special day stand out and worth remembering for everyone. But, sometimes, it’s easier said than done. However, if you are serving in the military, you are an ex-Army officer, or you’re a cadet in the Academy, you are entitled to have a wedding ceremony in a military fashion. Military weddings in the States are different than the typical civil weddings in many ways.

Although they proved to be very hard to organize and plan due to the uncertainty and dynamics of living the military life, there is a big chance that everyone present at the wedding will remember it for all of those little things that are applicable only to these types of weddings. In this article, we’ll give you a number of brief examples of all of the traditions related to military-themed weddings:

Dress Code:

If you’re in the military and you decide to marry your beloved, you will be expected to wear your unit’s uniform, along with all of the medals or ribbons that you might have. And, as there will probably be lots of other military members (most commonly, the best man), they are also expected to wear their Army suits.

In cases when the bride is the one serving her country, there is a tradition that calls for a bride wearing military boots under her beautiful wedding dress. Apart from that, when attending a military-themed wedding, all attendees should wear formal attire if they’re not members of the military.

Arch From the Drawn Swords:

The feeling of walking down the aisle and saying that fateful ‘’yes’’ is even better when you know that there will be a memorable moment after that where you and your beloved will march down the arch made of drawn swords and sabres. Truly a sight to behold and relatable only to military weddings.

Army Insignia:

To spice things up even more and make everyone feel like part of the Army tradition, couples can also opt for engraving custom insignia on challenge coins and presenting a coin to each guest. Professional yet affordable coins can be made by Embleholics on your big day.

It’s also worth noting here that military couples do enjoy some benefits in the form of numerous discounts when it comes to finding a professional makeup artist for the wedding or acquiring pearl wedding rings.

military1

Unsplash Image

Getting Married on Base:

Military bases of operation usually provide everything for the wedding ceremony and the reception that comes after that. You won’t have a chance of attending a wedding ceremony on base if you are invited to a civilian wedding!

There are many other things that we didn’t mention in this article, but we will leave the rest for you to imagine (although we are pretty sure that you already know of many things that should be added to our little list here). The bottom line, is that military weddings are truly different than other weddings. They never fail to create unforgettable memories and experiences for everyone.

Featured Image By: Unsplash

May 2018 Finishes

Standard
May 2018 Finishes

Hello everyone and TGIF! If you can believe it, another month is almost done here on lifewithlilred! And guess what that means – IT’S ALMOST MY BIRTHDAY! I will be turning 24 on June 7th, so do be sure to mark it in your calendars! 😉 But I digress, so let’s get on to viewing this month’s finishes:

mayy.jpeg

Would I Use Again?

  • Le Petit Marseiliais White Peach & Nectarine shower gel: YES
  • Simple Micellar Cleansing Water: YES
  • The Body Shop Satsuma scrub: YES
  • The Body Shop Vitamin C moisturizer: YES
  • The Body Shop Oils Of Life serum: YES
  • Tarte Amazonian Clay blush: YES

Why/Why Not?

LPM Shower Gel: This shower gel and brand in general is awesome. The White Peach & Nectarine scent was so invigorating every morning and, although this was a gel and not a creme, I was still left feeling moisturized after my shower. I finished this body wash in about two and a half months and I am looking forward to using the two other scents that I have by Le Petit Marseiliais soon!

Simple Micellar Water: Even though I am not a huge fan of micellar water, it is way cheaper than eye makeup remover so I am okay with it! I can’t say much for the Simple brand, because I don’t really like it. BUT, I just purchased a bottle of Garnier cleansing water, so we’ll see if I like that kind better. It took me close to two months to finish this bottle.

TBS Scrub: The scrubs from The Body Shop are a must for me when I am shaving and the Satsuma scent is always amazing! I got this as part of a Christmas gift and I got about seven uses out of one of the mini sized bottles.

TBS Moisturizer: I LOVED the Vitamin C moisturizer from The Body Shop. It lasted me two months, it sat well under makeup, and my skin felt nice and hydrated after each use. I would definitely use this again and I hope that they have it back at TJMaxx soon! 😀

TBS Serum: And, of course, I loved the Oils Of Life Serum from The Body Shop, too. One bottle lasted me for five and a half months of daily use, it sat well under makeup, AND MY SKIN FELT NICE AND HYDRATED AFTER EACH USE!!!!!! I am lucky, because I have one more bottle of this and I know that it will last me for close to another half a year!

Tarte Blush: Normally, I don’t write about makeup finishes, but this Tarte blush is different. I got it for my Sephora birthday freebie last June and I JUST FINISHED IT last week. This was my most used blush for the year. The color was gorgeous and I wish that it wasn’t just a one time birthday color. 😥

May brought me a lot more finishes than normal and it was fun being able to use up all of them – especially since I enjoyed each product so much!

Have you used any of the products seen above? What are your thoughts on them? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Two Sleepy Doggies

Standard
Two Sleepy Doggies

Howdy and TGIF! Monday is my long day at work, and by the time that I get home, all I want to do is get in my jammies, put my dogs up, and watch The Voice with my mom. Normally, my two rescue pups, Gem and Ollie, just want to play all day until everyone else goes to bed, but they must have been just as tired (Or bored with The Voice!) as I was, because they ended up falling fast asleep on the bed with my mom and I. It was so cute I could hardly stand it and I just have to share these Two Sleepy Doggies with all of you:

sleepypupssleepypups1sleepypups2

Lol, so the first picture of Gem is more for me because I think it’s hilarious. But, the other one of her and my little Ollie is just cuteness overload. My dogs are honestly the most perfect creatures on the planet and I love them oh so much. To have them curled up and snoozing away while my mom and I watched a crappy singing contest was the best way to end a long, hard day and it was just what I needed before I went to bed, myself.

How do your pets greet you after a long day? Who are you rooting for on The Voice? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Spring Style Q & A

Standard
Spring Style Q & A

Hey everyone and TGIF! Spring is a wonderful time for all fashion everything, because the winter layers finally get to be shed and an entire new aspect of ones wardrobe gets to be explored. In some ways, styling for spring and summer can be more difficult than fall and winter, because layering is definitely not a thing when the sun is in full blast. That means that you only have one opportunity to create a flattering look without the option of just throwing a jacket on or accessorizing it with a scarf and hat.

I, myself, find that I am floundering with creating warm weather looks, because it sure has been a long time. But, regardless of the above, and the fact that you have to shave more frequently – spring style can be fun! So, I came up with this Q & A to remind myself just why that is:

Q & A:

What is your favorite pattern for spring? Obviously, everyone loves florals for spring. But, that’s so overdone! I find myself really liking polka dots and cherry patterns lately for a touch of flirty vintage fun. Finding a piece of clothing that I like in those patterns has proven to be pretty difficult, though.

What is your ideal spring outfit? I am a huge fan of the maxi dress, so I would have to say one of those paired with a huge pair of platform heels, a hobo bag, and big sunglasses.

What is your perfect spring shoe? I think that mules are perfect for spring, because they’re adorable and functional. But, since I rarely wear flat shoes, I am all about the platform heel during warm weather. They add a touch of funky fun to every outfit and they are super easy to walk in.

How do you accessorize in the spring? I feel like big bags in hobo or tote style are a must for the spring so that you can carry all of your essentials in a cute vessel. Statement jewelry like bangle bracelets, bold necklaces, and dangly earrings always go over well. And, if it’s a bit blustery out, a fashion scarf worn Parisian style looks so chic!

How do you create a pretty spring MOTD? I definitely like a more natural look for spring. Pink eyeshadows and soft blushes always add a sweet touch to any look. And a nude lip is perfect to finish it off. But, a bright colored lippie is always fun, too!

Where do you find the best spring clothes? I will always be a TJMaxx girl at heart, but Express has some gorgeous pieces in their spring collection that I have been eyeing! I wish that it wouldn’t cost me an arm and a leg to get it, though. 😥

How would you describe your spring style? I think that my spring style is way more girly than any other time of the year. But, I will always try to toughen it up a little bit with a moto jacket or oversized flannel if it’s chilly or add in some black among all of the soft colors and fabrics. So, I guess I’d call it a floral rocker type of look. 😀

Do feel free to copy and paste the above questions and answer them on your page to help get your fashion sense inspired for spring!

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