Tag Archives: THANKS

Liebster Award #7

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Liebster Award #7

Hii everyone and happy Monday! Yesterday, I was nominated by the darling Lindsay at Lindsay Rose for my lucky number seventh Liebster Award! It was such a lovely little surprise because it’s no secret that I love doing these award posts. Please make sure to give Lindsay’s page some love because it’s a real gem! Thank you again, beautiful! Now, let’s get to the rules:

The Rules:

  • Thank the person who nominated you and link back to his/her blog.
  • Copy and paste the Liebster Award badge to your post.
  • Answer the questions the person who nominated you asked.
  • List some fun facts about yourself.
  • Create ten new questions for the bloggers you are nominating.
  • Notify the bloggers that you have nominated by leaving a comment on their blog.

Q & A:

1. What country do you live in?

I live in the USA.

2. How old are you?

I am 22.

3. Why did you start blogging?

Because enough people told me that I should so I rolled my eyes and said “fine”!!

4. If you had 3 wishes, what would you do?

If I told you, they wouldn’t come true!

5. Describe your personality in three words.

Caring, exuberant, unique.

6. What does success mean to you?

Doing what you love for a living.

7. What is your pet peeve?

Uhmmmm…I really hate when people make the quotes from memes their Facebook statuses and everyone thinks that it’s really funny but it was the meme that was funny, not the person. #petty hahaha

8. What are you fearful of?

I hate spiders, bridges make me wary, and cats.

9. You’re on a desert island and can take two items what would you choose?

A lawn chair and a bottle of rum!

10. Can you drive?

Yep, I drive a red 2012 Mazda 2 hatchback and it’s basically the love of my life.

11. What is your favorite feature of yourself?

My hair, of course!

Fun Facts:

  • I love all things horror! Books, movies, haunted houses. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is my fave and I currently love all things Jack Ketchum.
  • I read every night and am working on rereading Joanne Harris’s Gentlemen & Players.
  • I have very long, sharp acrylic nails that I love and only wear black nail polish with an accent color on my pointer fingers.
  • I love piercings and tattoos and am always looking to add to my collection.
  • I’ve been a vegetarian for very well over ten years now and couldn’t imagine a different lifestyle.

My Nominees (I’m only doing three):

My Questions For You:

  1. What is your favorite junk food?
  2. What was your favorite childhood toy?
  3. Would you rather wear no makeup for a month or the same outfit for a week?
  4. What is something that you are proud of?
  5. What is one goal that you have for your future?
  6. What is your favorite store to shop at?
  7. How would you describe your look?
  8. Do you have any weird or hidden talents?
  9. What is your favorite color to wear?
  10. What characteristics do you look for in a friend?

Lots of love to Lindsay for the nomination for my seventh Liebster Award! You’re a doll. How would you answer some of Lindsay’s questions? How about some of mine? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Think Spring Guest Bloggers Series Conclusion

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Think Spring Guest Bloggers Series Conclusion

Hello everyone! I hope that all of you enjoyed my Think Spring guest bloggers series and are now looking forward to the wonderful season that is on the horizon. Thank you to all of my amazing guest bloggers that took part in making this series a success and all of you are welcome back on lifewithlilred anytime! BUT WAIT. There’s more…

I mentioned on a previous post that one of my darling friends, Angela, was creating a special spring time fragrance for the series and that still is a go. Unfortunately, we couldn’t tack it on after Nida’s post because Angela had quite a busy month moving into her new home! But, nevertheless, she is experimenting with scents as we speak and there will soon be a gorgeous spring roll on oil on her Etsy shop for my readers. We will also be offering a promo code, as well, so be on the lookout for the post announcing it! Congratulations on your move, Angela!

Thank you again to my guest bloggers and the scent queen herself, Angela, for helping to create such a fun series on my page! What is your favorite season? What is your favorite part of spring? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Blogger Recognition Award #3

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Blogger Recognition Award #3

Hi everyone and happy Hump Day! My beautiful blogging BFF, Nida, from Shopaholic Blogs was kind enough to nominate lifewithlilred for its third Blogger Recognition Award! Nida is one of my dearest blogging friends and has been featured on my page quite often. You can see her most recent work in a spring themed OOTD for my Think Spring guest bloggers series. I absolutely adore Nida and I know that all of you will too, so make sure to check out her page and give it some love! Now, for the rules:

The Rules:

Thank the blogger who nominated you and provide a link to their blog.
Write a post to show your award.
Give a brief story of how your blog started.
Give two pieces of advice to new bloggers.
Select 15 other bloggers you want to give this award to.
Comment on each blog and let them know you have nominated them and provide the link to the post you created.

Because lifewithlilred has already completed this award, as seen here, I am just going to move right along to my nominations. Definitely check out the original post if you are interested in reading about the birth of my blog baby, though!

My Nominees (I am only doing three!):

Thank you again to the lovely Nida for the nomination! Love you! How did you start your blog? Who is enjoying a marg today for National Margarita Day (ME!)? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

5 Gadgets That Can Make Your Life Easier

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Hi everyone and happy weekend! This post is compliments of my friend, Amelia, from thetrustcompass. In a world full of gizmos and gadgets, this article is dedicated to helping you pick out the best new toys possible to make your day to day life a total breeze. Check out Amelia’s author bio and then read on for the latest in the technology that you need ASAP:

Hello, Amelia here from thetrustcompass.com! I am a technology expert and have experience writing for several websites. When it comes to anything technology related, Thetrustcompass is your one stop destination. It has useful posts on a wide range of topics and detailed reviews of products related to technology, outdoor games, and health to help buyers make informed choices and spend their money wisely.

5 Gadgets That Can Make Your Life Easier

Today, more than ever, we are highly dependent on tech gadgets to help us run our life, and luckily, more and more smart products are doing just that. They connect to our phone, so we can operate them remotely, which gives us more time to focus on chores that need winding, or grab a few more minutes of rest and recuperation.

But do all gadgets truly uncomplicate our lives? Yes, cutting-edge phones and 4K TVs are worth drooling over, but are very heavy on the wallet, too. A fitness tracker might help us live healthier, but being constantly nagged by a device isn’t very zen. A drone might aid in capturing some beautiful angles, but only if you’re adept at not crashing it. A smartphone might let you communicate with anyone in the world, but too much social media can be pervasive and pesky. State-of-the-art VR kits and the best 3D pens are taking innovation to a new level, but a good gadget should not only be solving the problem, but also making life easier.

The best tech devices are ones that make some part of our day easier, whether it’s getting ready for work, cooking a meal, sticking to our walks, or just catching the morning news. There are devices that make all of this possible with no more effort on our part than setting up an accompanying app. Below, we’ve rounded up a few gadgets that can add to our day, but don’t demand much in return and none of them will wind up being ‘another thing to worry about’.

1 – Amazon Echo Dot

The Amazon Echo Dot is a hands-free, Bluetooth speaker that can be operated with voice commands. The Dot can be synced with your wireless router and all of your smart devices including Nest and Samsung SmartThings, as well as other wirelessly controlled lights, fans, and sprinklers. You can tell the Dot to “play my music” to stream Prime Music, Spotify, or IHeartRadio through the device, your headphones, or Bluetooth speakers. The Dot will tell you how bad the traffic is, what weather can be expected, and list movie show timings. You can ask the Dot to tell you headlines from sources like NPR, CNN, Bloomberg, and Discovery News while you’re getting dressed, so that you know the latest buzz before you leave the door in the morning. These features help make everyday tasks a little easier. Tring! That’s your Dot reminding you to take that cake out of the oven- it works as an alarm clock, too.

2 – The Universal Switch

With dozens of tech gadgets buzzing in our instant environment, what if we had one super ‘switch of all switches’ that could turn on or off all electrical activity in a second, at our will, and without us getting off the couch?  Enter The Belkin WeMo Insight Switch! This Switch is a standard plug, but on steroids! It plugs into an existing AC outlet, connects to your WiFi network, and then lets you turn on or off whatever is plugged into the outlets, through its app- a lamp, fan, space heater, or what have you. If you suspect a device is using too much energy, you could have it automatically shut down once it hits a certain cost for the day. It even works with Amazon Echo, which is super convenient.

3 – Power Bank

Picture these scenarios: You’re hiking on top of a mountain, taking panoramic shots of the scenic sights, and as you reach the summit, your phone decides it’s time to play dead. Or you’re trying to drive with your phone’s GPS app, and your phone decides to leave you hanging. Chances are, you’ve probably been in a situation where your phone has died at the most inopportune time. That’s why, a portable battery charger, or Power Bank is something that you should definitely invest into. It gives you the freedom and power to power up to three dead devices while you’re out and about and not near a power source. These power banks are small and super-easy to carry. The next time your phone dies before you can call that cab home, you know what you have to do.

4 – Tile

If you’re forgetful or have too many gizmos to keep track of, the Tile Mate is made for you. This little gadget is designed to loop onto or attach to, well, just about anything else you own. Once attached, the tracker sends location data to an app on your phone. If you don’t know where you put your keys, you can send the Tile Mate command to ring. The diminutive Bluetooth tracker can talk with (and remotely ring) your phone from over 100 feet away, telling you exactly where you left your particular item. If you’re worried you might lose something valuable, throw a Tile on it.

5 – Google Chromecast

The Google Chromecast is one of the best ways to use your regular TV as a smart device. The small, circular device plugs into an HDMI port on your television. Once there and connected to your Wireless internet, it can stream a heady range of entertainment apps, such as Netflix, Go, Hulu, and HBO. Just plug it in, pair it with your phone, tap your app’s Cast button, and enjoy. The $35 price-sticker doesn’t hurt, either. If you’ve ever wanted to smarten up your speakers, the Chromecast Audio is just as simple to use. Chromecast comes with thousands of apps and more than 30 million songs and radio stations. Better yet, it includes a mirroring feature so you can beam what’s on your Android phone to the TV.

Get yourself equipped with these smart gadgets and make your life a walk in the park!

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^^^ Thank you again to Amelia for updating my readers on the latest and greatest technology that’s on the market! What is one gadget that you can’t live without? Do you think you could handle a day without your smartphone? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Elegance Meets Minimalism – Scandinavian Inspired Interior Design

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Elegance Meets Minimalism – Scandinavian Inspired Interior Design

Hi everyone and TGIF! Today, I have a special guest post written by the queen of home decor, Chloe, for all of us. Miss Chloe has been featured on lifewithlilred quite a few times before so let’s give her a warm welcome back and get to it:

Elegance Meets Minimalism – Scandinavian Inspired Interior Design

What better way to introduce some chic minimalism into your own home than taking inspiration from Scandinavian interior design trends? An elegant, clutter-free yet unique and cozy home can be easily achieved with some tweaks here and there. It’s important that you adopt a minimalist way of thinking, so that the Scandi style can truly enrich your personal environment. If you’re not sure how to go about these intricate design changes, keep on reading:

1. White As Snow

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Love that chair!

Clean white walls and floors are one of the main features of minimalist Scandinavian style. The brightness and pureness of white perfectly resembles Scandinavian’s cool and chic atmosphere. What’s more, white makes any space look visually bigger, which creates a perfect canvas for your furniture and pieces of room decor.

Of course, you can introduce other colors through accessories, but make sure that they too fuse the natural vibe of Scandinavian style into a livable space.

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 Coolness in the kitchen

2. Sleek Lighting

You have several options when it comes to proper lighting solutions that will only accentuate the elegance of your interior. You can opt for statement chandeliers with sleek lines yet bold forms. On the other hand, you can also play with several ceiling lamps in smaller sizes that can change the look of your room depending on their position. When it comes to Scandinavian-inspired interior design, it’s essential that you make the most out of natural sunlight. But, since artificial light is still a must, try to opt for bright white bulbs that don’t put strain on the eyes.

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Tres Chic

3. Go Easy On Decor

The minimalist approach suggests a complete absence of clutter. Still, this doesn’t mean that your home should look plain or lack personality. In order to add a touch of elegance, go for contemporary modern details such as metallic frames, fruit bowls, plant pots, and candles. Of course, you can add your own twist to these accessories and play with more white, or opt for matching wooden frames, bowls, pots, and furniture.

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Minimalist with a twist

Since Scandi style is all about natural minimalism, you can also introduce stone as one of the accent materials for your accessories. When it comes to wall decor, it’s recommended that you keep things as simple as possible. Some people enjoy leaving their walls completely bare, but you can also add some extra texture and warmth with inspiring pieces of art that match the overall theme. The best way to tone down the coolness of such an environment is definitely the use of rugs and cushions, and these can act as a perfect pop of color. Still, make sure that the hues are not too bold and vibrant.

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Accessorize those walls

4. Functional Furniture & Layout

The elegance and minimalism of Scandinavian style are not only for the show. As you invest your time in redesigning your home, you should keep in mind both the form and functionality of your furniture. Depending on the room’s size, you can efficiently choose the pieces of furniture that you get a lot of use from.

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Sharp lines and neutral hues

Clean lines yet bold forms make for a perfect combo when it comes to fusing elegance and minimalism, since the furniture will act as an accessory on its own without losing its functionality. You shouldn’t sacrifice your comfort – quite the opposite. Therefore, it’s recommended that you rearrange your sofas, chairs, tables, and other odds and ends so that you have complete freedom of movement. Of course, you don’t have to stick with an ordinary layout. As long as you feel cozy, you can play with different positions until you find the most artistic yet pleasant arrangement.

5. Don’t Overlook Anything

True elegance means perfect harmony. In that respect, you shouldn’t neglect any area of your home. Usually, people put most of their efforts into the decor and design of their kitchen, living room, and bedroom, yet lose the interest when it comes to hallways and bathrooms. This is one of the biggest mistakes that you can make if you really value a minimal approach and Scandinavian-inspired style.

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TEDDY!!

Hallways can be transformed into cozy entrance areas with the help of greenery and warm rugs. On the other hand, perfect designer bathrooms can be achieved with white tiles, minimalist product arrangement, and some plants. A big sleek mirror would look great in both small and big bathrooms, as well. If you plan to invest more of your time and money in this intimate area of your home, stand-alone tubs will make a great final touch to your elegantly minimal design.

Before you start any major work, make sure to get rid of the clutter first. Go through everything you own and assess just how often you use or wear something. Do you enjoy all of your accessories and do they all really make an important part of your decor? Once the unnecessary things are out of the way, you’ll find it a lot easier to introduce Scandinavian design style fused with your individuality.

^^^ Thank you so much to Chloe for teaching us all about the minimalist chic Scandinavian home decor style! It’s always a pleasure to have you on lifewithlilred. Is your home decor style minimalist or eclectic? Do you prefer neutral hues or bold and bright colors? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Mystery Blogger Award

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Mystery Blogger Award

Another award?! Ahhhh! Thank you so much to the darling Juli for nominating me for the Mystery Blogger Award. What a fabulous surprise to wake up to two awards this morning! Juli’s page at Blonde’s Tea is a wonderful blog to get lost in so definitely take a look and give her some love. And also, shout out to Enigma who is the creator of this award! OKAY, let’s see the rules:

The Rules:

  • Display the award logo on your blog.
  • List the rules.
  • Thank the blogger who nominated you and provide a link to their blog.
  • Mention the creator of the award and provide a link as well.
  • Tell your readers three things about yourself.
  • Answer five questions from the nominee.
  • Nominate anywhere from ten to twenty bloggers.
  • Notify the bloggers by leaving a comment on their blog.
  • Ask your nominees any five questions of your choice, including one weird or funny question.
  • Share the link to your best post.

Three Facts About Me:

  1.  Whenever I am working on the ol’ blog, my sweet little pup named Ollie always sits at my feet and it’s basically the cutest thing ever. My other dog, Gem, could care less.
  2.  I really would love to get a pet dwarf rabbit named Floppy. The only requirements is that it’s a female and that she’s black like my soul.
  3.  Taco Bell and getting my nails done are my two vices. I couldn’t live without my acrylics and my burritos! ❤

Q & A:

Favorite place you’ve visited?

Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. I’ve been there twice and constantly think about going there again! Harry Potter World is my favorite place to be!

A place you’d love to visit?

Europe, Europe, and oh yeah – Europe.

Your dream job?

It sounds silly, but I would love to be a fashion model! Ugh, the clothes, the lifestyle, everything about it just sounds like a dream to me.

If you could have 3 wishes, what would you wish? (more or infinite wishes is not an answer)

If I told you, my wishes wouldn’t come true.

Something you can’t live without?

My beloved car!! I work multiple jobs which all consist of driving so I would be nowhere (literally) without the Little Red Love Machine.

My Nominees (I’m only doing three):

My Questions For You:

  1. Would you rather wear the same outfit for two weeks or no makeup for a month?
  2.  What is something that you have accomplished that you are proud of?
  3.  What is your favorite junk food to snack on?
  4.  How long have you been blogging?
  5.  If you had a gift card filled with one thousand dollars, what are some things that you would buy with it?

Thank you so much again to the darling Juli for the nomination! You’re a doll! How would you answer some of Juli’s questions? How about mine? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

One Lovely Blog Award #4

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One Lovely Blog Award #4

Heyy everyone and happy Hump Day! Oh my goodness! So many awards, so little time – but thankfully, I freaking love doing these posts so it’s time well spent. Super special thanks to one of my darling friends, Jackie, for nominating me for my fourth One Lovely Blog Award. Miss Jackie is going to be one of my featured bloggers for my Think Spring series so be on the lookout for her in the next couple of weeks but, until then, check out her page here! Okay, let’s get to the rules:

The Rules:

  • Thank the person that nominated you and leave a link to their blog
  • Post about the award
  • Share seven facts about yourself
  • Nominate at most 15 people
  • Tell your nominees the good news

Seven Facts About Me:

  1. I love to read and am currently on my seventh book of 2017 already – All The Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy.
  2. I have a weakness for getting hooked on different television series. I’ve rewatched Orange Is The New Black and Wentworth three times each and have grown increasingly fond of Face Off again on SyFy.
  3.  I coach figure skating for the Special Olympics and will be enjoying the banquet party to celebrate tonight. And soon, I will start coaching my friend, Dana’s, little girl so that will be fun!
  4.  I love all things food as long as it doesn’t have meat in it because I am a strict vegetarian. I love to cook, bake, and EAT!
  5.  My current favorite adult beverage is the Moscow Mule – I’m obsessed!
  6.  I am dedicated to improving my French speaking skills for when I eventually go to Paris and have been listening to French tapes in my car for the past year.
  7.  I have four tattoos and eight piercings and am always thinking about getting more! It’s a curse!

My Nominees (I’m only doing three):

Thank you so much again to Jackie for the nomination! You’re the best! What is one fun fact about yourself? How do you shake away the midweek blahs? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Blogger Recognition Award #2

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Blogger Recognition Award #2

HEY! My friends in the blogging world were kind enough to nominate me for my second Blogger Recognition Award this week! Thank you so much to the darling Fashionably Eva for the nomination and everyone please check out her blog and give it some love – I’m sure all of you will enjoy her page! I know I do! Because I literally just did a post for the Blogger Recognition Award, I thought that I would only post the rules and who I nominate so check it out:

The Rules:

  1. Thank the blogger who nominated you and provide a link to their blog.
  2. Write a post to show your award.
  3. Give a brief story of how you started your blog.
  4. Give two pieces of advice to new bloggers.
  5. Select 15 other bloggers you want to give this award to.
  6. Comment on each blog and let them know you have nominated them and provide a link to the post you created.

My Nominees (I’m only doing three!):

Thank you so much again to the lovely Miss Fashionably Eva for the nomination – you’re a doll! Have a fab Monday, everyone! Much love. -Sarah

Blogger Recognition Award

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Blogger Recognition Award

Hiii everyone and TGIF! So I was nominated by my darling friend, Jackie, over at Makeup & Beyond for the Blogger Recognition Award. I love doing these things, I think that they are so fun so many thanks to Jackie for the nomination! Jackie is a good friend of mine with a fabulous page so please make sure to check it out AND be on the lookout for a guest post from her on my Think Spring series coming soon to lifewithlilred. Okay, let’s get to it:

The Rules:

Thank the blogger who nominated you and provide a link to their blog.
Write a post to show your award.
Give a brief story of how your blog started.
Give two pieces of advice to new bloggers.
Select 15 other bloggers you want to give this award to.
Comment on each blog and let them know you have nominated them and provide the link to the post you created.

How lifewithlilred Started:

So about two and a half years ago when my blog baby, lifewithlilred, was just being conceived, I was getting ready to start college at Tri-C. I was going on my fourth year of working a shitty retail job and was at a place in my life where I felt like I wasn’t really doing much of anything. I had always been commended by many people for my personal style and had often been urged by others to create a blog because they would definitely read it.

Finally, after the millionth time of being advised to start a blog, I rolled my eyes and said “fine” and got to work. Lil Red was a nickname given to me because of my bright red hair and lipstick by one of my favorite coworkers so I knew that I wanted to incorporate that into my blog title somehow. lifewithlilred just seemed to roll off the tongue perfectly and after a name was settled, I went from there. Two and a half years later and I am read in over one hundred and seventy countries and I could not be more thankful for my beloved readers and the encouragement to start this crazy little slice of my life website by my friends and strangers many moons ago! ❤

My Advice:

  1. Network Yourself: I hate to say to be that annoying person who constantly talks about your blog – but be that annoying person who constantly talks about your blog. No one will know your page even exists without help from word of mouth, social media, and interacting with fellow bloggers. Post your page on Facebook, make your own Facebook page for your blog, and like and comment on posts on the WordPress newsfeed. You will be giving yourself exposure as well as making awesome new friends!
  2. Work Hard: Blogging has this preconceived notion that it’s going to be easy peasy lemon squeezey and you will be a famous blogger after a week. That’s not the case. It took me over a year of hard work to get a barely stable following of readers and after two and a half years, I am still not where I want to be. But that’s okay! If you love to write, then blogging is an amazing hobby and not a chore. If you are only in it to make money or toy with the possibility of working from home, then I wouldn’t quit your day job!

My Nominees (I am only doing three!):

Once again, thank you to Jackie for the nomination for the Blogger Recognition Award and I can’t wait to host you on my page soon! What is everyone up to this weekend? Any big plans? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Bath & Body Works January Freebie

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Bath & Body Works January Freebie

Hii everyone and happy Thursday! So this month I was growing increasingly wary that Bath & Body Works was finally on to the fact that whenever I come into the store, it’s usually just to cash in my freebie coupons. I had not received anything in December so by late January, I assumed that my free ride was over. But, as they say, assume makes an ass out of you and me because this past week I received some of my beloved freebie coupons in the mail. I was really happy about this because after the holiday season, my hoard was beginning to run dry thanks to peppering many a gift with a few travel sized goodies. Lucky for me, I was able to add to the stock pile with these two lotions:

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On Tuesday, I picked up a travel size Pink Cashmere and Magic In The Air lotion. I really like the Pink Cashmere scent because it smells so barely there light which is perfect for someone who doesn’t like an overpowering fragrance. I am one of those people so if I decide to keep this one for myself or gift it, I know that it will be a hit either way. I also LOVE, love, love the packaging for this lotion. It is so girly, soft, and pretty which was the perfect way to go for such a delicate scent.

Magic In The Air is one of B&BW’s winter fragrances and will definitely be one that I’ll be saving for the next holiday season (or perhaps a giveaway!). It won’t do much good to gift someone with a wintery floral scent for a summer birthday! Regardless, I think that this lotion smells really pretty! It has a lovely winter berry scent layered with some sweet florals, which is all combined with the freshness in the air that comes with a crisp winter wind. Normally, I’m not one for floral fragrances but Magic In The Air is one that I can get down with!

I am so #blessed that Bath & Body Works decided to bestow more freebie coupons onto me and am looking forward to refilling my stock pile with lots of wonderful smell goods!

So there you have it, my Bath & Body Works January Freebie! Who thinks that I should do a lotion giveaway? What is your favorite B&BW scent? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah