Tag Archives: tjmaxx

May18

Dressed To The Nines Pt. 2 OOTD

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Dressed To The Nines Pt. 2 OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to Part Two of my Dressed To The Nines OOTDs from my cousin’s wedding weekend! Johnny and I had the most amazing time celebrating with my family and we so loved getting dressed up for such a special occasion. After my cousin’s wedding ceremony, we made a quick pit stop at the Hotel Indigo to rest and change into our reception outfits. I was very inspired by Audrey Hepburn a la Breakfast At Tiffany’s when I styled this look and am obsessed with how it turned out. I have been so excited to show you all because I think this is one of my best OOTDs yet! Check it out:

Who? What? Wear?

Dress: Lark + Grey, Ross

Gloves: These belonged to Johnny’s grandma!

Platforms: Mark Fisher, TJMaxx

I think the earrings are from Target!

As you recall from my OOTD post for the wedding ceremony, the dress code for the festivities was Creative Formal. This twelve dollar Lark + Grey dress from Ross fit under that category perfectly! While I feel terrible about cheating on my beloved TJMaxx, I just couldn’t help myself because this dress is everything. It is flirty, frilly, and oh so much fun. That fitted tank going into a cascading skirt of polka dot ruffles is so gorgeous and it moved like a dream. I couldn’t get over how it swirled and twirled when I hit the dance floor and it was received wonderfully by all of the wedding guests. I felt like a star!

All that was left to do with this dress was go straight to shoes and accessories. When I tried my dress on, I already knew exactly how I wanted to style it and did just that. I went for my Barbie pink pair of Mark Fisher platforms which played into the girly sweet vibes but also set the stage for the piece de resistance: A beautiful pair of sheer pink vintage gloves that belonged to Johnny’s grandma. I adore the length of these gloves and they added a touch of old Hollywood aesthetic to such a modern dress. Last but not least was a pair of strand of pearls earrings to further solidify the Audrey Hepburn inspiration with her favorite gem. Pearls are my ultimate fave too – Twinning!!

This OOTD was Audrey Hepburn Lil Red’s way and I am still swooning over the end results. What’s that old saying again? Steal from the best and make it your own!

Who is your celebrity style icon? What is your favorite Audrey Hepburn movie? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May9

Floral Fierce OOTD Bloopers

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Floral Fierce OOTD Bloopers

Hello everyone and welcome to the Blooper Reel from my Floral Fierce OOTD! TGIF, amiright?! I have been counting down to the end of the week since the beginning of the week lol. I just couldn’t help it because I am beyond excited for my cousin’s wedding weekend. Johnny and I simply come alive at a wedding and I just know we are all going to have a blast with my family. I can’t wait to dress to the nines, drink champagne, and dance the night away… Then tell you all about it next week! Let’s get this weekend eve started with some fun by poking some fun at these yikes shots:

Flashing a cheeky grin and looking beaver bella lol

Just having a laugh!! 😀

Here’s squinting at you, kid

My signature Squidward face

JOHNNY IS AWESOME AT TAKING PICTURES!!!!

Flamingo fierce

I am so BEAUTIFUL!!!

I have never really thought about bugs or pests before. I like butterflies, moths, ladybugs, lightening bugs, caterpillars and… that’s about it lol. However, I have been doing some content creating for a pest control company as of late and now it’s literally ALL I can think about! Thanks to this gig, I have developed quite an understanding for different Northeast Ohio pests, where they might be found, and warning signs of infestation. I really enjoy taking walks around the neighborhood and going on hikes and it has now turned into a demonstration of my newfound knowledge. I am constantly pointing things out to whoever is joining me on the trek!

Standing water from a storm? BOOM – mosquitoes. Tall grass in an unmaintained lawn? BOOM – ticks. Sodden mulch or rotted wood chips? BOOM – carpenter ants and termites lol. It’s a gift that I can’t freaking turn off to save my own life! I am one of those people who gets itchy just thinking about bugs. This was exasperated by a carpenter ant infestation in my old apartment. I woke up one night to one crawling on me and haven’t been the same since. Despite this little phobia, I do think it’s getting better because I am learning so much about these crawly creatures. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not like I want them in my home or on my skin but I guess they’re not so bad… maybe? As long as they stay the frick away from me! 😀

Every walk I have been on since starting this job has put my pest knowledge to the test. Hey, it’s always great to learn something new!

What kind of pests are in your neck of the woods? What is your favorite bug? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May7

Floral Fierce OOTD

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Floral Fierce OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! It has been such a joy to break out warm weather clothing again and I have been having a blast styling spring OOTDs. While I love dressing for fall the best, spring is a very close second! Give me all of the light jackets and sweaters, skirts, and dresses!! I am obsessed with how this Floral Fierce look turned out and was excited to sport a new top compliments of my last TJMaxx trip. This outfit turned out exactly how I pictured it in the fitting room and that is always a feather in my cap! Check it out:

Who? What? Wear?

Embroidered Blouse: Democracy, TJMaxx

Bodycon Skirt: Originality, Dry Goods

Lace Up Heels: BCBG, TJMaxx

Face Silhouette Earrings: Cynthia Rowley, TJMaxx

Outside of black and red, I am extremely partial to the color yellow because it was my grandma’s favorite and it always reminds me of her. As soon as my eyes locked on the pretty, flax yellow blouse by Democracy when I was at TJs, it was like an instant hug from her and it instantly went into the cart! This lovely little number is decked out in sweet surprises from the embroidered flowers and scooped neck to the ruffle sleeves and delicate oyster hued buttons. The material is oh so soft and light and it just feels perfect for spring!

As per my OOTD vision in the TJMaxx dressing room, I paired my blouse with a bodycon skirt by Originality. I am very fond of a good bodycon skirt and this is, hands down, one of my faves. It fits like a glove and I love the funky 70s colors in the flower power pattern. With the blouse tucked in, a pseudo dress was formed and these two pieces together are magic. The yellow of the blouse closely mimics some of the flowers in the skirt for a fully cohesive combination. I felt like the star of a garden party, or my apartment complex at least, when I was rocking it lol.

In the shoes department, I opted for a darling pair of lace up heels by BCBG. These saddle brown heels were a neutral which is exactly what I needed for this look as there were already a lot of colors and patterns. They also provided the length for mile long legs which is a must with a bodycon skirt! For accessories, I kept things minimal for the same reason as the neutral shoes. There was a lot going on! I went for an ultra cool pair of face silhouette earrings by Cynthia Rowley for a pop of bling and with that, I was ready to go!

This Floral Fierce OOTD is one of my favorite spring looks yet. Stay tuned for more fashion fun here on lifewithlilred!

What color makes you think of a loved one? What is your favorite spring staple? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May2

Skort & Sweet OOTD

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Skort & Sweet OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! Today we’re going to take a look at the fun little look I created to get some new tattoos with Johnny’s aunt. We had the most fabulous time in the studio with my tattoo artist and had a delicious meal afterwards. I think we are all chomping at the bit to get back into my artist’s chair. Johnny and I are definitely feeling the itch because one tiny tattoo apiece just wasn’t enough! Maybe I’ll have to wear another Skort & Sweet OOTD the next time too. 😀 Check it out:

Who? What? Wear?

Sweater: Lush, TJMaxx

Tennis Skort: Kyodan, TJMaxx

Heels: White Mountain, TJMaxx

Necklace: This was purchased from a vendor fair in Atlanta from an artist named John Deveer

I think the earrings are from Target?!

For this OOTD, I started from the bottom in the skort/skirt department of my wardrobe. As the weather has warmed up, I have been so enjoying wearing skirts and dresses sans tights and wanted to take advantage of the warm day we had on our outing. I opted for one of my all time favorites – a pleated tennis skort by Kyodan. I absolutely love it! The sheer pleating over the shapewear shorts adds a pop of sex appeal along with the most charming movement. It is flouncy, oh so fun, and as a bonus – you don’t even have to wear it to play tennis lol! 🙂

While it was nice outside, it can sometimes get chilly in a tattoo shop so I went for a thin sweater by Lush on top. This sweater was just right as it is slightly thicker than a T-shirt material which provided a bit of extra warmth without feeling like I was overheating. Although the palette of this little number looks more like autumn, I like it year round all the same because fall colors are my forever fave. I adored the way that the pleating from the skirt poked out beneath the oversize sweater and it made for a really unique silhouette.

Finally, it was onto shoes and accessories. For shoes, I went with a darling pair of heeled Mary Janes by White Mountain. The chocolate colored heel was ideal with the fall hues of the sweater and those stud details are the cutest. These heels are comfy AF and I could walk for miles in style with them! In the accessories department, I chose a gorgeous handmade necklace by John Deveer and it blended into the outfit seamlessly. I slipped on a pair of amber gemstone earrings and then it was off to get some ink!

Stay tuned for the Blooper Reel from my Skort & Sweet OOTD and lots more fashion fun on lifewithlilred! ❤

Do you have any handmade jewelry? What is the comfiest pair of heels you own? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May1

April 2026 Finishes

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April 2026 Finishes

Hello everyone and happy May!! April in Ohio brought all of the showers so here’s to hoping for beautiful May flowers for all! Before we jump into this new month, let’s jump back slightly to discuss the beauty products I finished up in April. There weren’t too many but they were all very nice *Borat voice* and I would definitely use them again! You ready? Let’s get to it:

Would I Use Again?

Evoluderm Micellar Water: YES!!!!

Bath & Body Works Vampire Blood Body Cream: YES

Glow Elixir Hyaluronic & Retinol Serum: YES

Why/Why Not?

Evoluderm Micellar Water: I have been using the Evoluderm Micellar Water faithfully for I don’t even know how long and it is, hands down, the best I have ever used. It is so gentle and hydrating but so effective on makeup removal with no harsh scrubbing required. About a year or so ago, TJMaxx began carrying the mega bottles of Evoluderm and I always have to buy one when I see them. The last micellar water I used was completed in mid January and this bottle lasted me until the middle of April. That is fantastic value for every day use!

B&BW Body Cream: I loves me the B&BW body cream, however, I am happy that I finished my bottle of Vampire Blood up before the weather started heating up. I only wear lotion before bed and it can get rather stuffy in my apartment. The B&BW body cream is nice but it is SO heavy and makes me sweat like crazy when it is warm at chez nous in the evening. It’s a fantastic product and so nourishing but I like to swap to the classic and light B&BW lotion come the late spring and summer weather. It took two and a half weeks of once daily use to finish this bottle and, as always, Vampire Blood is their best Halloween scent. 😀

Glow Elixir Serum: I have been using my bottle of Glow Elixir Hyaluronic & Retinol serum since the end of February and just finished it a little over a week ago. That is awesome for twice daily use! This is the third or so time I have purchased this serum from TJs and I will continue to do so every time I see it. It is SO freaking nice! The Glow Elixir serum is thin and light but oh so hydrating and brightening too. My skin looks fresh and simply glows with every use and a little of it goes such a long way. A dime sized amount allows for full face and neck coverage and it is a perfect year round product. Highly recommend!

These April finishes were short and sweet but they all packed a punch. Definitely give any of these products a go if you see them in stores!

Which products did you use up this past month? What are your thoughts on any of the above products if you have used them before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr29

Crop Top Cutie OOTD Bloopers

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Crop Top Cutie OOTD Bloopers

Greetings, earthlings! How are you? I am currently in a state of freaking annoyed AF, thanks for asking. As I began typing this, a freaking fly that has posted up in my apartment was doing acrobatics around my head and it is driving me absolutely batty! It is seriously the most lousy roommate ever SMH. Woo… *Deep breaths* Okay! I know I could use a laugh so let’s get to this Blooper Reel, baby! Take a look at these yikes shots from my Crop Top Cutie OOTD:

Johnny is a master photographer ❤

Time and time again, he always captures me from my good side

Just standing here looking pissed about something or another

Caught in the headlights lol

Looking like that horror movie Smile lol say cheese!

I am an avid bookworm and try my best to finish at least two or so books per month. Whenever I have any spare time during the day, you can almost always catch me with my nose in a book! This past week, I began reading a book called Darkwater Lane by Rachel Caine and Carrie Ryan and was very intrigued by the plot. Then, about sixty pages in, I realized that something wasn’t quite adding up. Throughout the first handful of pages I read, the author was referring to plot points and characters that seemed important. I assumed that it would be clarified later but it kept on happening. And, as you all know, assume makes an ass out of U and ME!

Once I was fed up enough with feeling out of the loop, I decided to give the book a little Google and *face palm*. It’s no wonder nothing was making sense because it was the last book in a seven book series lololol. In my defense, there was literally nothing on the back of this book or its first few pages to indicate that it was part of a series so how was I supposed to know? In hindsight, I should have looked it up earlier but I was already invested! On the bright side, I have a new series to read and got the first book, Stillhouse Lake, from the library. Stay tuned for a Lil Red’s Book Club review coming soon and, in conclusion, SMFH.

This book blunder was a definite whoopsy daisy on my end so I guess the moral of the story is: Always check if you are starting a book at the end of a series first lol!

What is your favorite book series? Have you ever started a series not at the beginning? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr28

Crop Top Cutie OOTD

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Crop Top Cutie OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! I am writing this on Friday the 24th and TGIF, amiright? I don’t know about all of you but last week was a freaking DOOZY for me so bring on the sweet, sweet weekend and here’s to a more low key week! Mama needs it lol. I hope that wherever you are, spring is springing so hard and you are enjoying time in the great outdoors. It has felt SO good to go on long hikes again and my brother and I are already on our way to completing our third year of the Spring Hiking Spree. While the look you are about to see would be no good on the trails, it sure is cute! Check it out:

Who? What? Wear?

Crop Top: This was purchased forever ago at PacSun

Pantaloons: Oat New York, TJMaxx

Embroidered Platforms: Sbicca, ModCloth

I think the earrings are from Target?

When it comes to styling OOTDs, I always begin building an outfit around a focal point. In this case, it was my new Oat New York pantaloons from my most recent TJMaxx trip. I am absolutely in love with these bad boys and was so excited to break them out! As you all know, I am a sucker for all things embroidered and those flowers adorning these slacks are such a fun and unique touch. While I basically live in skinny jeans, I do enjoy a slouchier fit and the straight leg of the pants provided wiggle room without looking oversized.

My rule of thumb when I am wearing a looser fit is to always pair it with something tighter so I am not drowning in the look. So, I chose an itty bitty crop from my PacSun days to wear on top. How adorable is that “he loves me, he loves me not” motif? This crop top is literally as old as dirt and I hate to age myself but it is probably close to fifteen years old. Lol, I refuse to part with it because I just like it so much! And, it comes in handy for OOTDs just like this!

In the shoes and accessories department, I opted for a fabulous pair of baby blue embroidered platforms by Sbicca. The light tan threading on the embroidered flowers was an almost perfect match to the pants and that really pleased me. 😀 It also added a nice little pop of color to an otherwise neutral palette. In the spring and summer, I like to let my tattoos do all of the talking for accessories since they spent the fall and winter covered up. I swear, when it warms up I genuinely forgot I even had half of the tattoos that I do lol. A simple pair of cross earrings was the move and, with that, I was ready to rock!

Simple, sweet, and a look that can be easily replicated this Crop Top Cutie OOTD had me swooning!

Do you have any embroidered clothing in your wardrobe? What are your favorite colors to wear in the spring? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr27

So Spring OOTD Bloopers

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So Spring OOTD Bloopers

Howdy everyone and welcome to the Blooper Reel from my So Spring OOTD! I love creating content of all kinds but OOTDs just hit different as they are a triple whammy. I’ve got the pics that definitely made the cut, the yikes shots, and a little TikTok video for good measure. OOTDs are where my creativity and personality truly shine – especially in the bloopers! I am a huge goof and am always laughing at myself and it just makes me happy to showcase that. What fun is life if you can’t have a chuckle at your own expense? Let’s all have a titter together with these shots:

Looking like those balloon things outside of a car dealership

The focus and sheer determination of an Olympic gymnast to strike this pose

Talk about wind in the hair, amiright?

Fighting for my damn life here

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

Who? Me?

When I was FaceTiming with my blogging bestie last weekend, we took a trip down memory lane. We always have to discuss which shows we’re binging and DVDs were brought up. We both agreed that two decades ago, our minds would have been blown if we knew that all of our favorite entertainment would be collected onto streaming services. We had fond memories of visiting the library to check out movies, hitting up BlockBuster for rentals, and treasure hunting in the DVD bargain bin at Walmart. The last example definitely hit hard for me.

When I moved into my first apartment, all I had for entertainment was a small TV, DVD player, and a handful of movies to watch on repeat. As I was ballin on a budget, I straight up refused to pay for streaming services and I couldn’t even if I wanted to because the TV was old as dirt. To rectify this, I became obsessed with the five dollar DVDs at Target, Walmart, or 5 Below. Whenever I visited any of those stores, I always walked away with a couple of new movies to add to my collection. Then, I would go home, cook my dinner, and watch whatever I selected.

Was it the most practical? Not really. However, I was so proud and happy with my little dollhouse apartment and my after work movies quickly became my favorite tradition. When Johnny and I started dating, he introduced me to his plethora of streaming services and our running joke was that it was the only reason we were together. It’s totally true! Lolol, I am totally kidding! Despite the streaming services we have now, I still have my DVD collection proudly displayed and it was so much fun to reminisce on them with my best girl. Should streaming services ever go extinct, I have a healthy five dollar movie selection on standby! 😀

It’s so crazy to think about how entertainment has changed since the 2000s and my chit chat and DVDs hit me right in the nostalgia!

Do you still have DVDs at home? What is your favorite streaming service? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr26

So Spring OOTD

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So Spring OOTD

Howdy! Spring weather in Ohio has been flip flopping hard and I honestly can’t keep up. It goes from the seventies to the thirties in a snap and it’s just all around confusing and, frankly, annoying lol. It is impossible to get the apartment to a comfortable temperature and it is always too hot, too cold, and never just right. Where’s Goldilocks when you need her?! On the blessedly warm days, it has been so nice to break out some spring clothes like the ones in this super cute OOTD. Check it out:

Who? What? Wear?

Cami Top: Banana Republic, TJMaxx

Mini Skort: Kyodan, TJMaxx

Platforms: Free People, TJMaxx

Earrings: You can’t really see them but they are made out of Lego by AbbieDabbles!

Both bracelets were purchased forever ago from Aerie!

This little look is simple and incredibly easy to replicate but oh so much fun! When it comes to dressing for the warm weather, a skort/cami combo can’t be beat to keep cool AND serve fashion. I started this OOTD by browsing in my cami collection and decided on an adorable floral number by Banana Republic. I just love all of the sweet colors that this top features and am a huge fan of the fit. The V-neck is high enough that I still feel comfortable in it and I really appreciate the thicker strap to keep my bra straps in check. I never really care if I have bra straps showing but this top conceals them perfectly making this look girly sweet over sexy chic.

Next on the agenda was a skirt or skort and I picked one of my favorites by Kyodan. The skorts I own from this brand are meant to be worn playing tennis. I don’t play tennis nor do I have the desire to but this skort still serves! See what I did there? I freaking loves me a skort and actually just added a new one into my wardrobe. They are just right for being on the go and not worrying about a sneak peek of my underoos lol. This stark white skort made all of the pretty colors in the cami pop even harder and provides such delightful movement. I loved shimmying and shaking in it when I went to see The Struts last year! 😀

Finally, it was onto shoes and accessories. For shoes, I opted for a darling pair of platforms by Free People. It was a close match to the red flowers in the top and tied this look together from head to toe. I also can’t get enough of those studs and the wrap around strap! In the accessories department, I went for the cutest pair of Lego earrings. They have a ladybug sitting on top of a green leaf and, although you can’t see them, I know that they’re there and that’s good enough for me. I added a few cuff bracelets to the mix and was ready to rock in my So Spring OOTD!

The weather might be ping ponging but no matter what the forecast shows, I am always ready to style for whatever season the day may bring!

What does a typical spring outfit look like for you? What is spring weather like in your neck of the woods? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr18

Bunny Pug!!!!

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Bunny Pug!!!!

Hello!! While Halloween will always be my favorite home decor season, Easter is a very close second because I love all things BUNNIES!! I am a proud bunny mom to my precious Melvin and Penelope and I always like to get a few pieces of bunny decor per year to honor their existence. A few weeks ago my mom and I went on a shopping trip to TJMaxx and I just might have found my favorite bunny statue to grace our knick knack shelves yet. I present to you the bunny pug:

^^^ Look at that wittle face!!!

As my mom and I browsed the home decor department, I was so pleased to see that all of the Easter items were marked down significantly. Surprisingly, I didn’t even notice the bunny pug and I’m genuinely not sure how because it’s quite the statement. Thanks to my mom’s eagle eye she pointed it out and it went into the cart immediately. This sweet statue was just six bucks and that is a steal! I thought it was the funniest thing and I knew Johnny would love it too. Especially because it looks like the pug is wearing the pink bunny suit from A Christmas Story – one of our faves!

I was so excited to show Johnny my find when I got home from work and walked through the door with TJs and grocery bags in tow. Then, the unspeakable happened. As I put my shopping down, my bunny pug knocked into one of my curio cabinets and my heart sank. I just knew that something broke and, indeed, one of the ears came clean off. I was SO sad! In a flash, I broke out my emergency super glue in case of a broken acrylic and set to work to fix the whoopsie daisy. Sadly, the glue was not strong enough and my heart sank further. 😦

I am pleased to report that the broken ear surgery was only postponed to the following day compliments of my Johnny. He got some super strength super glue after work and fixed it for me as soon as he got home. When I got back from my shift a half an hour or so later he surprised me with the repaired bunny pug and I was over the moon! It made me so happy and it was so thoughtful of him to see the problem and solve it the very next day. What a guy! ❤

My bunny pug recuperated nicely after his ear surgery and I can’t help but smile every time I see it! 🙂

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