Tag Archives: tjmaxx

Feb18

A Night At The Theater OOTD

Posted on February 18, 2022 by lifewithlilred

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD post here on lifewithlilred! This past Saturday, Johnny and I had an amazing date night to see Jesus Christ Superstar at Playhouse Square. This was our first big outing since the pandemic began so, of course, we had to step out in our very best for A Night At The Theater. For this super special occasion, I had just the dress in mind thanks to my last TJMaxx Haul:

Who? What? Wear?

Dress: Talia Benson, TJMaxx
Platforms: Bamboo, TJMaxx
Earrings: American Eagle Outfitters
The necklace belonged to my grandma

Ever since getting my Talia Benson dress about a month ago, I had been looking forward to mine and Johnny’s night out even more because I couldn’t wait to wear it! For an evening at the theater, it was important for me to wear something with some drama and I can’t think of anything that fits the bill better. My Talia Benson number is daring and sexy while still being perfectly appropriate for a special event.

As you can see, this dress didn’t need much in terms of accessories because of its loud pattern. I didn’t want to take away from its beauty but only enhance so I kept things simple. For a pop of color, I went with my red embroidered platforms by Bamboo. My dress moved so incredibly in the wind or just when walking so it added a great little peek a boo with every step.

For jewelry, gold was the way to go and it tied together with the gold accents on my shoes. I chose a small dangly earring from the multipack that I purchased at American Eagle for my wedding and a statement necklace that belonged to my grandma. Usually, I opt for long dangle earrings but it would have been way too much with such a bold necklace. The necklace that I wore is, easily, one of my favorite pieces of jewelry and is very sentimental to me so I loved being able to wear it with this outfit. I think she would have loved it too. ❤

When it comes to a typical OOTD for me, I jam pack it with accessories until it feels perfectly complete. However, this Night At The Theater ensemble truly spoke for itself with minimal effort and I felt like a starlet stepping out in it with my husband. As we made our way into Playhouse Square, we both had blue surgical masks on and a fabulous employee told us we needed black ones, instead, in outfits like what we were wearing. She handed us two and it made our almost all black everything looks even better!

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

Feb11

Lil Red’s In Store & Online Shopping Tips

Posted on February 11, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Lil Red’s In Store & Online Shopping Tips

Hello everyone! I consider myself to be an excellent shopper both in store and online. After a wildly successful winter haul with TJMaxx, I thought that today would be perfect for sharing my pro tips to make the most of your in store or online shopping sessions. These helpful hints have been curated as my personal style developed to turn each shopping trip into a GREAT SUCCESS! Now, let’s get to it:

Online – Know Your Measurements:

Prior to getting married, I had absolutely no idea what my measurements were. That, of course, had to change when I was ordering my dress online so my mom and I visited our local tailor shop to get that taken care of. I keep my measurement cards by my computer so that I can always have them available when online shopping.

Knowing your true measurements will eliminate the need to buy multiple sizes of one item because you can compare and contrast to the brand’s size chart. This used to be the norm for me when online shopping because I am in between a small and a medium and it’s so nice to now be able to get my size right the first time around!

Online – Do Your Research:

If you enjoy shopping with websites that offer multiple brands like TJMaxx or Poshmark, it is so crucial to do your research. We all know that women’s sizes vary drastically. For example, in my closet I have clothing in extra smalls and larges alike. A universal size chart, unfortunately, doesn’t exist so you will have to go to the original brand’s website to find out their sizing for yourself.

When shopping with TJMaxx, this has become my standard practice and is why knowing your measurements is so handy. Remember, take note about the features of the item you wish to purchase too. Does it provide room for stretch? Do the reviews say to order a size up? These are all things that should also be taken into consideration.

Online & In Store – Promotions, Please:

Apps, rewards cards, store credit cards, and special deals like a percentage off or free shipping plays an important rule in the shopping process. Although the constant emails from my favorite stores are annoying, saving money on your shopping is always worth it. If you have a particularly large order, you might want to consider applying for the store credit card. Typically, the store will offer you a percentage off of that purchase, which is awesome!

In Store – Dress For Success:

With the pandemic, I rarely do in store shopping anymore. However, when I do, I make sure that I am dressed and made up for success. Wear clothes and shoes that are comfortable and easy to slip on and off for dressing room efficiency. And, depending on what it is you need, it might not hurt to do your makeup accordingly. It’s hard to get the full picture of a dress you are trying on for a special event if your makeup doesn’t reflect it.

In Store – Try & Try Again:

Shopping in store gives you the luxury of trying on whatever you want and it should not be taken lightly. Expanding your horizons with styles, shapes, and colors that you might not normally wear will give you brand new possibilities. And, so what if it doesn’t work? Trying on a variety of different things will also help with your online shopping because you won’t be limiting yourself to “safe” options that you already know will work.

In Store – Have A Game Plan:

Hitting the mall or multiple different shops in the area can feel a bit overwhelming because of the endless options you’re seeing all at once. I recommend browsing for the items that you know you need first before beginning your window shopping. I don’t go to the mall too often but when I do, I always go to Victoria’s Secret for new undies and a bra and American Eagle for new skinnies first to get it out of the way. Then, when the “fun” shopping begins, I already know what I have spent for necessities and can budget my additional purchases accordingly.

Online & In Store – Shopping For Others:

I know some people who begin their holiday shopping for the next year as soon as their celebrated holiday is over to get the best seasonal deals. While you don’t have to go that extreme, it never hurts to get a little prep work done for holidays and birthdays when making your rounds. And, if you score a great deal on it, then it’s even better. We all have had that one gift that we were going to buy a little later only to find that it was sold out when we were ready to make the purchase!

With these tips, I hope that you have the best online or in store shopping session yet! They are my tried and true methods to the success behind all of my hauls and I’m sure that they will work for you too. ❤

What are some of your shopping tricks and tips? Do you prefer in store or online shopping? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb10

If The Shoe Fits: Marc Fisher Platforms Edition

Posted on February 10, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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If The Shoe Fits: Marc Fisher Platforms Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to the last post from my TJMaxx Winter Haul! Today is another new edition of If The Shoe Fits where we will be talking about the most adorable pair of Barbie pink platforms by Marc Fisher. I love them so much and can’t wait to step out in them all spring and summer long! Let’s get to it:

When online shopping with TJMaxx, I fell head over heels for these platforms and added them into my cart immediately. I was so charmed by the color and the shape is, easily, one of my favorite styles which made them a must have. While waiting for my order to arrive, I was already making grand OOTD plans with dresses and skirts come warm weather.

I couldn’t wait to try my new platforms on but that actually proved to be a huge challenge and they almost didn’t make it onto my feet. The way that they were carefully wrapped and stuffed with tissue made it really hard to get them unbuckled. I sat on my bedroom floor for a good five minutes trying to make it work but my efforts were ineffective because I was so worried that I would break a nail!

When I had given up, I brought the shoes downstairs to Johnny to assist and he had a tough go of it too! I had pretty much made up my mind that they would go in my return pile no matter how much I wanted them. A two person job to unbuckle them seemed excessive and I figured I would have issues getting them on. However, once Johnny triumphed in the shoe struggle and I got them on with no further issues, they became an instant keeper.

I seriously can’t get over how cute these shoes are. I wouldn’t say that I’m the most girly girl when it comes to my personal style and my new Marc Fisher numbers make a welcome addition to my shoe collection because of how different they are from anything that I own. They will add a feminine touch to an All Black Everything outfit but I am most looking forward to pairing them with floral dresses and a sun hat for a totally sweet OOTD.

I am so pleased with all of my purchases from my haul and am ready for winter to be over so I can wear everything without freezing my nads off! 😀

Have you updated your wardrobe recently? Do you have anything that you are looking forward to wearing when the weather permits? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb9

If The Shoe Fits: Olivia Miller Chained Platform Boots Edition

Posted on February 9, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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If The Shoe Fits: Olivia Miller Chained Platform Boots Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of If The Shoe Fits compliments of my TJMaxx Winter Haul. I am proud and, somewhat disappointed, to say that I haven’t purchased a pair of shoes since my wedding so it has been a long time coming for some new ones! Today, we will be discussing a pair of platform boots by Olivia Miller that I scored for twenty bucks on clearance. And, tomorrow, you can tune in for the grand finale from my haul with a darling pair of Barbie pink platforms. Now, let’s get to it:

When I first saw these shoes while scouring TJMaxx’s website, I wasn’t initially sold on them. However, I figured that for twenty dollars it wouldn’t hurt to at least try them out and return them if need be. As you can all assume, I absolutely loved the bold chain accent popping against the matte black boot but they didn’t necessarily fall into the “must have” category.

Upon receiving my order and checking out the Olivia Miller platform boots in real life, I was much more impressed because they looked way better in person. Online, they looked somewhat cheap but holding them in my hands made all of the difference. Everything about these boots spoke to me and I was enamored with the taupe stitching that I didn’t even notice during my online shopping.

Although I ended up keeping this pair, I actually did almost put them in my return pile before I got them on my feet. The back zipper was incredibly tough to coax down and I thought to myself that it was probably why they got marked down in the first place. I just had to try them on, though, and once I got the zipper down the first time, I had no further issues.

As soon as my boots were finally on, all of the styling possibilities started swimming in my head and I knew that they were a keeper. I would never wear these in the winter to avoid salt and water stains but come summer and fall it is ON! These little babies will be so fabulous with short shorts, fun socks, and a flowy top and I can’t wait to trudge through the leaves with them in the fall. 😀

When it comes to shopping, normally, my first impression will make or break whether I bother with something or not. In the case of these Olivia Miller platform boots, my first impression was not everything and I am so glad that I took a chance on them!

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

Feb7

TJMaxx Winter Haul: Japna Tie Back Top

Posted on February 7, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello everyone and welcome back to my TJMaxx Winter Haul! Today, we are going to be discussing a top by Japna that is, admittedly, not appropriate for winter at all but I can’t wait to rock it come warm weather. This new top is identical in shape to one of my favorite purchases from Altar’d State so I knew that it would be a winner when I saw it. And, if it wasn’t, it would have been no harm no foul because it was only seven bucks on clearance! Check it out:

When first trying on a top like my new Japna one during my Altar’d State haul, I wasn’t so sure about it:

My main fear about this kerchief style top was that it would be too much skin, too much bra strap, and that it wouldn’t be flattering in the slightest. So, imagine my surprise when I was in the Altar’d State fitting room and it worked perfectly. The tie back covered up the back of my bra completely, it wasn’t too revealing in the midriff, and best of all – it showcased all of the tattoos on my back that never get seen.

This top was one of my absolute faves to wear last summer and I have been on the hunt for more like it ever since. I never had any luck finding a similar top until my past TJMaxx haul and I was So. Freaking. Excited. about it. Not only was it the same shape but it was black and snakeskin patterned which made it EVEN BETTER! 😀

As you all know, I love snakeskin anything and everything so I felt like I won the lottery when I found this little Japna number for under ten bucks. As soon as warm weather hits, it is so on and I might just alternate between it and my Altar’d State top all summer long. Not really, but I am pretty stoked about it lol.

Pairing my Japna top with my black shorts from American Eagle Outfitters and my new Barbie pink platforms (Which you will see soon!) will definitely be the move. To accessorize, multiple bracelets, huge sunglasses, and a big tote bag are a must. Can it be summer now or?

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

Feb4

TJMaxx Winter Haul: Fringe Shawl By Laundry

Posted on February 4, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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TJMaxx Winter Haul: Fringe Shawl By Laundry

Hello! I had a wonderful winter haul from TJMaxx and I am so excited to begin incorporating all of my new goodies into my wardrobe. One item that I am particularly thrilled about is a shawl by Laundry By Shelli Segal. This little number was originally forty-eight dollars and I got it for seven bucks on clearance! I have never seen anything like it before and have a feeling that I will be wearing it all of the time to spice up my OOTDs. Check it out:

When it comes to accessorizing my looks, I am always on the prowl for unique pieces to take things to the next level. I love bold, chunky jewelry, platform boots, scarves, and anything faux fur. I’m not sure what to call my new Laundry shawl because it isn’t, really. But, whatever it is, I’m obsessed and know that it will make amazing appearances in my OOTDs.

If this shawl were just the lace part, I probably would have passed on it. However, the fringe and hanging tassels take this piece over the top into something cool and edgy rather than, dare I say it, a bit old lady. The details on my new shawl are divine and it doesn’t feel flimsy in the slightest, which is something that I was worried about.

I cannot wait to wear this over top of my silk camis and other sleeveless tops and dresses come warm weather. It will also be a clever way to conceal visible bra straps because wearing one is a necessity for me. I am envisioning pairing my new wrap with short shorts, a cami top, gold jewelry, and some funky wedges for a summer date day with my husband!

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

Feb3

TJMaxx Winter Haul: Talia Benson Dress

Posted on February 3, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello everyone and welcome to the fashion part of my TJMaxx winter haul! Today, we are going to be discussing a gorgeous dress by Talia Benson that is delightfully reminiscent of my wedding dress. The best part? I don’t have to get married to wear it! I cannot wait to wear this dress literally all of the time and it is one of my favorite TJs purchases ever. Check it out:

I don’t know about you guys, but any articles of clothing with an attached slip or cami drive me nuts. I kid you not, it took me a solid five minutes to figure out the best way to get this dress on properly and I almost just said “forget it” to save me the frustration. However, once it was on and I showed Johnny he told me how much he liked it and that “beauty is pain”. It was just the pep talk I needed because, damnit, I liked it a lot too!

Now that I know how to get this dress on in the easiest way possible, I can’t believe my weakness almost made me return it. It is beautiful!! The polka dot mesh overlay on top of the slip is stunning and I love the tiered bottom, tied back, and ribbons on the sleeves. It is the perfect amount of extra and I am looking forward to wearing it on a date with Johnny when we step out in our goth best. And, yes, I absolutely plan on carrying my black lace parasol with it.

I have no idea what the original price was for this Talia Benson number but I know that it had to be way more expensive than the forty dollars I paid for it. My new dress is of such high quality. The slip is thick so it doesn’t have the sheerness that sometimes comes with that territory and the mesh overlay is delicate without feeling like it’s going to rip every five seconds.

I plan on wearing my new dress with my red Bamboo platforms, bold gold jewelry, and my parasol for the ultimate Princess Of Darkness OOTD. Be sure to keep it posted for pics because that it going to be my outfit when Johnny and I go see Jesus Christ Superstar later this month! 😀

How would you style this dress? Have you ever returned something because it was too difficult to put on? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb2

TJMaxx Winter Haul: So Much Skin Care

Posted on February 2, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! If you look at my newly organized beauty hoard, it is very easy to think that I definitely don’t need any more skin or bath and body care. I say FALSE and figured that my TJMaxx gift cards would be perfect to use for fortifying my stock pile and eliminating restock orders for a good long while. When scouring the beauty aisles in TJs, I had my eye open for moisturizer, serum, eye cream, and whatever else tickled my fancy. I ended up walking away with all of the following:

As I mentioned before, it has been such a long time since I shopped in TJMaxx and I forgot how much fun it was to find new treasures in their beauty section. Prior to the pandemic, I would test out new skin care from TJs every couple of months when I needed a restock. Now, however, I have stuck to using tried and true favorites that I can order easily and have available at home. While this shopping trip would have been much better with my mom or sister there, it was still exciting to browse the aisles by myself!

While I paid full price for several of the products that I purchased, I was happy to find that a few of them were on clearance, which sweetened the deal even more. I am especially thrilled about the Evoluderm micellar water from France. It is, easily, the best micellar water that I have ever used so I had to grab the last two big bottles available.

I am most looking forward to testing out the new serums because I have been using the Tree Of Life ones for a while. They are fine and I have no major complaints but I am always open to trying new products. The same goes for moisturizer and eye cream. The Garnier SkinActive moisturizer and Elf Holy Hydration! eye cream have been staples in my skin care routine for almost a year so I can’t wait to shake things up!

Finally, I just had to buy another St. Ives scrub because they are my absolute favorite as well as one more SkinLab cleanser. I haven’t even used the SkinLab face washes that I have yet but I love that brand so how bad can it be? 😀

When it comes to my beauty stock pile, it never hurts to have extra – obviously! This huge haul will serve me well for many months to come and nothing beats when it was all purchased on a gift card!

Where is your favorite place to shop skin care? What is in your beauty hoard? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb1

TJMaxx Winter Haul: Go Away Doormat

Posted on February 1, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! Thanks to generous Christmas gift cards to TJMaxx, I had an online haul with some darling clothes and shoes which will be discussed later. I did have some returns to make, however, so ended up spending some time shopping in store for the first time in what felt like ages. It was great! I was able to make an exchange for some new skin care, birthday gifts for my niece and mom, a new sweater, and this amazing doormat that I couldn’t pass up on:

I never go into TJMaxx with set ideas of what I would like to buy, rather, the store tells me what I need. When making my rounds through the home goods section, I wasn’t expecting to find this Fiesta doormat for a whole eight dollars and I just had to have it. I have been looking for something like this since I moved into my apartment and have never seen one in store before. I also didn’t feel like spending twenty plus bucks to order one online.

Not only did I really want this mat, but it was also a necessary purchase. Mine and Johnny’s “Come back with a warrant” doormat has seen better days and basically does nothing to help remove snow from our shoes upon entering the apartment. The nasty slush always ends up making its way into our entryway, which results in a ton of additional cleaning so this was eight dollars well spent. The course bristles and sweet sentiment will go a long way for the rest of winter! 😀

I am so excited about all of my new goodies from TJMaxx so keep it posted for more from my winter haul. Tomorrow, we will be discussing skin care and then all of the fashion afterwards. See you then!

What is one of your favorite TJMaxx purchases? What is your least favorite chore around the house? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan28

Snowy Saturday OOTD Bonus Pictures

Posted on January 28, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello everyone and welcome to some bonus pics from my Snowy Saturday OOTD! This was probably my speediest photo shoot to date because it was freaking freezing outside! It also took my hands several minutes to thaw out afterwards from throwing snowballs… Anything in the name of fashion lol.

My Johnny was such a trooper to snap these pics and, needless to say, the rest of the day was spent hibernating after just five minutes in the cold. I think this is enough winter for me! Check out these extra shots and you might want to sip some hot chocolate while doing so to keep warm:

As I’ve mentioned before, the past several winters in Ohio have been insanely mild and, although we all knew a massive snow storm was coming, it still took everyone by surprise. In fact, Johnny and I can’t even remember the last time it snowed like this because in one night, Akron was covered in sixteen inches of snow. The winter wonderland is visually beautiful but I am so ready for spring!

While winter has never really bothered me before, that did a complete one eighty with the pandemic. Since Johnny and I have been laying low for the entirety of COVID-19, our activities are severely stunted once the cold weather hits. No hanging out in the fresh air means that most of our days are spent with our programs, board games, video games, and record player. It’s not the most awful thing ever but I have been craving an outdoor date day in the worst way.

Not many outings means no dressing up, either, which is something that I miss desperately. So, when I do brave the outdoors, I have to put my best OOTDs forward. Naturally, my coffee date with a girlfriend fell on the coldest morning ever but fashion called and I just had to pick up the phone! I love the outfit that I came up with but am hoping that the next time I bust it out, it’s at least ten degrees warmer!

What has your winter been like? How do you spend snowy days? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

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