Tag Archives: treat day

Oct8

Deja Vu OOTD Bloopers

Posted on October 8, 2025 by lifewithlilred

Hello everyone and welcome to the Blooper Reel from my Deja Vu OOTD! This outfit was worn way back in 2021 and was actually the very first OOTD that Johnny shot for me. He has taken the pictures for almost every outfit you have seen since and he is the very definition of a blog husband! He may jokingly complain every time he takes said photos but he knows I appreciate it so very much. ❤ His favorite thing? Catching all of these yikes moments because he told me he got several “good” ones from this shoot lol. Check it out:

This class photo looking pic haha

Don’t hate me cause I’m beautiful

Trying to get a hair on my mouth captured to Johnny’s delight

Pro Tip: Robot arms ALWAYS look good 😉

Me playing the same five songs I like on repeat

Wiping the sweat from my furrowed upper lip also captured to Johnny’s delight

Short and red and mean mugging the girl from Akron, Ohio goes lumbering

Johnny and I absolutely love taking our biggest niece on Treat Days and went on an outing with her this past weekend. A Treat Day is when we go get Chipotle, maybe do a bit of shopping, and go somewhere fun in the community and it’s a delight. Our niece’s request for her big day was to go to one of her favorite places: Urban Air. For those of you who aren’t hip, Urban Air is an indoor trampoline park and it’s a ton of fun! Well… Maybe for five to ten minutes, anyways. Then, it is downright painful lol.

My husband and I are elder emos through and through and we were definitely feeling it at Urban Air. I’m thirty-one and Johnny is thirty-six and chasing after a six year old in a trampoline park had us fighting for our lives! I can’t tell you how many times I got stuck in the massive ball pit and when I managed to get myself out, I was hoisting myself onto the ground like a person lost at sea for a year. Johnny, on the other hand, was pulling some amazing American Ninja Warrior moves by tackling the monkey bars like it was nothing. It was really impressive!

I hate to brag, but I did much better on the trampolines! There is nothing like a good bounce on a trampoline and it’s honestly such a treat. When I was little, my mom never let me and my siblings go on trampolines and I can count on less than five fingers the amount of times I’ve been on one. Bouncing to the stars with my niece was a joy and in her own words “it’s like we’re in outer space”. After five minutes on the trampolines Johnny tapped out but I think best girl and I could have hung out there all evening!

We may be elder emos but Johnny and I can still hang. For the most part because we were SO sore the following day!

What was your favorite childhood game? When do you really feel your age? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar20

Treat Day Birthdays

Posted on March 20, 2025 by lifewithlilred

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Howdy! Johnny and I are the proud Fun Aunt and Uncle to five amazing kiddos – four girls and one boy. We value our time with each of them so much and they bring us such an immeasurable amount of joy! Johnny and I coined the phrase Treat Day for our outings with the kids because that is exactly what it is: A day where we get to spoil them rotten. Our typical Treat Day MO is a lunch at whatever restaurant they would like and an outing somewhere fun like the zoo, an indoor amusement center, or trampoline park. We will give options or will go with whatever our little has in mind. This past weekend, we celebrated our niece’s sixth birthday with a Treat Day bonanza and she knew exactly what she wanted to do: Dinner at Chipotle, a Target shopping spree, and a slumber party. It was a blast!!

Treat Days are amazing, but Treat Day Birthdays just hit different. It creates not only a celebratory atmosphere but a day where it is literally all about your little and anything goes. This could be a great option if you have a kiddo, niece, or nephew with a birthday on the horizon so let’s discuss a few key components to make it the best day ever:

Gifts:

For our niece’s Treat Day, shopping was the move so we were able to gift her with whatever her little heart desired. I did, however, make a sentimental gift for her to be able to physically open up: A photo album filled with pictures of me and her, her and Johnny, and all of us together. It was a huge hit! Chances are high that the Treat Day location you end up at will have plenty of opportunity to make purchases there as extra presents on top of the gift of experience. This formula served us well this time around because our niece was able to make her own choices and select toys and crafts that she knew she would play with. It also eliminated the possibility of her parents taking on the task should anything we picked out need returned.

Follow The Leader:

Our eldest niece is such a little planner and she simply comes alive during Treat Days because of that. Johnny and I are literally making her plans happen and use the Follow The Leader approach to solidify that it is “her” day. Whether it is the order in which she wants to do things or changing plans on a dime like an impromptu craft break during a viewing of Moana 2, it’s all good! During the birthday extravaganza, I couldn’t help but utilize the “Yes, and?” model of improv back in my theater days. Kids change their minds, you might end up doing something completely different than what you had in mind, and? You just go with the flow!

Prepare Accordingly:

For our niece’s outing, weather wasn’t a concern because we were simply going in and out of different places. If you are having an outdoor based Treat Day, then I cannot emphasize this enough: Plan it well! This seems like a no brainer, but there really is nothing more disappointing than a plan falling through that you were looking forward to – especially for a kiddo. Schedule your outing on a day with no weather surprises and should the unexpected happen, explain an equally fun Plan B a few days before and the promise of Plan A happening when weather permits. Springing a Plan B after disappointment might make matters worse and we can’t have that.

And, of course, if you are having an outdoor adventure – pack accordingly too! Prep a bag with sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, snacks, drinks, and items of comfort if needed. Don’t forget to bring some cash too as you might need it to do a wagon rental, photo booth, or activities at the location itself like feeding animals at the zoo!

Johnny and I truly have Treat Days down to the T and we cannot wait for our next adventure with our favorite littles!

What is your ideal Treat Day? How are you celebrating your little’s birthday? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct3

On The Move OOTD

Posted on October 3, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! Johnny and I like to try and have an outing together every weekend. When it is just us we, of course, dress however we want. This past weekend, however, we had company – our five year old niece. The plan was a Treat Day at an indoor amusement center and it was going to be very much on the go. Since our day promised SO many activities, I *gasp* dressed sensibly for the occasion. This On The Move OOTD is pretty much as casual as it gets for yours truly, which is definitely not something I’m used to! Check it out:

Who? What? Wear?

Crop Top: Been Trill, PacSun

Distressed Skinny Jeans: American Eagle Outfitters

Cheetah Print Boots: Circus By Sam Edelman, TJMaxx

Lego Earrings: AbbieDabbles

To begin this look, I went browsing in an area of Lil Red’s Boutique that I don’t shop in often: The chest of drawers. One of the drawers is home to casual tops including crops, tanks, and T’s. Normally, this is not where I would go to style what is my usual weekend ensembles. But, in the case of Treat Day, I was exactly where I needed to be. The last thing I wanted was to wear one of my “good” tops with the almost certain risk of stains and snags! I was in an All Black Everything mood so I went for a Been Trill crop top. This was purchased literally FOREVER ago when I worked at PacSun so it is a total throwback. Regardless of the fact that the crop is over a decade old, I think it still looks great!

Next on the agenda was jeans and I chose my super distressed skinnies from American Eagle Outfitters. The color is still so crispy (Even after three plus years of wear!) and they are just right for an All Black Everything OOTD. These jeans were the only option I considered because all of the other black skinnies I own are horribly faded. I haven’t bought AEO denim since said purchase of super distressed skinnies so I’m making a mental note to fix that ASAP. 😀

Finally, it was time for shoes and accessories. Rather than my preferred platforms, I opted for an amazing pair of ankle boots by Sam Edelman. The shape, buckles, and cheetah print pop are just so cool and Johnny’s biggest regret is not having the same shoe size as me because these are his fave! And, yes, they do have a baby heel which made me happy. 🙂 If it wasn’t Treat Day, I would have added some huge, chunky gold jewelry to this look – but, alas, it was Treat Day. So, I popped on a small pair of Lego bats and was ready for an afternoon adventure with my two BFFs!

I genuinely can’t wait to get dressed up for real next weekend – fall fits are calling my name. I’ll return the call next Saturday so stay tuned for more fashion fun on lifewithlilred!

Do you usually dress up or down? What is a casual look for you like? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul17

Treat Day Ideas

Posted on July 17, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!!! Johnny and I take our roles as the “fun aunt and uncle” extremely seriously. We simply adore our nieces and nephew and consider it our job to spoil them as we don’t want children of our own. Being an aunt and uncle is awesome because we get to unleash our inner child for a few hours and then give the kiddos back to their parents! A shining example of this is “Treat Day”, which is when we pick up our oldest niece, grab some lunch, and go on a fun adventure. In fact, we just had one this past weekend at Urban Air (An indoor trampoline park). Treat Days are a fantastic way to get quality time with our littles and here are some ideas for places to go that your kiddos or nieces and nephews will love:

Trampoline Parks:

Our niece wanted to go to Urban Air for her outing with us this weekend and as it was Treat Day, we happily obliged. I haven’t been to a trampoline park since I was a teenager and it was just as much fun for Johnny and I as it was to our niece. We had an absolute blast exploring all of the different attractions that Urban Air had to offer. There was a gigantic ball pit, trampolines to bounce on, games, playgrounds and so much more. It was honestly exhausting lol but one thousand percent worth it. And, as a bonus, there is a one thousand percent chance your little will be ready for a nap afterwards – we sure were!

Museums:

There are several really cool museums in my neck of the woods as I’m sure is pretty similar for my dear readers. One of the best for kiddos in the 330 is the Akron Children’s Museum. It is an educational setting, but all of the exhibits are so entertaining and hands on that it feels more like play time than learning. This museum features stations for dress up, music, architecture, water, archaeology, engineering, and that’s just naming a few. I have easily spent an entire afternoon there with my nieces before! Museums or libraries are the tops if you still want to have an exciting day out and the weather isn’t cooperating. Your local libraries will also more than likely have free classes, programs, and events for kids too.

Zoo:

Who doesn’t love a trip to the zoo? I am actually eagerly awaiting this coming weekend for an evening at the Cleveland Zoo with my whole family for an Asian Lantern Festival! The zoo (Or aquarium on a rainy day!) is such an interactive location and has something for everyone. Every exhibit is an opportunity for your littles to learn and appreciate something new, but it will feel like an adventure. Be sure to check the events guide for your zoo visit as many of them offer times to feed the animals, attend talks given by zookeepers, and see shows. It also goes without saying that Dippin’ Dots are a complete must! 😀

Out & About:

The very first Treat Day we had with our niece was going to get Mexican food for lunch, shopping at Target so she could pick out a new toy, and going to the park. It is one of my favorite memories and just goes to show that Treat Days can be as big or as low key as you want to make it. Regardless of what you do, your little will feel special from that bonding time. Johnny and I still talk about the OG Treat Day often because our niece said SO many funny things that we like to quote. The day also ended on the most adorable note because the last thing little lady wanted to do was have her uncle set up her new Blue’s Clues playhouse for her. ❤

Back to school will be here before we know it. Make the most of sweet summertime with your kiddos by penciling in a Treat Day or two!

Did you have a favorite aunt or uncle growing up? What is your favorite museum 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

Mar15

Treat Day!!

Posted on March 15, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! This past week, our darling niece turned five years old! Both Johnny and I are SO not okay about Val being the big five, but we had so much fun celebrating it. For Val’s birthday, we took her out for a Treat Day. What is a treat day, you might ask? It basically solidifies my husband and I as the “fun aunt and uncle” lol. On treat day, we take Val out for one major activity as well as lunch, ice cream, shopping or whatever her little heart desires. For her birthday outing, we went to Fun ‘n’ Stuff and Dairy Queen and it was the best, most exhausting day haha. Check it out:

Fun ‘n’ Stuff is a staple in Northeast Ohio and has been around for as long as I can remember. In fact, I went there for field trips in grade school! It is an indoor/outdoor attraction center, but we were limited to indoor activities because the outdoor ones aren’t open yet. This was fine, though, because there was so much to do inside that I couldn’t imagine doing anything else! The indoor attractions at Fun ‘n’ Stuff include a gigantic playground, a ton of arcade games, roller skating, laser tag, bumper cars, a mini rollercoaster, and so much more. We can’t wait to take Val again in the summer so she can do the outdoor activities too like bumper boats, go karts, and little amusement park rides!

For our Fun ‘n’ Stuff adventure, Val was extremely partial to the playground. It was the first thing that caught her eye and it would have been hard not to – this thing was like a McDonald’s Play Place on steroids! We spent a majority of our time there running after Val as she explored all of the different obstacles and ended up circling back to it at least three times. When we weren’t at the playground, Val loved doing the trampoline bounce and playing games with Johnny and I. We also took adorable photo booth pictures which I’m so happy about because those are my favorite keepsakes. ❤

At the arcade, we went for easy games that Val could catch on to quickly, but still reward us with maximum tickets. Johnny and I were dead set on getting ALL of the tickets for her to pick out prizes with! By the time we were finished with games like ball drop, token toss, and Wheel of Fortune we had fourteen hundred tickets for Val to shop with. We were thrilled that Val was able to get two stuffed animals and some extra candy for her stash with them. After we cashed out our tickets, we went to Dairy Queen for a snack, and dropped Val off at home. Then, we came back to our apartment and literally dropped!

Johnny and I legit couldn’t move after Treat Day, but it was a small price to pay for such a wonderful time. We all had a blast and it was the perfect way to celebrate our sweet niece! ❤

What is your favorite arcade game? Do you have an amusement center like Fun ‘n’ Stuff 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

Oct13

Disney Princess Party

Posted on October 13, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! This past Saturday, I spent an adorable time with my sister and sweet nieces attending a Disney Princess Party. The event was held at an arcade bar called The Workz in downtown Cuyahoga Falls and it was a hoot. Kristen and I enjoyed good food and drinks while Val and Raya were awestruck by seeing Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff from Frozen IRL. It was so cute seeing all of the little princesses in their costumes and, yes, I am that extra auntie that dressed up too lol. I ended up wearing my wedding dress because I felt like a princess on my wedding day and I wanted to feel like that again. I’m pleased to report that it was a hit!

You can peep two new OOTDs coming soon, including me wearing my wedding attire one more time for the one time. But, now, let’s peep the festivities from girls afternoon out:

The princess party began with a riveting song by Anna, followed by an introduction from Elsa and Kristoff. Once the whole Frozen crew was on stage, they began to teach all of the kiddos games like the Freeze Dance. But, you had to “freeze” in a Frozen character pose. Sadly, Val was in a bit of a mood so she wasn’t really feeling the activities, but rallied hard when Kristen and I began participating too. I think she was just nervous to be in the presence of royalty!

After doing the Freeze Dance, Elsa performed “Let It Go” and she was SO good. Although let’s all agree that her wig is hit lol. Funnily enough, the actress who plays her actually works with my sister in the summertime. Go figure! When her big performance was over, the next game was dancing like your favorite Disney princess – IE, cleaning as Cinderella, swimming as Ariel… You get the point. The cast then wrapped things up and began walking the space to meet the kiddos, take pictures, and sign autographs.

When it was time for our turn with the character actors, Val did not want to speak to them or take pictures. However, she did have questions for them which Kristen and I asked for her and they all had great replies and encouraged Val to take a pic later if she wanted to. After our visit, I was SO proud of Val because after a few minutes she decided she would like a picture and she WERKED it! It took her a minute to get warmed up and that’s okay! I think I would be freaking out if I were her age and meeting my favorite Disney princesses too. ❤

Once the event was done, the kids all received a free half hour card to play the different arcade games. Val and I simply crushed in Mario Kart, Kristen dominated at Ring Toss, I was a beast at Ski Ball, and Raya was excellent support. The Frozen crew also came around to play games with the kids and Val loved watching Kristoff play the Test Your Strength game. She also learned that Elsa and Belle have a book club together when she wanted to know which other princesses she was friends with. So cute!

Everyone who attended the Princess Party was given the royal treatment and it was a delightful time. I love being able to do treat days with my best girls and I’ll be keeping my eyes peeled for similar events in our neck of the woods!

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

Jan14

TT & Val Day

Posted on January 14, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! At three and a half years old, I thought this winter would be the perfect time to teach my niece, Val, how to ice skate. For a long time, Val used to say that skating would be “too scary” and didn’t want to try it – and that was totally fine! This winter, however, she said that she would like to learn and I had grand plans of taking her to an outdoor rink in Cuyahoga Falls this past Tuesday afternoon. To both of our disappointment, the rink was closed (Naturally) on our treat day but that didn’t stop us from having lots of fun together anyways!

^^^ That last picture. 🙂 The taste of sweet success!

After informing my sister that skating wasn’t going to happen, I told her that I would just watch Val at my parents’ house for the afternoon. Kristen let me know that Val had little wooden bird boxes to paint and has also been wanting to bake brownies and I thought that sounded like a great time! As soon as Val arrived, we got to work on painting and she did so awesome. She finished most of an entire bird house by herself but then got distracted by our dog, Archie, so TT and Momo had to finish things up lol. We decided that the bird houses are probably too small for birds but will be perfect for fairies and butterflies. ❤

Once our group effort masterpieces were done, it was time to make some brownies and Val was very excited. She loves to help her mom bake and they are constantly bringing cupcakes and cookies to my parents and me and Johnny. For our baking process, literally all I did was measure out the liquid ingredients and Val did everything else. She poured the ingredients, cracked the egg, mixed the batter, and filled up the pan by the spoonful all by herself. I was so impressed!!

While our brownies baked and cooled, Val wanted to lay down so we watched a few episodes of Paw Patrol to recharge. That really did the trick because after resting we had brownies to frost and sprinkle. For this, all I did was dollop the frosting on the brownies and showed her how to spread it with a spatula and she was a quick study in this too. After Val perfectly applied rainbow sprinkles to our bakery, I asked her what she wanted to do next and she said “Eat the brownies!”. Lol, that was very easily arranged and I could tell that she was so proud of her hard work. 🙂

Even though our TT and Val day didn’t go accordingly to our original plan, we still had the best day together. I love my lil BFF so much! ❤

How old were you when you started playing a sport? What is your favorite sweet treat? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

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	Simon on Thxgiving OOTD Bloopers
	lifewithlilred on Thxgiving OOTD Bloopers
	Simon on Thxgiving OOTD Bloopers