Tag Archives: treat yoself

Aug21

New Punk N Junk Earrings

Posted on August 21, 2023 by lifewithlilred

Hello!! The Punk Rock Flea Market that Johnny and I went to was freaking awesome! We were blown away by the talent of the local artists and makers peddling their wares and returned home with a bagful of goodies. The first purchase that I made at the flea market was actually from one of the first vendors that we visited called Punk N Junk. They had the most adorable earrings and I wanted all of them! But, I exercised self restraint and walked away with these two:

These earrings actually tell a funny tale of mine and Johnny’s morning before going to the flea market. I couldn’t find my black parasol to save my own life and I was getting SO frustrated. TBH, my mental health feels like it’s hanging by a thread sometimes, which is why I am starting therapy this Wednesday. Because I am very sensitive at this current juncture, I cried a little bit about my missing parasol because everything just seems overwhelming to me. Then, Johnny found it in his car of all places and all was right with the world.

After my mini freak out, I had one of my “ecigs” AKA Emergency Cigarettes on our way to the market. Every week or so, I’ll have a real cigarette and that was definitely the time I needed one. So, when I saw the Crybaby earrings at the Punk N Junk stand, I jokingly told Johnny that was me! Then, I saw the cigarette ones and said that that was also me lol. These two earrings literally summed up the twenty minutes before we went to the event and it gave us a huge laugh. Even when Johnny or I are feeling frazzled, we always find a way to end up laughing at the end of it!

You can visit Punk N Junk’s Etsy page here and give them a follow on Instagram @punknjunkk. Thank you for the fab earrings – I love them! ❤

Who is your favorite local artist? What makes you feel better after something upsetting? Shopping always does the trick for me lol! I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May31

Mini Mall Haul

Posted on May 31, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! After a very long tenure of working retail in the mall, I tend to avoid it like the plague now lol. I can probably count on ten fingers the amount of times I have been to the mall since being employed there and that is fine by me! You know your girl is a TJMaxx frequent flyer at heart. This past week, however, I crossed the threshold into Summit Mall because my brother had some birthday gift cards. I told myself that I wasn’t going to buy anything for myself, but that changed when I saw the most perfect T-shirt I have ever seen at Hot Topic. I also had a freebie coupon from Bath & Body Works to cash in! Check it out:

Bath & Body Works has recently switched up their freebie options and it has been most exciting! For the longest time, a free travel size product coupon left you limited to shower gel and lotion. Then, they upped their game to mini fragrance sprays, bar soap, and hand cream and they are all fair game for the free coupon. It is awesome and turns every time I get a B&BW coupon in the mail into an “I need to go there right now” event!

Johnny’s mom gifted me with some bar soap this past Easter and I forgot how much I enjoy a good ol’ bar of soap every now and again. With plenty of B&BW shower gel and lotion in my stockpile, I decided that trying out their bar soap for the first time would be the move. There wasn’t a huge selection of bar soap scents to pick from and I went with Coco Paradise to welcome summer with. Coco Paradise is a combo of coconut (obviously lol) and the softest hint of tropical flowers and it is lovely. It also is a shea butter based bar so I’m sure it will be ultra lush and hydrating. I can’t wait to try it out!

After browsing at other stores, my brother and I ended our rounds at Hot Topic. As a reminder, I truly had no intention of buying a single thing… Until I saw the AFI T-shirt that I just had to have. AFI’s album, Sing The Sorrow, was the first album I ever bought with my own money. It was and will always be in my top three favorite albums and seeing them live was one of the best moments of my life. I was so lucky because they only had one size small in this shirt among a sea of XLs and believe me when I say, I literally snatched it from the shelf!

The last T-shirt I bought from Hot Topic was from a few years ago and now I understand why almost all of Johnny’s T’s come from there. When I sported my AFI T the following day, I was blown away by how soft it was! It felt like a hug when I was wearing it and I honestly regretted not buying a few more! The fit was also perfect – not too loose and not too tight but just right. I am freaking obsessed with my new favorite T featuring my forever favorite band. 😀

After this trip to the mall, I don’t think I will go again for another handful of years lol. But, I was able to treat myself with an awesome pick me up purchase and for that I am grateful!

What was the first album that you ever bought? What is your favorite band? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May12

New Watermelon Nails

Posted on May 12, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! This past Wednesday, I was lucky enough to get an appointment first thing in the morning at Elysian Nails for a fill. It was a bit of a time crunch appointment because I needed to be at work very shortly after, but my amazing tech, Mary, made it work! While I always prefer an afternoon time slot to get the full relaxation effect of being at the salon, this speedy session was just what I needed to put some pep back in my step. My nails were looking SO jank and they are now absolutely perfect! Check it out:

^^^ Lol, precious Archie decided he wanted to show off his “talons” too! Cutest thing ever!

With the weather finally heating up in Akron, sweet summertime has been weighing heavily on my mind. So, I chose a color palette in honor of my favorite summer treat: watermelon! There is nothing better on a hot day and just thinking about it makes my mouth water! At the nail polish wall, I selected a pretty glittery pink and a bright and poppy kiwi green. I couldn’t find a glitter shade of green that spoke to me, but I did find a white and green glitter top coat and it worked out even better than I imagined. This is one of my favorite color combos yet!

Once my polish was selected, I let Mary know that I had to leave by eleven and she freaking DELIVERED. Mary has done my nails several times in the past and she has become my new go to girl since my old go to girl got a new job. She blew me away during this fill and, despite her speed, the quality of work was not sacrificed in the slightest. My nails are sturdy, sharp, and shaped to complete perfection. We were also chatting away the entire time which makes this session even more impressive to me. She is the best and I cannot wait for my appointment with her the day after my birthday in June. 😀

My high speed fill at Elysian Nails got me back to feeling myself as I have been feeling so blah as of late. I can’t help but smile every time I look at my watermelon claws and am looking forward to a more leisurely birthday fill soon!

What color of nail polish are you rocking? What is your favorite summertime treat? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr14

New Hot Pink & Tiger Orange Nails

Posted on April 14, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! I had a simply lovely day on Tuesday and can’t wait to share with all of you in the next few posts. I visited my loved one at the hospital, got my nails done *finally*, prepared a gorgeous OOTD, and saw Jesus Christ Superstar in Akron with my mother in law! Due to family emergencies, I had to cancel my fill last week and had been looking forward to a trip to Elysian Nails every time I caught a glance of my grown out talons. They were really, really bad! Thankfully, the team at my happy place always gets me right and I am loving my freshly done claws:

Unfortunately, my favorite tech from Elysian Nails moved onto a new job so I have taken to scheduling appointments with anyone that I can get. My preferred choices are usually all booked up and that’s fine because all of the employees at Elysian are excellent. Due to the rush of spring nails and pedicures, old staff members have been brought back and I actually ended up having an appointment with one of my least favorites. The few times she did my nails in the past, she was so rough and it made for a pretty unpleasant experience. However, she really turned things around this time and while I wouldn’t go to her again, I still enjoyed my time at the salon and zoning out to HGTV. 😀

For my nail polish colors, I wanted bright, springy hues and had highlighter colors in mind. The weather in Ohio has been lovely and I wanted my nails to reflect it! To start, I chose a vibrant tiger orange and went from there. I decided that pink would be a nice compliment and selected a bottle of hot pink polish. But I am calling BS! It looked pink in the bottle but it applied as a cherry red. I didn’t care enough to switch out to the flamingo pink I was eyeballing and I still like this combination all the same. It reminds me of Taco Bell sauce packets and I see absolutely nothing wrong with that!

Spring has finally sprung and I am ready for some fun in the sun with these nails! They are exactly the pop of color I needed and I am eager for my appointment next month with one of my go to girls… I actually just booked the appointment!

What color of nail polish do you have on? What is your favorite springtime activity? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar12

New Shimmer Ocean Blue & Glitter Pink Nails

Posted on March 12, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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New Shimmer Ocean Blue & Glitter Pink Nails

Hello!!! This past Wednesday, I spent a lovely morning before work being pampered with a fill at Elysian Nails. I was bummed because I couldn’t get an appointment with my usual tech, but it honestly ended up working just as well. The tech that did my nails was SO fast and I ended up making it to work early instead of fifteen minutes late like I had originally planned. Normally, I crave extra time at the salon but, in this case, everything was coming up Lil Red! Check out this fill that was completed in forty-five minutes:

As I made my way to Elysian Nails, I struggled to come up with a color combination that spoke to me. So, I decided to let fate decide and left it up to whatever struck my fancy first at the nail polish wall. After a quick once over, my eyes locked in on the bottle of the shimmery ocean blue polish and decided to go for it. It looked so pretty in the bottle and the color reminded me of mermaids! With the mermaid motif in mind, I selected the glittery pink for my second color and waited for my appointment to start.

The tech who did my nails has been at Elysian for forever, but he was new to me. It was freaking amazing to watch him work because he was both fast and efficient but the quality of my nails was still on par if not better than someone who took their time. I admit that I was a bit nervous to have him do my nails because I don’t trust just anyone with my claws. However, my mind was quickly put at ease because he wouldn’t be at the salon if he wasn’t excellent. As we settled into our comfortable silence, I was able to relax and get my HGTV on but before I knew it, he was already done!

I love how my nails turned out and I can’t stop looking at them to save my own life! The shape is perfect and the colors are so playful in the light. Of course, the flash of blingy glitter from the pink is always fun, but I am obsessed with the ocean blue. In just the right lighting it looks emerald green and no matter what color you see it as, it is still gorgeous! 😀

I would happily see the tech who did my nails again and it is good to know that there is another option if my usual gals are booked up. This was definitely another successful trip to Elysian in the books!

What color of nail polish are you rocking? Do you prefer gel, dip, or regular polish? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb24

Sujata Gazder Body Bar Review

Posted on February 24, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! I had a horrible sinus infection this past weekend and felt pretty worse for the wear for the majority of the week. Once I was feeling a little better, I decided that I definitely needed some pampering because I felt gross lol. My skin felt so dehydrated and I knew that I needed something more to get myself feeling right again. Thankfully, my body bar by Sujata Gazder did the trick and I am BEYOND obsessed with this product. It is a miracle in an adorable heart shape! Let’s discuss:

I received some goodies for the launch of Sujata’s new website and was so excited to find a body bar and serum during my unboxing. The body bar intrigued me because it was something that I never knew could exist! It’s essentially a bar of pure cocoa butter mixed with a litany of essential oils that you simply rub into your skin. After discovering the delightful citrus rose scent during my unboxing, I couldn’t wait to give the body bar a try. Product scents are very important to me and the body bar smelled so light that I knew I could enjoy it without being overpowered by fragrance.

I used my body bar before bedtime so that I could hydrate my skin in my sleep and not have to worry about if it felt greasy (Something that I can’t stand!). Using the body bar was, honestly, so much fun and I definitely preferred its application over normal lotion or body butter. It wasn’t necessary to rub the body bar into the skin so all I had to do was swipe it over my body for quick and easy moisturizing. The process took less than a minute and as soon as I was done, I could instantly feel the cocoa butter and essential oils working their magic.

After using the body bar, Johnny and I watched some TV and I was pleasantly surprised to find that I didn’t mind it on my skin. It didn’t absorb quickly but it didn’t leave me with that residue coated feeling that I get from a full body lotion application. I knew for a fact that I was going to wake up with my skin feeling back to normal and I was right. After my morning shower, my skin felt AMAZING. It was not only soft to the touch but felt hydrated on the deepest level. You know how your skin feels after using a Lush bath bomb? It was like that only a billion times better and I loved that I could still feel the ingredients working even after washing it off.

One full body application used up half of the body bar and I am saving the rest for later this week when I shave. I will be sad when it’s gone, though, because how can you go back to using normal lotion after a product as fabulous as this?! If you are suffering from dry skin or just need a treat, then I cannot recommend the body bar by Sujata Gazder enough. You can shop along at Sujata’s website for all of the best in fashion and skin care. Enjoy and keep it posted for my review of the Valinora serum tomorrow!

What is your favorite product to pamper yourself with? What is your favorite bath and body care scent? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb5

New Light Pink & Bright Pink Glitter Nails

Posted on February 5, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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New Light Pink & Bright Pink Glitter Nails

Hello!! Last week, I fell down several of the hardwood stairs at my mom and dad’s house and it was AWFUL. I was battered and bruised everywhere and I hate to brag but the bruise on my hindquarters looked like a galaxy lol. As I was falling and realized what was happening, I assumed the protective position to avoid breaking a nail because you all know where my priorities lie! I was so proud of this accomplishment, so you could imagine how pissed I was the following day when I broke a nail from simply carrying my groceries in!! I was in desperate need of a fill and repairs, and my girl Mary at Elysian Nails delivered with these adorable Valentine’s Day talons:

Normally, I am not one for holiday themed nails. However, I LOVE creating Valentine’s Day OOTDs and I wanted my nails to reflect that. I originally was playing around with a combination incorporating white but I wasn’t feeling red and white and pink and white reminded me of Pepto Bismol haha. So, I decided to go for pretty in pink, instead, and chose a soft light pink and a sassy, glittery bright pink for some sweet/tart fun. I think they turned out great!

Mary expertly replaced my badly broken nail that I had to repair with super glue as well as one that was lifting. She also applied the acrylic thicker than normal to help support the stiletto shape. My nails have seriously never felt better or stronger and I appreciated the time she took to fortify the claws. The last fill I had was done by my friend in my apartment and her acrylic wasn’t the best. I didn’t even notice how flimsy my nails were until I got back into the salon and high quality acrylic was used. While it was so nice to get my nails done from the comfort of my own home, I will definitely be sticking to the salon from now on.

This trip to Elysian Nails was much needed and I am in love with my girly V-Day nails. I can’t wait to show them off in new OOTDs coming soon so keep it posted!!

What color of nail polish are you rocking? What are your thoughts on holiday themed nails? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec17

New Anne Klein Blazer

Posted on December 17, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello everyone! Today, we are going to wrap up my TJMaxx Haul posts by discussing a gorgeous new plaid blazer by Anne Klein. I always feel lucky with my findings at TJs but even more so this last shopping trip. Almost every piece of clothing that I found was the only one left in the store and I got them for a steal of a price. The blazer seen below, for example, had an original price tag of one hundred and thirty and I got it for one hundred dollars less! Check it out:

Going to TJMaxx is like a fashion treasure hunt and you never know what you are going to find. I didn’t expect to end up with so much beautiful clothes this last trip around but here we are now lol. When I saw this Anne Klein blazer, it was love at first sight. The crisp shape paired with traditional red plaid hues was so divine and the stark white stitching gave such an eye catching pop. As if I wasn’t swooning already but the awesome price sent me head over heels. ❤

As soon as I tried this blazer on, so many different styling options began to swirl in my head. In fact, when I was shooting my It’s Not Just A Phase OOTD, I originally had a plaid on plaid scheme in mind by pairing my Wild Fable skinnies with a red plaid blazer from the Goodwill. While the yellow and red plaid motif worked well, the blazer was too bulky and didn’t have the structure that I wanted to achieve the silhouette that I was going for. It bummed me out a little because I knew that it could look really cool and it just didn’t lol. I sure wish I had my new Anne Klein blazer a few weeks ago during that shoot because it would have worked perfectly for the punk rock tuxedo I had envisioned!

This blazer will allow me to restyle my It’s Not Just A Phase OOTD with my initial plan AND MORE. As you can imagine, it would look stunning with some black distressed skinnies and huge platform boots. It will also add a nice dose of rock to flowing maxi skirts and sweet dresses. Or how about paired with a pleated mini skirt for the ultimate preppy bad girl look?! Now, If only I had a pleated mini skirt… 😀

After a whirlwind of Christmas shopping these past few months, Lil Red needed a gift too! I played Santa for myself with all kinds of beauty and fashion goodies and I cannot wait to put all of them to good use, starting with lots of brand new OOTDs. Keep it posted!

Have you bought anything for yourself while holiday shopping? What are you gifting yourself with this holiday season? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec16

New Philosophy Topper Jacket

Posted on December 16, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hey! TJMaxx is my shelter from the storm. It’s where everything in the world makes sense and nothing puts a pep back in my step like a good shopping trip. And, of course, getting great deals on each purchase certainly helps the cause too because this next item from my haul was a STEAL! Originally priced at one hundred dollars, I bought the Philosophy topper jacket seen below for eighteen bucks. You just can’t beat that and I am so excited to step out in this pretty little thing:

In case you haven’t noticed by now, I am a HUGE fan of anything and everything houndstooth. I love clothing that features it because it is such a classic yet bold pattern and that really speaks to me. And, this blood red houndstooth knit topper jacket by Philosophy made me clutch my pearls. While nothing pleases me more than a traditional black and white houndstooth – life is better in red, as the saying goes. This jacket proves it! 😀

When I first laid eyes on my new Philosophy topper, I said a silent prayer that it wasn’t going to be dummy expensive and the fashion gods answered my humble request. I couldn’t believe my good fortune that such a gorgeous jacket was knocked down to only eighteen dollars on clearance!! I felt in my heart of hearts that this topper was made for me and me alone and it was my destiny to have it. Okay, dramatic much but still. What a find!

While I do have several warmer jackets for the cold months, I love me a topper jacket so very much. Other than walking my dog, the time I spend outside in the winter is minimal and is mainly just me going into my car and walking into work. Of course, I could wear something warmer but it just seems unnecessary. The topper jacket is a perfect solution to this and provides an additional layer of warmth without all of the bulk when I am making such short trips in and out of the car. Oh yeah, and they’re cute. 🙂

Everything about this Philosophy topper jacket completely sold me. The deep red and black pattern is so punk rock and the knit fabric provides a bit of slouch to enhance the vibe even more. This jacket is begging to be worn with my distressed black skinnies, a crisp white sweater, and embellished combat boots. The topper jacket is a classic piece of clothing and I consider it to be a wardrobe essential. But what a statement it can make when you put a funky twist on a timeless staple!

Tune in tomorrow for the last item from my TJMaxx Haul and then it is onto more fun here on lifewithlilred – see you then! ❤

What is your favorite pattern? What pieces of clothing do you consider to be timeless? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec15

New Joie Knit Blazer

Posted on December 15, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! My favorite piece of clothing is, easily, a good jacket. I freaking LOVE them and it never ceases to amaze me just how much they can transform an outfit by throwing one on. If I had to go more specific into which style of jacket is my favorite, then I would say: The blazer. Blazers are awesome and they can be anything that you want it to be. All business? Perfect. Business casual? Done. Date night? Easy. Running errands? Sure! From sleek and chic to sexy and sassy, blazers can be made to fit any occasion and there is really something to be said for that versatility. I have way too many blazers than I care to admit but couldn’t resist two more during my TJMaxx shopping trip! Check out the first of the two with this little number by Joie:

It’s hard for me to describe my personal style because I don’t like to limit myself to just one kind of clothing. The fun of fashion comes from trying new things and shopping at TJMaxx gives me the opportunity to be adventurous. At first glance, this new blazer is probably something that you guys wouldn’t have picked out for me to wear. And, honestly, at first glance I wasn’t completely sold on it, either. However, it never hurts to try clothes on no matter what the result ends up being because you can learn from it.

I wasn’t expecting to like this piece as much as I did prior to trying it on but it was such a game changer when it was actually on me and not on the hanger. From the way it’s made in the double breasted shape to the pattern and knit material, this Joie blazer is so unique and I have never seen anything like it before. My main fear was that the houndstooth pattern in nontraditional colors was going to look super old lady. BUT, it’s the periwinkle blue and black popping against the tawny background that make it quirky with a sweet retro touch.

The knit material of this blazer is also very cool. It offers the classic blazer shape without its sometimes unforgiving rigidity. Whether I had it buttoned or not, I could tell that it was still a blazer but just felt like a cozy knit cardigan. Can you picture settling in an armchair with a good book and a hot coffee at a cafe in this baby?! This blazer looks like going to a library or bookstore and I am so there for it.

I am excited for this new addition to my wardrobe because of all of the styling possibilities that come with it. I can picture it with a simple A-line skirt, tights, and heels for a holiday get together. I can also see myself sporting it with black skinnies and ankle length booties for work or running errands. This Joie blazer was the only one I could find in the store and I feel lucky to have gotten my hands on it! 😀

What is your favorite piece of clothing? What is something unique that you have in your wardrobe? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

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