Tag Archives: treat yoself

Oct30

New Deep Red & Black Nails

Posted on October 30, 2022 by lifewithlilred

Hello!! October has been a crazy busy/stressful month for yours truly and it took me forever to find some spare time to get to Elysian Nails. My old nails were definitely reflecting the craziness because they were looking JANK – so grown out, dull, and some of them were lifting! Thankfully, the wonderful techs at Elysian are always there to get me right and my girl, Shelly, hooked it up:

I have been going gaga over the gorgeous Halloween nail art that has been plastered all over my Facebook newsfeed. Ghosts, mummies, spiders, and dripping blood nails sent my Halloween loving self into a tizzy. While I would love to indulge in nail art, I just can’t justify the additional cost. Between my nails, hair, and a constant desire to treat myself, it is expensive being Lil Red! So, I decided to go for my old spooky season standby of black and deep red. Is it as exciting as a full Halloween set? No way. But, my nails look fabulous and, for that, I am grateful.

Because my go to nail tech wasn’t working during my appointment, I was treated by the fabulous Shelly doing my fill. It is always so nice to catch up with her and her sister because they work side by side. Shelly is also the literal fastest nail tech I have ever been to. Despite the fact that she had a lot of fixing up to do on my nails, I was still out of the salon in an hour and that blew my mind. At other salons that I have been to, the techs can be hit or miss. However, every single nail tech at Elysian is so incredibly skilled and kind so it is never an issue when I can’t be fit into my usual tech’s schedule. For that, I am also grateful! ❤

There is nothing like getting pampered at the salon after a long and trying month and I left Elysian feeling way better than I did before. As always, I can’t wait to go back already!

What color of nail polish are you wearing? Do you get nail art when you get your nails done? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct11

Face Mask Festivities: Freeman Rejuvenating Cucumber & Pink Salt Clay Mask Edition

Posted on October 11, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Face Mask Festivities: Freeman Rejuvenating Cucumber & Pink Salt Clay Mask Edition

Hello!! Friday is usually Johnny’s big night out and my big night in. During my evening with the apartment to myself, I love to play Paper Mario and Animal Crossing and watch all of the shows that Johnny refuses to watch with me (IE: Hoarders!). As I was getting settled, I realized that it had been a long while since I used a face mask so I decided to do a little pampering:

For my spa night, I used the Freeman Rejuvenating Cucumber & Pink Salt Clay Mask and it was pretty good. My first impression was how nice it smelled – just like freshly cut cucumbers, which was really refreshing. The pale blue color was also very pleasing too! The directions for this mask said to remove after seven to ten minutes so I applied the mask and waited…

When I’m using a face mask, I try to leave it on for as long as I can. However, that was so not the case with this mask. It dried very quickly and by the five minute mark it was already hardened considerably but not unpleasantly. Fast forward to minute seven and my skin was begging me to take it off. I experienced a mild burning sensation and it was like heaven when I began removing it.

Although it wasn’t the most pampered I’ve ever felt during my face mask time, I was still impressed with the results. The exfoliating pink salt worked well and my skin felt smooth and looked nourished. It was super drying, though, and I actually had to apply my nighttime skin care routine twice because of how thirsty my skin was. It was all good after that extra moisturizing boost!

I liked this mask well enough but I don’t think that I would use it again. If I were to try it one more time, I would definitely remove it at five minutes, which I would recommend if you try it too!

How do you like to spend a night in? What is your favorite face mask? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep23

New Aegean Blue & Fire Orange Nails

Posted on September 23, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!!! This past Monday, my pampering session at Elysian Nails was the best because my favorite nail tech is back after an almost half year hiatus. I missed her terribly and, although all of the nail techs at Elysian are superb, there is nothing better than seeing your go to girl. This time around, I got a brand new set and was in desperate need of it – almost all of my acrylics were lifting! It turned out great and I am loving this color combo:

I spent a lot of time praying over what colors I wanted my nails to be on Monday and had some general ideas. I knew that I wanted shades that welcomed fall without being really obvious about it and decided to let the nail polish wall speak to me. As soon as I began looking over the different options, the super dark blue didn’t speak but SCREAMED at me and I knew that I had found a winner. I also had orange at the forefront of my mind and went with a fiery hue to compliment the blue – which it did perfectly, I might add. 😀

I have never been one for holiday or seasonal themed nails and just go with what I feel like at the time. However, fall is my favorite season and I wanted to pay my homage to it. This color combination reminds me of when the sun goes down on an autumn night and changing leaves and I think it is just so pretty. It subtly whispers “fall” without going overboard and I am so happy with it!

And, of course, my nail tech did a bang up job as per ushe. I didn’t realize how badly I needed a new set until I got a new set lol. My nails feel nice and strong again and are sharpened and shaped just the way I like. Now, here’s to my tech not going anywhere anytime soon after finally being reunited lol. Thanks, Elysian Nails! ❤

What color of nail polish are you currently rocking? What colors make you think of fall? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep22

New Sincerely Jules Vest

Posted on September 22, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! This past Saturday was absolutely FABULOUS. It was seriously the best day that I have had in over a month and it was just wonderful. To start, Johnny took some new OOTD pictures for me (Check it out soon!). Afterwards we went on a crawl of all of my favorite places. We went to my happy place of TJMaxx and then to my other happy place of El Meson for Mexican food. Once lunch was over, we spent a lovely afternoon at my parents’ house and then back to our apartment for an evening of video games. Like I said, it was the best.

Johnny and I went to TJMaxx with the purpose of checking out their Halloween decorations. As always, I couldn’t go to my own personal Disney Land without buying a little something for myself too lol. The store was overflowing with gorgeous fall clothes and they were all speaking to me. Out of hunger and knowing that Johnny wasn’t going to last long during a morning shopping session, I walked away with a darling houndstooth vest by Sincerely Jules. It’s SO cute and was convenient because I didn’t have to try it on in the fitting room lol check it out:

Dressing for fall is such fun for me because I get to layer up with all of my favorite things – sweaters, cardigans, flannels, and jackets. Why stop at just one piece when you can layer?! I was ecstatic when I saw this Sincerely Jules number because I don’t have anything like it in my wardrobe and, yes, it is a perfect layering piece! Of course, it will be great over top of my plethora of black sweaters but can you imagine it over a jewel tone like cobalt blue? Beautiful!

What I like about this vest the most is its shape. Normally, vests for women taper sharply inwards underneath the breasts and that is not flattering for my body type at all. My new Sincerely Jules vest, however, has a more straight fit to it and invokes all of the menswear vibes, which I am so there for. It has some extra wiggle room to it that provides a bit of movement and will be able to be worn comfortably over a thicker top.

I cannot wait to style this vest for a future OOTD post and I already have so many ideas. To keep with a menswear theme, I plan on raiding Johnny’s wardrobe because he has the best button downs. A more masculine fit on top begs for some sexy heels on the bottom so I might just have to break out my wedding heels one time for the one time. Stay tuned on lifewithlilred to see the completed look!

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

Aug11

Treat Yourself With Some Self Care

Posted on August 11, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! When we think of the phrase “treat yourself”, Parks & Recreation usually comes to mind when Donna and Tom splurge at the mall. A great shopping trip is definitely a treat yourself occasion but so is a day of self care! Self care is all about taking the time out of your day to do things that make you feel good. Let’s explore some ideas for when you’re feeling like you could use a pick me up:

Pampering, Please:

My favorite form of self care is definitely some pampering! Whether it’s a face mask or bath bomb from Lush, getting my nails or hair done, or simply using a nice lotion – I love it all. Being pampered whether it’s at the salon or at home is so soothing and it’s always nice to feel like a million bucks!

If you are in the mood for pampering with the works, it could be a fantastic treat to book an afternoon at a Day Spa. Take note of what you loved about your visit and then you could even host your own personal “spa day” so your friends can get in on the self care too. Everyone could bring their favorite products, drink tea and spill the tea as you catch up, and enjoy each other’s company. How fun would that be?

Treatments:

I am a firm believer that if there is something that makes you feel self conscious, it is worth going to a professional for. Whether you want your teeth whitened, Botox, lip filler, dermal fillers in Chicago (or your local area) or anything else – go for it. There is nothing wrong with any of this and if it makes you feel good about yourself, then that’s all that matters.

Of course, treatments are not always cosmetic. If you are experiencing aches and pains, you could try PEMF treatment for health maintenance and pain relief. Or, you could book a monthly massage to help work the kinks out. This is also an excellent practice in self care to help you feel your best inside and out.

Veg Out:

Sometimes the best form of self care is sitting on your favorite armchair or couch and vegging out. You could spend the afternoon with a good book or binge watching that show that you have been dying to watch. Taking the time to just sit, relax, and be can do wonders for your mental health. Vegging out gives you the opportunity to immerse yourself in a different world and you will return to reality feeling refreshed.

Work Out:

Whether you are hitting the gym or just taking a leisurely stroll around the neighborhood, it will feel good to get your body moving. I love to take my mom and dad’s dog for runs and when I’m done, I feel happy that I gave both of us a work out – even when my legs feel like Jello! After your exercise, you could treat yourself to a yummy smoothie or a delicious dinner to refuel your body.

Everyone could use some self care in this crazy world and these are just a few ideas to help perk you up whenever you need!

Jul17

New Red & Peach Nails

Posted on July 17, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hey!! After a super lame streak of bad luck, I am finally getting back into the swing of things. Of course, some retail therapy (Peep a brand new TJMaxx haul soon!) and pampering at Elysian Nails definitely helped the cause! I had a short work day this past Wednesday so I treated myself to some shopping before and a fresh fill after, which was just what the doctor ordered. Check it out:

Unfortunately, my favorite nail tech no longer works at Elysian Nails and I’d be a liar if I said that I didn’t feel weird having someone else care for my claws. However, the staff at Elysian is simply the best and I knew that my hands would be in capable ones no matter who is doing them. This past fill was actually awesome because the tech who did my nails when I first started going to Elysian is back. It was SO nice to catch up on lost time and see how much she improved at her craft while working at different salons!

For my color combination this time around, I went with a fiery red and peach combo and I am loving it. Alone, the red is very vibrant but it popped even more against the subtle peach and I think that it is such a fun, summery palette. When the peach polish was wet, I was a bit worried because it looked darker than I anticipated but it dried into the perfect pale shade that I had in mind and was instantly sold. So cute. 😀

With new hair, nails, and gorgeous new additions to my wardrobe, I feel ready to take on the world again. Big ups to my stylists for keeping me looking my best and TJMaxx for helping me dress my best! ❤

What color of nail polish do you have on? Who else turns to the salon or retail therapy when you are feeling down? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul4

New Hair, Who Dis?

Posted on July 4, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!!! It had been a very long time since I was able to get my hair done because my brilliant stylist, Anna, unfortunately got COVID. Needless to say, I was counting down the days until my rescheduled appointment this past week and the results were worth the wait… My hair is finally red and white after two trial attempts! This is exactly what I’ve been wanting for so long and I am beyond obsessed. Check out how it started VS how it’s going:

^^^ The red is Pulp Riot’s Fireball and the white is Pulp Riot’s Ghostblood.

I have been wanting red and white anime style hair for forever and the past two appointments with Anna got us close but not quite. My natural hair color is a medium to dark brunette and the bleach just wasn’t lifting enough to achieve it. We had to bleach my hair once and then a little bit more and the results ended up being more beige with hints of white peaking through.

This time around, however, was a totally different story and the bleach lifted the color to something Anna was happy with on the first go. This was a success in and of itself and we were both eager to see how the color turned out after the Fireball and Ghostblood sat. We were expecting to have to bleach it again so we were both surprised when Anna told me that she didn’t think we would have to as she washed my hair.

I couldn’t get back to her styling chair soon enough to see what she was talking about and I couldn’t believe my eyes when I sat down… Even with wet hair, the Ghostblood did its job and my hair was a pure white. It also had some awesome touches of purple and pink in it for an opalescence pop of color. It. Looked. Gorgeous.

The color was, of course, fabulous but I was also desperate for a haircut too. I always say that I can deal if the cut is good but the color is “meh” but I didn’t have one or the other going for me. After so long without Anna working her magic (Through no fault of her own!), my roots and haircut were so grown out and it was an overall hot mess. Because of this, I told Anna to go crazy with the cut and she delivered with a short, choppy, scene kid style. The cut took me back to high school with a voluminous top and a straight bottom layer and I am so there for it!

I am very curious to see how the perfected red and white fades out because it was not flattering on the first two attempts. Although Anna and I are already plotting for red, yellow, and orange hair next time around for fiery fun, it seems like such a shame to change it when my hair is finally what I have been daydreaming about. No matter what we go with, I know that I will be in the best hands and, as always, Anna is a genius! ❤

What colors should my hair be next? What is your favorite way to pamper yourself? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun20

New Teal & White Nails

Posted on June 20, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! My last fill at Elysian Nails was a bittersweet one because my favorite nail tech had moved onto bigger and better things. When I went to Elysian this past week, it was the first time in over a year that someone different had done my nails and I’d be a liar if I said I wasn’t a little bummed out! On the bright side, I got another one of my favorite techs who my old one recommended and my claws turned out beautifully:

For this past fill, one of the owners ended up doing my nails and it doesn’t get much better than that because she is AMAZING! I was in and out in a little over an hour and you just can’t beat that – especially considering how expertly she sharpened and shaped my talons. She also put on a thicker coat of acrylic to better compliment the shape and they have never felt so strong and sturdy before.

Originally, I had wanted nude nails with a colored tip but it was something that I needed to request when I scheduled the appointment. That was okay, though, and I can’t wait to get extra pampered next month as a treat. I decided to go with a teal and white combo, instead, and I am loving it! I can’t recall the last time that I had white nail polish on and I’m not sure why it took me so long to give it a shot. The bright white paired with the beachy blue just screams fun in the sun and I think it looks fabulous as well as different from what I’d usually get.

It is always sad when a preferred hair stylist, nail tech, or artist moves on from the salon but this first fill without my fave couldn’t have gone better. But, I shouldn’t have expected anything otherwise because Elysian Nails is, easily, the best salon that I have ever been to! ❤

What color are your nails? How long have you been working with your hair stylist or nail tech? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr18

New Holographic Lavender & Cornflower Blue Nails

Posted on April 18, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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New Holographic Lavender & Cornflower Blue Nails

Hello everyone!!! With insanely grown out nails and a broken one, I was in dire need of a trip to Elysian Nails to get my claws looking right. Between my upcoming move, changes in my job, and some annoyances with the nerve issues in my arms, I have been really stressed out. I was so happy to be able to find shelter from the storm at Elysian and left feeling much better than when I walked in! Check out these new beauties:

When I was considering nail polish options for my talons, I was feeling inspired by the beautiful hyacinths in my parent’s front yard. I have always loved their fragrant scent and pretty shades of pink, blue, and white. The bouquets my dad arranges with hyacinths in them are also magnificent! I decided to go with a glittery cornflower (Or hyacinth!) blue as well as a holographic lavender.

If the lavender color looks familiar, it should! I had my nails painted this shade a couple of months ago and I didn’t even realize it until my nail tech pointed it out. I couldn’t believe that she remembered and I didn’t considering she has countless other clients every day! She is the sweetest and it was so nice to girl talk, complain, and laugh for an hour with her.

I am loving the color combination that I picked out and think that these nails are perfect for spring. These colors are a bit muted but the shimmer and glitter adds a little something extra and are stunning when they catch in the light. There’s nothing like a new hair do and some freshly filled acrylics to get your girl feeling just right again. ❤

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

PS: Be sure to tune in tomorrow for Spring Skirt Savvy OOTD bonus pictures! 🙂

Apr13

New Hair, Who Dis?

Posted on April 13, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! This past Friday, I spent some much needed time at The Shear Shop getting pampered by my amazing stylist, Anna. She is the absolute best and almost six hours of hair magic and wonderful company just didn’t seem long enough. This time around, Anna used a new Pulp Riot dye called Ghostblood to help achieve my goals of red and white hair and I am obsessed with the results:

^^^ The red is Pulp Riot’s Fireball.

As I mentioned before, this new do took a lot of time to make happen and we are SO close to perfect results that I can almost taste it. After some trial and error, Anna decided that the Icy toner by Pulp Riot wasn’t the way to go and opted for the Ghostblood dye instead and I am so glad that she did. All we need is to ice out the white just a little bit more during my next appointment and it will be exactly what I had pictured in my head.

To achieve this look, Anna bleached my hair for about forty minutes to lift the beige out. Then, after washing and drying, she meticulously brushed on the dye and placed each section in foil so the red and white wouldn’t mix. After the color sat and was washed, we saw that the roots of my hair still had a yellow tint to it so Anna applied a little more Ghostblood to solve that problem and it worked like a charm.

The first time the color was washed out, we were pleased with the results. But, the second application of Ghostblood is what really did the trick and I am always so appreciative to Anna for spending extra time so that we both leave the salon completely thrilled. We are both loving this look so much and, now that we know what must be done at my next appointment, I am already ready to go back. 😀

For almost two decades, Anna has gifted me with amazing hair and the best friendship a gal could ask for. I would not be Lil Red without her hair wizardry and I am still riding the high of how much fun we had at my last appointment! ❤

How long has your hair stylist been doing your hair? How do you like to pamper yourself? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

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