Tag Archives: unique

Jun9

Shoes Muse: Follow Your Heart, Not Fads

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Shoes Muse: Follow Your Heart, Not Fads

Hi everyone and welcome to another vacation guest post brought to you by the beautiful Tara over at Tarabells. If there’s one thing that Tara and I know, it’s that girls love shoes. So what better way to pay tribute to every female’s undying love for all things heels, flats, booties, and wedges than discussing some super cute summer footwear trends? Please take a look at Tara’s blog because it’s absolutely fantastic and then enjoy this post that she created special for my lifewithlilred readers:

Shoes Muse: Follow Your Heart, Not Fads

I’ll be the first to admit, when I read a trendy fashion blog post about the hottest thing this season (aka lace-up ballet flats) I turn into Cookie Monster (“me WANT!”). But so often what’s ‘in’ turns out to be uncomfortable, forgettable the next year, incompatible with most of our wardrobe, or worst of all – guilt inducing to wear out (I think this is because deep in our hearts we know shopping should be more of a thoughtful ritual and less of a hasty catharsis).
One thing I have been hasty with is SHOES. So this year I did something different. Instead of vacant online perusing and clicking, I decided to visit stores in person A LOT. I did my research and took mental notes. I read four fashion books, yes, FOUR (I will share at the end of this article). I journaled about my personal style and asked myself what makes me unique.
I’m nowhere near done with this process; even the fashion gurus say finding your own style takes time. But I did gather a nice assortment of summer shoes that I’m happy with so far! Here’s the lineup:
Navy Print Keds: SO unbelievably cute, casual, and COMFORTABLE. These will go with just about anything in your wardrobe. And you don’t even have to wear socks, for crying out loud (as long as you’ve got foot powder)!  I like them so much because I can take the dog for a walk and my feet still feel adorable.

Vintage Cowboy Boots: These warm my heart because they were purchased at a local music store next to a bar that I used to play music at frequently. There’s nothing like a pair of cowboy boots to hold all of those Kentucky memories of summer nights in the dive bar with no A/C, sharing crappy beer and original songs!

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Kitten Heels: Sometimes you find the best things when you’re not looking. These sexy kitten heels peeked out at me from the size 10s and 11 section (I wear a size 7 1/2 or 8!). Somehow they got misplaced and how on earth I was able to spot the tiny size 8 tag I will never know. I guess their magnetism just drew me to them!

 

Green Goddess Sandals: Ha, well that’s what I call them. They represent everything about me that’s ME. They aren’t really trendy at all. They’re well worn (bought from a local used clothing store). They are bright green (one of my favorite colors!). And most of all, my feet feel good in them. I especially love that they add a little pop of color and make a basic outfit chic!

Jewel Encrusted Sandals: I have had my eye on this style for years…it started when I read about them in a Paris Street Style book. Mystical as they were, to wear anything with gems, sparkles, or jewels felt foreign to me. Could I pull it off? Now I realize it’s less about ‘pulling it off’ and more about having fun. Go ahead and feel fancy from time to time – we all deserve that! FYI, you’ll be delighted to know that they did not cost a fortune – these babies were thrifted for six bucks!

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Thanks so much for reading. Click here for a lil’ freebie (it was a grad school project that involves fashion and I now give it away on my site). Cheers!

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^^^ LOVE IT! I can’t thank Tara enough for creating such an amazing post for lifewithlilred. It was so much fun being able to see her gorgeous pics and what she thought about each shoe and I’m very thankful to be able to host such brilliance on my page! Please be sure to check out Tara’s blog if you’re interested in more posts like this one! What is your favorite type of shoe to wear? How about least favorite? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar31

Spirit Animal Award

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Spirit Animal Award

Hi everyone and happy Thursday! Yesterday I was nominated by my blogging BFF, Nida, over at ShopaholicBlogs for the Spirit Animal Award. Nida is seriously the sweetest most fabulous blogger around so make sure you check out her page! I was so excited when I was nominated for this award by my friend because the Spirit Animal Award is one that my page has never received before. I was very curious as to what it was and I’m sure you guys are too so let’s take a look at the rules and then get started:

The Rules:

  • Thank the blogger who nominated you and link back to their page.
  • Post the award picture on your blog.
  • Write a paragraph about yourself and what your blog means to you.
  • If you could be any animal what would it be?
  • Pick and notify ten nominees.

All About lifewithlilred:

My blog is basically my online journal. I love to write and interact with new people and blogging has been an amazing outlet and a great way to meet new friends. All of my posts are a look inside the mind of a very creative and unique gal who has a lot of strong opinions to share. You never know what you’re going to get when you tune into lifewithlilred every day and that’s exactly how I want it. My posts range from discussing beauty and fashion to mental health and everything in between. Lifewithlilred is my safe haven where I can write and create anything that I want and I love going to my laptop every day and seeing what I’ll come up with next!

What Animal Would I Be?

Hmm…Probably a peacock because I’m a colorful person inside and out! And they’re pretty. :*)

My Nominees (I’m only doing three):

Thank you again so much to my darling Nida at ShopaholicBlogs for nominating me for the Spirit Animal Award! That was so much fun. What animal would you guys be? Why? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan15

Big Chill Kitchen Makeover

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Big Chill Kitchen Makeover

Hi everyone and welcome to a fun Kitchen Makeover edition of lifewithlilred, compliments of Big Chill! When I was asked to create my dream kitchen by Big Chill, I just couldn’t refuse. They specialize in vintage appliances that are sure to make an amazing centerpiece to get people talking at your next dinner party. There are so many darling choices to pick from that it was hard to choose a favorite! Shop along at: bigchill and see how I would decorate my dream kitchen:

^^^ The thing about my style, is that it’s very eclectic. There’s no rhyme or reason for why I like certain things and I’m never too concerned about creating the perfect match. Is my dream kitchen worthy of being featured in the top five “world’s most beautiful kitchens”? Probably not, but I sure had a good time making it! Take a peek inside my mind and see why I picked the items featured above:

Cherry Red stove: As I browsed through Big Chill’s website, the first item that really caught my eye was their Cherry Red stove – which shouldn’t be that big of a surprise! As soon as I saw it, countless ideas for a retro 1950’s chic kitchen began to bloom and I knew that I wanted it for my centerpiece. Yes, it’s one of my favorite colors but it’s just so darn fun! I love to cook and thinking about creating meals for my family on this little beauty made me so happy. It’s bright, cool, and the perfect pop of color for a kitchen that wows.

Kitchen cabinets: I like how the cabinets that I found are kind of shabby chic. They scream “1950’s starter home kitchen” to me and I think it’s really charming. Once you have true vintage style appliances line the ones from Big Chill, you just have to ride out the theme and I think these cabinets do it perfectly. I would change the color to a few shades lighter but other than that, I’m a fan!

Black dishwasher: Despite all of the darling colors you can pick from on Big Chill’s site, I didn’t want to go too crazy and stuck with a classic black dishwasher. To me, the color looks matte, which is nice because it lets the vibrant appliances like the refrigerator and stove do the talking. Of course, you may need the help of Ferris Plumbing, Heating & Cooling to get it fitted but that can make your kitchen refit even more convenient. Not all homes from back in the day had a dishwasher but it was a must for me because Lil Red does not do dirty dishes!!

Hand towels & wall art: I wanted some sweet hand towels to lay around the kitchen so I kept with the color red and found some cute checked ones to scatter about. They’ll be perfect for slopping up spills of wine, coffee, and junk food! I also wanted some unique pictures to hang and I really like the black utensil decor. The wall art is simple but it still looks sharp and stands out and I think they’ll make a great addition to my dream kitchen.

Beach Blue refrigerator: Oh yes, I love love LOVE this Big Chill fridge! The Beach Blue color is so vibrant and bright, it’s just delightful. I also really like combining this cheery blue with the Cherry Red stove. This refrigerator is pure fun and I couldn’t imagine how envious my friends would be if I had this appliance in my home.

Kitchen table: A vintage style kitchen needs just the right table and I adore the red and white dinette that I found. It looks like it came straight out of the cutest mom and pop diner and it really ties the retro theme together. All it needs now is a nice big bowl of fresh fruit and a vase full of bright and blooming flowers.

Pink Lemonade Microwave: For Lil Red, a microwave is a must. No one likes to cook all the time! I went with Big Chill’s Pink Lemonade microwave for my kitchen. I didn’t want to repeat any of the colors of the other appliances so I went with the pink, which is a color I don’t normally pick. I like how girly and sweet it is, though, and I think it compliments the other appliance colors really nicely. The Pink Lemonade color is more muted, too, which I think is a plus. A microwave any brighter would probably clash with the other items in my kitchen.

Vanilla walls: To complete my kitchen, I would paint the walls a rich and creamy vanilla. To me, that color is a neutral even though it isn’t your standard black, white, or beige. I think the vanilla walls would make the Big Chill appliances really pop and it has a great quirky and retro feel overall.

Ta da!! My Big Chill Kitchen Makeover! I had so much fun writing this article and giving a go at home decor. Please make sure you check out the other wonderful appliances that Big Chill has to offer at: bigchill. How would you decorate your dream kitchen? What color of appliances would you get from Big Chill? I wanna hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov16

Monday Update: Really Good Recipe Edition

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Monday Update: Really Good Recipe Edition

Helloooo everyone and happy Monday! As you guys know, I really enjoy cooking and once or twice a week I like to make dinner at home. This past weekend I made one of my all time favorite recipes that I just had to share – it’s that good. If you’re a fan of unique, bold, and slightly spicy dishes then you’re going to love my Peanut Noodles! This recipe is directly from the Quick Vegetarian Pleasures cookbook by Jeanne Lemlin and if you can get your hands on a copy then I urge you to do so! It’s an excellent cookbook for fast and healthy vegetarian eating. Here’s the step by step guide to making a Peanut Noodle dish of your own:

       Ingredients:

  • 1 pound spaghetti
  • 4 tablespoons oriental sesame oil
  • 1/2 cup peanut butter (I use crunchy PB but creamy will do, too!)
  • 1/3 cup soy sauce
  • 3 tablespoons Chinese rice wine or sherry
  • 1 1/2 tablespoon rice vinegar or other vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon firmly packed light brown sugar
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced (I use 6)
  • 1 teaspoon ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 cucumber, peeled, seeded, and chopped
  • 4 scallions, thinly sliced
  • Note: The sauce is a bit too bitter for my liking so I add about 3 teaspoons of white sugar to balance it out

Directions:

  • To make the sauce, combine 2 tablespoons of sesame oil with all of the other ingredients except the cucumber and scallions. Beat until well mixed and refrigerate.
  • Cook the pasta until al dente. Drain the noodles and toss with the remaining two tablespoons of sesame oil.
  • This dish can be served hot or cold so you could refrigerate the noodles if you choose or eat it hot after the spaghetti is cooked. I prefer it hot but it’s still very good cold as well!

My mom started making this recipe forever ago and it remains one of my favorites to this day. I made the Peanut Noodles this past Friday and was left with only a small dish of leftovers which I annihilated for lunch the next day. Almost everyone in my family is a big fan of this recipe and I hope you guys enjoy it too! It’s a quick and easy dish to whip together but it tastes like you spent hours cooking it. Peanut Noodles have been my go to dinner to make for a few boyfriends and many a night when there seems to be “nothing to eat” in the house. If you like trying out somewhat “different” recipes to change things up at home then this is the recipe for you!

So there you have it, this week’s Monday Update: Really Good Recipe Edition. Once again, if you can snag a copy of Quick Vegetarian Pleasures – DO IT!! Who is going to give the Peanut Noodles recipe a try? What is one of your go to dishes to make at home? I wanna hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May31

Cool Decorating Ideas

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Cool Decorating Ideas

Heyyy everyone and happy Sunday! So every once in a while my parents and I like to hit up Tuesday Morning, which is a lot like TJMaxx minus the clothing. The store has a lot of cool home decor pieces including everything from furniture, mirrors, artwork, and any knick knack you can imagine in one convenient location. Every time I go to Tuesday Morning I tell myself that when the time comes for me to decorate my own apartment I will most definitely be shopping there. I took some pictures of some pieces that I thought were fun and unique to share with you guys and maybe give you some ideas of your own for decorating! Take a look:

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^^^^ Rad, right??

I’m a really big fan of the antique-y vibe that I get from all of these cool little odds and ends. My absolute favorite thing pictured above is the step ladder shelf. I admire that baby every time I go to Tuesday Morning and I would love to have it in my room to house my beloved shoes on. I also really like all of the floral painted wall hooks – I can picture a plethora of those hanging up on the walls in my room to display all of my hats and scarves. I get happy just thinking about it! One item in particular that I’m not sure that I would put in my apartment would be the bust statue – but I guess it would be a pretty good conversation piece! What I was instantly drawn to today when I entered the store was the mini pedestals with the glass container covers. Those are absolutely gorgeous, and my first thought when I saw them was that I would love to display all of my jewelry in them. I imagined a row of the containers going across my desk with each of them holding a necklace or bracelet. So cute! It’s always so fun going into Tuesday Morning to see what’s new and exciting, and I can’t wait for the day that I can go there and fill up a shopping cart with all of the decorations that my little heart desires! Until the fateful day that I move out, I’ll just be admiring all of these items from afar!

I hope these pictures inspired all of the decorators out there to get to work on a new project! Where is your favorite place to buy home decor at? What is your favorite decorative piece in your living quarters? I wanna hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Have a great day! -Sarah