Tag Archives: vaca

Oct21

Guided Tour Of The Vatican Museums

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Guided Tour Of The Vatican Museums

Hello! My family enjoyed the trip of a lifetime to Italy compliments of the most excellent tour through AAA and Collette. Each day of the tour was jam packed with sight seeing, amazing food, fabulous company, and so much fun! While it was exhausting to be going nonstop for days on end, it was so worth it because there was so much to do and see. Our first full day in Rome started out with a bang as we went on a guided tour of the Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica. As you all know, I am not religious in the slightest. However, I am very fond of religious art and this tour was one of my favorite highlights of the whole trip. Part of it was the sheer beauty of everything we saw but the other part was due to our wonderful tour guide, Julietta. Take a look at some pics and let’s discuss:

Going through the Vatican Museums was a whirlwind and, honestly, kind of overwhelming. As to be expected, it was incredibly crowded and we had to maneuver being in a large group, following Julietta, looking at everything as we quickly passed by, and still manage to listen to our guide as she gave us historical knowledge and hilarious stories. The Vatican Museums weren’t so much as a walk but a sprint as we navigated to the most well known artifacts while trying to avoid bottlenecks so we could stay within the time frame of the tour.

Because of how quickly we went through the impossibly huge Vatican Museums, the day was a bit of a blur. Everything from floor to ceiling was covered in art and I think you could spend an entire day there and still not manage to see and appreciate every single thing. Of course, one of the major highlights was seeing the Sistine Chapel and that was absolutely glorious. The Sistine Chapel is one of those landmarks that everyone knows and to be able to step inside it and see it with my own eyes is something I won’t soon forget. I also really loved staring up at all of the ceilings of the Vatican Museums which were completely adorned with paintings. They were all so detailed and elaborate and here I am proud that I can draw a stick figure!

After we visited the Vatican Museums, it was time for a well earned break for lunch and Johnny and I spent it tucked in a cozy little restaurant called Borgo Nuovo. He opted for the prosciutto pizza while I devoured a delicious pesto pasta. There is nothing like eating pasta in Italy and I savored every bite. I’m pleased to report that we were both members of the Clean Plate Club and this was one of my favorite meals because Johnny and I were together and it was like a little date. And, as delicious as the food was, it was just as delicious to sit down before a tour of St. Peter’s Basilica!

After our meal at Borgo Nuovo, it was back to the grind for St. Peter’s Basilica. Fun Fact: Our tour guide, Julietta, actually helped restore some of the marble columns in the Basilica as she is one of the leading experts in painted marble. How cool is that?! Here are some pics from the remainder of our tour:

Like the Vatican Museums, St. Peter’s Basilica featured a huge crowd but this time it felt way more manageable. Rather than a million rooms at the Vatican Museums to explore, there were only a handful in the Basilica which gave the opportunity to take it all in without feeling rushed. Despite lacking religion, it was very special to be in these famous and beautiful churches. Although it was cool to see the bodies of former popes in the Basilica, my favorite thing was a no brainer… I so loved seeing the Pieta by Michelangelo. My grandparents owned a funeral home and my grandma had the most glorious tabletop replica of the Pieta where calling hours were held. It was one of my favorite items from the funeral home and to see the real life statue was breathtaking. In fact, that was one of the best parts of the entire tour for me! ❤

Our sightseeing adventure didn’t end with our guided tour of the Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica. It was just getting started because my family took a golf cart tour of Rome later that evening! Read all about it tomorrow!

What is your favorite work of art? Do you live near any cool museums? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct20

It’s In The Bag: Made In Italy Edition

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It’s In The Bag: Made In Italy Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of It’s In The Bag! It should come as no surprise that my primary mission in Italy was to shop till I drop and I was chomping at the bit to pop some tags. So much so, that Johnny and I went on a shopping excursion immediately after arriving in Rome. Of course, I was eager to buy clothing but I also wanted to treat myself to a nice purse as a keepsake that I could use every day so I could always have a piece of Italy with me. Not only was this goal necessary for fashion and sentimental reasons but it was also a necessity as the bag that I brought with me had seen better days!

I toted my mustard yellow vegan leather purse by Chillx because it had a sturdy lock and zippered compartments to ward off pickpockets. However, the vegan leather was peeling and the traveling to Rome only intensified it. The bag I purchased couldn’t have come a moment too soon and I threw my old purse out as soon as all of my items were swapped. Check it out:

^^^ You can learn more about the items in my OOTD in this post!

I am a well seasoned shopper and I tend to know within a second’s glance if a fashion item is a yes or no. And, as Johnny and I strolled through Rome and I took a quick look from the sidewalk into a local leather store, I just knew that the purse for me was in there. I walked in, the gorgeous oxblood mini messenger bag caught my eye, and the haggling for a better price proceeded. Outside of shopping, I was most looking forward to putting my Italian skills to the test and had been practicing diligently before my trip. This paid off quite literally because the store owner knocked the price of my purse down by thirty euros and I happily left the store with a great deal and timeless accessory. I was also glowing at the compliment from the salesperson that my Italian was very good!!! 😀

My new purse was joined at my hip for my entire vacation and I could not be more pleased with my purchase that was made within a half hour of being in Rome. Hey, I’m a gal who knows what she wants! Although I typically shy away from leather goods, all of my previous vegan leather purses had been tossed due to the peeling. I wanted something that was high in quality and would last forever and that was why my Made In Italy leather bag came home with me. It delighted me that all of the members of our tour group went gaga over it and their sentiments matched mine exactly. This truly was the ideal purse for me and I didn’t even bother looking at any more during the entirety of the trip. Why would I when I already had perfection?!

By the by, the scarf that you see in the purse pictures was purchased in Assisi and can we please talk about what a stunning combination it is? When the scarf wasn’t jauntily tied around my neck, I had it wrapped around the purse’s strap for an added pop. That oxblood paired with the navy blue and bright orange is simply divine!! ❤

With this purse by my side, Italy isn’t far away at all. It’s right there with me and will serve as a tangible daily reminder of my trip of a lifetime!

What kind of souvenirs do you like to purchase on vacation? What are some of your favorite Italian brands? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct19

Welcome To Rome!

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Welcome To Rome!

Hello!! My family and I enjoyed the most wonderful vacation in Italy and spent ten days traveling and city hopping. This tour was compliments of AAA and Collette and it really was a whirlwind adventure. Johnny, myself, my parents, and older brother went here, there, and everywhere with thirty-five other people and our amazing tour guide, Savio. We made forever friends, unforgettable memories, and fostered a love and knowledge for every location we visited and its surrounding areas. This was our first time out of the country and it truly couldn’t have gone better thanks to the meticulous planning and guidance of our beloved Savio. We may be back in the A-K-Rowdy, but Italy will never be far from our hearts.

Our travels began with margaritas at the airport at ten in the morning (obviously), a quick flight to Chicago where more margs were consumed (obviously), and an overnight flight that brought us to Rome for the start of our tour. Due to the other members of our group all arriving at different times, we were able to get ourselves checked into the hotel to rest, spend some time in the city, and have a big welcome dinner that evening. As soon as we made it to the Mediterraneo Hotel (I will be reviewing every hotel we stayed at), Johnny and I freshened up and made our way into Rome for some shopping as his sunglasses broke on the flight. That is when our adventure really began…

Johnny and I emerged onto the streets of Rome with no other plan then to find him some sunnies. We decided to ask the first people we saw who looked close to our age and learned that they were not from Rome but Austria. We chatted, laughed, and made up in the air plans to meet up for drinks after our welcome dinner. Rather than keep asking for help, we took it to the streets and hit up a bunch of different stores. Johnny and I found sunglasses and I also purchased a GORGEOUS purse which you will see later! After our shopping we returned to the hotel to have some drinks and wait for our dinner featuring regional specialties.

Our welcome dinner was absolutely delicious and I was so appreciative to the attentiveness of our tour guide to ensure that my mom and I always had vegetarian options. The meal started with a yummy flatbread and a rich pasta with veggies. Next was a divine pastry filled with cheese (I was in heaven) and the most tasty pistachio ice cream for dessert. It was actually one of my favorite sweets we had on the entire trip! And, of course, the wine flowed freely as we dined and got to know all of the other guests who felt like family within days.

After our meal, the fun didn’t stop because Johnny and I hit up the rooftop bar at the hotel to meet with our new friends from Austria. Guys… We got absolutely wasted and spent hours drinking Prosecco, sharing stories of our respective countries, and laughing hysterically. One of our new pals wants to visit us in Ohio for a “hillybilly time” of drinking moonshine and shooting guns and we’d love to make it happen lolol. We are still in contact with them! As much as we would have loved to keep the night going, Johnny and I were beat and had an early following day filled with sightseeing. This day set the vibe for the whole trip and it promised to be fabulous. I can’t wait to tell you all more about it so stay tuned because lifewithlilred is having an Italian takeover!

In under two weeks, Italy felt like home. We are thankful beyond measure for this beautiful time with friends and family and I am so excited to relive it all here with my dear readers. Keep it posted!

Have you been on vacation this year? Where did you go? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct16

New Black & Silver Glitter Nails

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New Black & Silver Glitter Nails

Hello! Prior to going to Italy I had to get my nails right and enjoyed an excellent fill after my last shift on Friday before my big vacation. I had a few color combos in mind for my nails but that all fell by the wayside because this fill will also serve as my claws for Halloween. And, I just know that Mrs. Lovett would never be rocking taupe and powder blue talons! These new glittery stiletto nails will be absolutely perfect for my costume and will provide a radiant pop of bling to all of my Italy OOTDs. Check these bad boys out:

I ditched glittery polishes in the summer and opted for bright sunny shades to made a statement with. My previous fills certainly matched the fun in the sun vibes of summer but it is fall, baby, and that means bringing back dark, rich shades of polish and glitter too! My Mrs. Lovett costume is a sexy white and black striped little number so I just selected which colors make sense: A starry night black with twinkling silver stars and a silver glitter polish worthy of being a disco ball. What can I say, I wanted that bling bling and ended up getting ALL of the bling bling! 😀

As my nail tech shaped and sharpened away at my acrylics, we had the most delightful chat and it was so nice to unwind in her chair after a long several weeks. I was working ten plus hours per day to get prepped for my trip and while it was one thousand percent worth it, it was so exhausting! I could literally feel myself melting as I was pampered because all of that stress simply vanished. That’s no surprise because we were so busy talking about our two favorite topics: Books and movies. We are both on pins and needles to see Other Mommy and my tech has to read the book it’s based on too. I cannot wait to discuss during my next appointment and relive all things Halloween!

Vaca hair? Check. Vaca nails? Check and double check!! Stay tuned for the first of many posts about my trip coming soon!

Are there any movies coming out that you want to see? Have you gotten fall colors for your nails? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct14

I’m Back!!!!!

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I’m Back!!!!!

Yoohoo!!! I have been mentioning a trip to Italy and today is the day that I return home. Prior to the big trip, I was working my nads off to schedule content out on lifewithlilred and the social media page that I manage. It was a lot of work and for the past three weeks I was clocking in ten plus hour days between working from home and with my clients. It was well worth all of the effort to ensure that my blog baby and social media was tended to because you already know I have to keep that daily content streak going!! Yes, the extra work was exhausting but it felt SO good to steadily check each post off of my to do list so I could fully relax on my first vacation in five years. And all the way to Italy, no less!

This is my first time traveling internationally and I cannot wait to share my voyage with my dear readers. Starting next week it’s going to be All Italy Everything. We’re talking food (And wine!!!), killer OOTDs, sightseeing, and so much more. The so much more is TBD because I am writing this the morning that we depart from Cleveland, Ohio! This was my future self writing in this post and we will be back to present day soon. All I have to say is, shout out to future and past me for keeping lifewithlilred going strong even when I’m thousands of miles away from the A-K-Rowdy. And, shout out to all of you for joining me! ❤

I am leaving this morning but writing about being back home and it kind of feels like a Twilight Zone episode lol. Stick around for my adventures and we’ll all be back on the same time frame before you know it! ❤

Did you go on vacation this year? Where to? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep9

Amazing Autumn Guest Bloggers Wanted!!

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Amazing Autumn Guest Bloggers Wanted!!

Oh hey!! As you know, I will be vacationing in Italy in the near future and I am beyond excited!! This trip of a lifetime will be enjoyed by me, Johnny, my parents, and brother and I can’t believe it is right around the corner. It will be very special to go on this adventure with my family and it will also serve as a pseudo honeymoon for me and Johnny as we never went on one after getting married. It’s always a thrill to go on a trip but it’s also a tad stressful because there are a lot of I’s to dot and T’s to cross before it’s go time!

Blessedly, my biggest concern has been tended to: Care for the bunnies while we are away! Johnny and I assembled a super team of three who we trust implicitly to be with them morning, afternoon, and night and that is a huge weight off of my shoulders. They are our babies, after all! The next step in my prep will be ensuring that I have posts scheduled to rock and roll for my social media management job (Be sure to check that out!). I plan on visiting a lot of installation sites interspersed with office visits before my trip to handle that and it might just be in a new (used) car! More on that later when the purchase actually happens because the Little Red Love Machine has been causing me a lot of grief. 😦 *Bawling my eyes out*

Last but certainly not least on my checklist is maintaining my daily content streak here on lifewithlilred. I have been posting every day for seven years and counting and I will be a monkey’s uncle if I ever let that massive achievement fall by the wayside! I have been blogging every chance I get to schedule posts but I also wanted to open lifewithlilred up to all of you in an Amazing Autumn Guest Bloggers Series. This is your chance to interact with my viewers, get to know me better, and have some fall fun too!!

If you have a fabulous fall OOTD, tasty recipes, autumn inspired MOTDs, cool costumes, or spooky seasonal decor that you want to showcase, then let me at it! You can reach me by email at: sarah.mush6794@gmail.com and I truly can’t wait to hear from you! Let’s ring in autumn together and celebrate everything that makes this season so magical! ❤

Did you go on vacation this summer? Where did you go? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug14

6 Smart Ways To Lower The Cost Of Travel

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6 Smart Ways To Lower The Cost Of Travel

If you love to travel but hate the price tag that comes with it, then this guide is for you. We are going to look at some of the most brilliant ways people have come up with to lower the cost of flying overseas and experiencing new cultures and adventures. Here are some of the ways you can cut expenses without sacrificing trip quality:

Travel in the shoulder seasons:

If you’re looking to travel at a lower cost then going in the shoulder seasons is the obvious solution. February to May and September to November tend to be far cheaper, which is something you’ll notice if you regularly book flights throughout the year. What’s more, many destinations are still worth visiting during these shoulder seasons. Weather is often pleasant, avoiding extreme heat or cold.

Use flight deal alerts:

We’d also recommend using flight deal alerts to lower the cost of travel. For many trips, the cost of the flight is the biggest item and often larger than staying in accommodation, especially if you’re traveling to a long-distance destination. Signing up for airfare is easy these days. Just find your favorite flight aggregator and get them to send you their weekly newsletter. They can tell you which destinations will be cheaper to book for the following week, giving you more flexibility.

Win back money:

There are numerous competitions available these days that allow you to win back money on your travel expenses. Playing a lot of these on average can help you reduce the cost of your travel significantly and even enable you to get things that you wouldn’t ordinarily be able to obtain on a regular budget. The key here is volume. The more games you play, the more likely you are to win. Many games are free to enter.

Hack your accommodations:

Flights are usually the largest travel expense with accommodations coming in second. You can lower your budget significantly by looking into alternatives to conventional rentals or hotel stays. For example, you might sign up for a house-sitting platform or go to reputable hostels with private rooms. You could also look at short-term apartment rentals away from sightseeing hot spots. All of these options can significantly lower the price of staying in a particular city or location.

Travel light:

Another popular option is to travel light to avoid baggage fees. More people are mastering the art of packing everything they need into a single personal item-sized backpack. Most airlines won’t charge for this as long as it’s under around 7 kg. When you travel light, you avoid the hassle of stowing your regular baggage or having to pick it up from baggage collection. Usually, you can save around 10 to 15% of the price of a flight by traveling this way.

Eat like a local:

Finally, to seriously cut the cost of travel, you could skip the restaurants located directly next to major tourist monuments and go to the ones that the locals use instead. The best way to find these is to look for eateries outside the city center with hundreds of thousands of reviews on Google Maps.

^^^ Unsplash Image

Travel smarter and cheaper with the tips above! Bon voyage!

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Apr4

Bath & Body Works March Freebie

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Bath & Body Works March Freebie

Hello! I have a stockpile of skin and bath and body care that runneth over – especially in the smell goods department as I love stocking up during the Bath & Body Works Semi-Annual Sales. There is also no shortage of travel size B&BW products since they send a freebie coupon for one at least every other month. Or so I thought there was no shortage! As I packed my toiletries for New Orleans, I couldn’t believe that there was not a single travel size shower gel in my hoard! I ended up having to use a combination of the hotel soap and shampoos during my travels and it was so hard to feel clean without the sudsy, fragrant B&BW shower gels. I was so happy to have been able to rectify this with a March freebie coupon as my need for travel size shower gels isn’t over yet. My family will be going to Italy later this year and I already have one thing out of the way to pack:

Every time I visit B&BW for a free product, I feel like their travel size options have dwindled down exponentially. What used to be a sprawling tower of mini shower gels and lotions was pretty much bare so I just had to take what I could get this time around. I landed on A Thousand Wishes, which is an incredibly popular B&BW scent that I have never bothered trying lol. A Thousand Wishes offers notes of “pink prosecco, crystal peonies, and amaretto creme” and it is actually really nice! It reminds me a lot of their Sweet Pea scent. It’s floral, yes, but not in an overpowering way because there’s more to it than just the peonies. Perhaps it’s the amaretto creme? 😀

Also, can we just talk briefly about showering in hotels because I’m still not over it lol. Showering in a hotel is like being on an episode of Naked and Afraid. You are in unfamiliar territory, you might not have your favorite products (In my case!), and why is the water either scalding hot or freezing cold?! I know it doesn’t seem like much, but just having this shower gel for Italy is a little peace of mind. I am not a traveler in the slightest and it is comforting to have familiar and favorite things when away from home. At the bare minimum, at least I know that I will not have to combine bar soap with shampoo during vacation and that is a blessing in itself!

In conclusion, if you like Sweet Pea then you are going to be a fan of A Thousand Wishes. And remember to always check your travel size stash before a trip! Smh!

What toiletries do you pack when traveling? Are you going on a vacation this year? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar31

Uber Safety

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Uber Safety

Hello! My sister, Kristen, and I experienced some travel turmoil when we were in New Orleans because our flight home got cancelled. However, that wasn’t the only incident of the day as we had an incredibly not okay Uber ride when we wanted to go to the Garden District. When we first arrived in NOLA, we opted for the “women driver only” option on Uber and that made us feel a lot more secure in a brand new city. However, I didn’t remind my sister to select that option again when we went to the Garden District as I thought it was an automatic setting. We ended up having a driver that made some highly inappropriate comments and drove like an absolute mad man. We’re talking swerving, we’re talking speeding, we’re talking running over curbs/sidewalks, and almost getting into several accidents. It was VERY scary.

After this experience, we were left with literal heart palpitations as we made our way through the Garden District and then the punches kept coming shortly after with the cancellation of our flight. We were blessedly able to catch a plane home the following day after many, many delays! That morning we, of course, selected the women driver only option and had the coolest lady ever get us to the airport. We talked to her about our ride from the previous day and she shared some very good advice that I wanted to pass on to all of you. This is information that you never want to need but it’s so important to have a safety plan no matter the situation:

When we told her about our ride, we mentioned that we honestly didn’t know what to say to get ourselves out of the car and were too scared to say pull over. And, in the moment, our minds were blank to come up with anything at all. So, she gave us an alternative. Our driver said if we find ourselves in a situation like that, start bringing up food, drink, and bathrooms. IE: Oh is that a Wendy’s? Can you actually drop us off here? I’m feeling a little nauseous. Or: A gas station! I could use some Gatorade, I feel queasy after all the walking we did. These are perfectly valid, common statements and no one wants someone getting sick in their car. AND you will be in a public area where people will have eyes on you. As soon as the coast is clear – report, report, report the driver.

Our driver then went on to say that she has a safety plan in place for herself too. If she ever feels uncomfortable when providing rides, she pulls over to the most public area she sees first. She then gets out of the car and begins to walk towards a crowd of people. Eventually, the person she is driving figures it out and exits the vehicle. And, should they have anything to say, she is surrounded by people. Once again, as soon as the coast is clear – report, report, report the rider.

I am SO appreciative to our driver for sharing this advice because it was so smart and simple enough to stay with you. If you use Uber often, have a safety plan and a backup one too because you really just never know.

What are some of your rideshare or travel safety tips? Have you had an experience similar to ours before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar28

Accessory Story: Earthbound Bracelet Edition

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Accessory Story: Earthbound Bracelet Edition

Howdy!! My sister and I had the most fantastic time in New Orleans and it was such fun to explore the city with Kristen. Prior to our cousin’s Saturday evening wedding we shopped till we dropped in the French Quarter. We hit up plenty of markets and quirky souvenir shops and had to laugh at the random CVS because it stuck out like a sore thumb. There weren’t many chain stores to visit but we did end up stopping in Earthbound as we have never been there before and the closest one to us is an hour away. It was a cool, hippie chic shop that boasted clothing, decor, and beautiful jewelry. They were also running a buy one get one half off sale which was a score! Kristen ended up purchasing a lovely bracelet for her daughter and treated me to this dynamite snake wrap bracelet. Check it out:

When I saw this bracelet on display, I literally clutched my pearls. I absolutely love snake themed jewelry and have several pieces in my collection. None of them are like this one, though! Unraveled, this bracelet stretches two feet long and then you can wrap it up as a bracelet or a necklace. All of my bracelets are just cuffs and this number by Earthbound is the perfect jewelry embodiment of a real snake. The salesperson at the store told me they got the bracelet back in stock the day before and that they sell out very quickly. I can definitely see why!

As this bracelet was a bit pricier at twenty dollars, I told my sister I would buy it and get the bracelet she wanted for the half off price. Instead, she got it for me and it was just the sweetest! The whole weekend away warmed my heart and it was so special to have a memento from her to commemorate our trip. I have worn it several times since our mini vacation and it’s impossible not to smile about it. Not only is this bracelet insanely fun to put on but it instantly takes me back to all of the amazing memories we created. Spending all of that time one on one with my sister was the greatest gift I could ever ask for and this bracelet from big sis to little sis was the cherry on top. ❤

Tune in tomorrow to check out an OOTD featuring my new hair and this fabulous Earthbound find. See you then!

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