Tag Archives: valentine’s day

Feb6

Craft Night!

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Craft Night!

Hello!! One of my New Year’s Resolutions was to make more time for fun over the weekend. I am pleased to report that I have been doing great on this goal and the best thing of all has been having lots of hang outs with my three niece girl squad. With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, I thought it would be fun to get some craft supplies to make Valentines together. I went to Michael’s for the craft fest and was pleasantly surprised! All of their Valentine’s Day items were already marked down to forty percent off and the whole store was almost entirely Easter. It was a total score and I ended up with plenty of projects to keep my big girls occupied. I even got the fixings for the littlest baby to make a Valentine too with help from her big sisters!

This past Friday, my sister and girl squad joined me at Chez Mom and Dad for our crafting extravaganza. My big girls love to paint so I got them a pottery cake and cupcake to decorate, foam hearts to make cards with, and children’s paint and construction paper so baby sis could make a footprint heart. It was such a blast to get situated at the kitchen table and see what the girls dreamed up! After their pottery was to their liking, the girl squad began making Valentine’s Day cards for everyone and anything lol. Of course, they made Valentines for their parents and grandparents but they also made cards for their pets and our family dog! They also each made one for TT too:

My heart absolutely burst when the girls presented me with their creations and I have them proudly displayed in my apartment. We wrapped up our crafting jamboree with another fantastic surprise. My oldest niece decided she FINALLY wants me to teach her how to figure skate!! It was a joy to teach my big girls some jumps and spins off ice and they kind of got the hang of it lol. I can’t wait to hit the rink together!

Have you made any Valentine’s Day crafts? Do you decorate for V-Day? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb5

If The Shoe Fits: A New Day Kitten Heels Edition

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If The Shoe Fits: A New Day Kitten Heels Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of If The Shoe Fits! During my last Target Run, I purchased an All New Everything OOTD for mine and Johnny’s Valentine’s Day date. Did I have any intention of this? Shockingly, no. However, Target made it all too easy to build the perfect V-Day look. I found my new top and bubble skirt on the same rack and the shoes you are about to see were directly across the aisle! Before we begin, I’d like to give myself a pat on the back for not buying new shoes since August of last year. This further solidified my need for a little treat lol! Check out the completed look:

As a petite princess, I am most fond of chunky platform heels to elevate my height. I absolutely love the way they look and I rock them frequently. I do have a very special place in my heart for kitten heels, though! Kitten heels offer a totally different vibe than my standard platforms. They are so sweet and dainty and always remind me of doll shoes. When I saw the top and skirt, I began putting the outfit together as I made my way to the fitting rooms. I planned on pairing the ensemble with a pair of kitten heels I already own, then these little beauties caught my eye across the way and that plan went out the window.

After having great success with the clothes, I literally thought to myself “what the hell” and tried the shoes on too lol. Just by looking at them, I knew that they would work so why not! I was so right because these kitten heels were made to be worn with the rest of my outfit. In fact, I couldn’t believe I almost passed them by. These heels are the perfect adorable something to compliment my new ensemble. First and foremost, the pointed toes look like hearts and it’s just so darn cute! As an extra bonus, these heels feature see through sides, which I don’t own anything like but always wanted to. These might not be shoes that I would wear with everything in my closet, but my skirts and dresses can now rejoice from new kitten heels to be paired with!

I am already unbelievably excited for a V-Day date with my main squeeze but even more so now that I have a gorgeous new OOTD to wear for the occasion!

What is your favorite style of shoes? What are you wearing for Valentine’s Day? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb3

Target Run: A New Day Bubble Skirt

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Target Run: A New Day Bubble Skirt

Hello to you and welcome to Part Two of my Valentine’s Day OOTD Builder! To be perfectly honest, I feel like I am cheating on TJMaxx by buying an entire outfit from Target lol. As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, it has been literal years since I purchased clothes from there. In fact, I dug through the archives of lifewithlilred to find an exact amount of time and the last thing I bought was a cardigan over three years ago. And, when you look at it like that, I suppose I was well overdue for a Target Run! Check out the rest of the base for my V-Day date night fit:

Target really did make it all too easy to create a one stop shop for a Valentine’s Day ensemble. Directly behind the lipstick print cami on the rack was this divine bubble skirt, which is also by A New Day. At this point, I threw my hands up and said “F it” lol. If I was already going to get the top, I might as well try on the skirt too! Actually, I clutched my pearls over this skirt because I have always wanted one in this style. Bubble skirts are so fantastically whimsical and gives me all of the anime vibes. They are just too sweet, provides eye catching movement, and looks so much more interesting than a standard skater, A-line, or bodycon skirt. As you all know, my MO when it comes to buying new clothes is to get pieces that I don’t own anything like already so this skirt was as good as mine.

This top and skirt were made for each other and if I was more familiar with the way clothes from Target fit, I wouldn’t have even tried them on. I was that confident that they would be perfect and my suspicions were proven spot on. Once both items were on in the fitting room, I was so enamored that I wanted to wear them out of the store. I felt like a star without wearing makeup and sporting major hat hair from the beanie I had on! The silhouette of the top tucked into the skirt was like nothing I had worn before and it was so interesting to see myself in a way that I wasn’t used to. The top fit close to my body and the skirt ballooned out like a blossoming flower. It made me feel like a ballerina and had me wishing that mine and Johnny’s date night was happening that very evening!

Keep it locked for a brand new edition of If The Shoe Fits to see my V-Day OOTD in all of its glory. All I can say is, I’m obsessed!

What is important to you about the clothes you buy? What are your Valentine’s Day plans? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb2

Target Run: A New Day Cami Top

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Target Run: A New Day Cami Top

Hello!! Johnny and I are celebrating Valentine’s Day by seeing our favorite musical, Hadestown, at EJ Thomas Hall in Akron. Saying we are beyond excited is an understatement!! I had no intention of buying a brand new outfit for the occasion – shocking I know. While my intentions were good, I did not hold up on them whatsoever lol. During a recent Target Run, the siren song of darling new clothes was too strong and I ended up purchasing a completed OOTD for our date night. This was actually really surprising to me because I fell out of clothes shopping at Target years ago as I was never impressed with their selection. My V-Day look has me thinking that maybe it wouldn’t hurt to do Target Runs more frequently! Check out Part One for my OOTD – a gorgeous cami top by A New Day:

While I was at Target, I wasn’t even looking at the clothes. I simply walked by the women’s department en route to what I needed to get and stopped short lol. As I strolled along, I locked in on this adorable cami and knew I had to try it on. I absolutely love silky and sweet tops like this for date nights. They are sexy without being too much and has so much potential to style multiple different looks with it. And, of course, Lil Red can’t say no to a print of bright red lipstick kisses! I am dead serious when I say that I was going to buy this top only and then style my outfit with clothes that I already have. Until I saw the perfect thing to pair it with on the same rack, which you will all see tomorrow!

But, I digress – let’s talk about styling options. 😀 With a top like this, you can pair it with just about anything and it’s going to look good as black is a neutral and there isn’t anything special about the way it fits. It isn’t too tight or overly flowy, making it ideal for tucking into skirts, wearing it underneath a blazer, or even with blue jeans and a cozy cardigan. Can you imagine this cami with sassy shorts and platform heels in the summer? Forget about it! Even though the print is traditional for Valentine’s Day, it is really something that can be worn any time of the year and that is so, totally sweet. ❤

My V-Day OOTD Builder is one third complete. Stay tuned for the remaining pieces and a killer OOTD post to show off the end result!

Do you like to shop for clothes at Target? What did you get on your last Target Run? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan31

Valentine’s Day Gift Inspo

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Valentine’s Day Gift Inspo

Hello!! Valentine’s Day is right around the corner so a gift guide is in order! I wouldn’t say that V-Day is a big deal to me because Johnny and I are constantly going on dates and surprising each other with random gifts. However, that’s not to say that it isn’t nice to celebrate the day together and we are going to see our favorite musical, Hadestown, for the occasion. I can’t wait!! Let’s explore some gifting inspiration to make your V-Day with your main squeeze even more special:

The Classics:

Listen, I say this Every. Year. for Valentine’s Day but it is always worth repeating: You literally cannot go wrong by gifting the classics to your SO. We’re talking chocolates, roses, a fancy bottle of booze, romantic dinner out, and items to pamper with like massage oils or the fixings for an ultra luxe bubble bath. People often view V-Day as a way to spoil your partner and there is a reason why all of these gifts are classic staples – they provide the perfect opportunity to spoil someone. Simple and perfectly sweet is never a bad idea!

For Fun:

Whenever Johnny and I are watching one of “our” shows and a character is wearing a novelty T-shirt that we like, we will look it up and purchase two so we can match. We have several matching T-shirt sets and no one knows what they’re from when we wear them, but we do! In fact, I am using this V-Day as an opportunity to get us a couple of funny shirts from the show Community. If you have a running joke or tradition with your SO, use it to your advantage! Valentine’s Day is all about celebrating your relationship so work with what is special to the both of you together. It could be a board game for your next evening in, crafting or renovation supplies if you are a DIY duo – whatever it is, your partner will immediately understand why you got it and that is a beautiful thing. ❤

Stepping Out:

Chances are that if your big date is seeing a performance, you already have tickets. If the move is a dinner out, then let this serve as a friendly reminder to make those reservations ASAP! A night on the town in lieu of a gift is a very popular way to go and for good reason – you can only have so much stuff. This is exactly why Johnny and I are seeing a musical! When you are out, try breaking free from your norms to enhance the celebratory atmosphere. Get that bottle of wine with dinner. Yes, please for dessert! Or grab a nightcap or snack after seeing a show so you can chat away about the experience. There are so many little things that can make the shift from a standard date night to a Valentine’s Day date night! Be spontaneous, be in the moment, and see where the evening will take you.

Staying In:

Sometimes, the most meaningful and romantic way to celebrate the big day is just staying in. Johnny and I have definitely done this before for V-Day. We watched our favorite movies, DoorDashed a feast, ate like kings, and had So. Much. FUN. How can you plan a special day from the comfort of your own home? Breakfast in bed is always a good place to start! Maybe you will get the supplies for a “paint night” in. How about baking and decorating delicious chocolate cake or cookies? You could spend the afternoon putting a puzzle together – anything goes! You can plan activities together or take turns on what you are going to do next. Then, get dressed up or stay dressed down for a candlelit meal that you prepared together or from your favorite eatery. *Chef’s kiss* Talk about a perfect day!

The most important thing of all on Valentine’s Day is that you are both having an amazing time together. Be sweet, be adventurous, and make it your best V-Day yet!

What are your Valentine’s Day plans? What was the best V-Day you ever had? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan27

Fun Valentine’s Day Crafts For The Kiddos

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Fun Valentine’s Day Crafts For The Kiddos

Hello!! Is it just me or has January felt like an entire year? Lol, every time I look at the date, I assume it’s the fifteenth or something yet here we are nearing the end of the month! And, of course, this means that Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. I am so excited to celebrate with Johnny by seeing our all time favorite musical, Hadestown, in Akron. I also plan on having a Valentine’s Day craft party with my three niece girl squad, which is going to be a total blast! I’m arranging to do a few of the following with them and thought I would send some inspiration your way too:

Hand & Feet Hearts:

First and foremost, I am sure that my girls would love to make a special Valentine’s Day card for their parents. I am going to get some construction paper as well as pink, red, and white paint. They can make their cards however they would like, but I thought it would be really cute to make some hand and foot print hearts. If your kiddo isn’t opposed to messy hands or the sensation of cold paint on their feet, this is such a sweet and simple way to make a memorable keepsake. My big girls will probably want to do their own thing, but I just know they would be happy to help their new baby sister make some hand prints for her first craft!

Pipe Cleaner Bouquets:

When it comes to crafting with the girl squad, it is all about easy projects that are relatively quick to complete. Pipe cleaners are always a good option because even if they don’t make anything at all, they are still fun to play with! Whether you are making hearts, flowers, or even animals with the pipe cleaners, it is an opportunity to let creativity shine. If you are going the bouquet route, you might even want to pick up a a vase to paint or decorate with tissue paper and make your pipe cleaner flowers look like the real deal.

Picture Frames:

My best girls really enjoy looking through photo albums and seeing pictures displayed throughout the home. One of their options is going to be picking out their favorite picture of themselves and painting a wooden picture frame to house it in. This is a perfect gift for parents to display on their desk or on the mantle and gives the kiddos the chance to see their handiwork front and center.

Sweets & Treats:

It wouldn’t be Valentine’s Day without a sugar rush! My big girls are the best helpers for cookie and cupcake decorating and are always so proud of what they baked with their mom. If they would prefer to bake on our craft day, we will make a trip to the grocery store so they can pick out whatever sprinkles, frosting, and cut outs that they like. Then, they can have homemade Valentine’s Day treats that they designed for their parents and grandparents. Chocolate making is also a fabulous activity for littles and something different from the norm. Should they want to go this route, we will be making a trip to my in laws house instead of the grocery store! My mother-in-law is an amazing chocolateer and has molds and chocolate wafers for days to come in with the assist. ❤

Every holiday is infinitely more fun when I have three little minis to celebrate with. I can’t wait for our crafting jubilee!

What are your Valentine’s Day plans? What are some other ideas for V-Day crafts? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov13

SO Excited!!!

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SO Excited!!!

Hello!! My favorite place in my neck of the woods has got to be Playhouse Square in Cleveland, hands down. I have seen countless amazing shows there with Johnny, friends, and family and have the fondest memories of each and every visit. Playhouse Square dates with Johnny are something I revel in and I consider our Valentine’s Day date of 2023 to be one of the best. That was when we saw Hadestown together and it skyrocketed into one of our all time favorite musicals.

Since seeing the show at Playhouse Square, we must have said over a million times that we would love to see Hadestown again. As fortune would have it, I received an email from EJ Thomas Hall in Akron for their spring lineup and Hadestown was on the bill. Does EJ Thomas hold a candle to Playhouse Square in terms of overall experience? IE: Venue, theater size, visibility of the stage. Absolutely not. But, I saw Jesus Christ Superstar there and it was a phenomenal effort for what it was. In fact, there were some parts of the show that I liked better than the Playhouse Square production of it that Johnny and I saw. (Also one of the best nights ever!!)

Although EJ Thomas isn’t my preferred venue, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity for Johnny and I to enjoy Hadestown once more. I ordered us our tickets this weekend and scored awesome seats: Smack dab in the middle of the third row on the balcony. The best part? We will be seeing it the week after Valentine’s Day so it will be like a do over of our treasured V-Day date two years prior. This past week, I have been really trying to make space in my schedule for fun and purchasing these tickets was the perfect way to dip my toes in the water. We can’t wait!!

If Hadestown is playing in your area, RUN to go see it. You can thank me later when it becomes your favorite musical too. I am so lucky to be able to see this show twice for Valentine’s Day with my main squeeze!

What is your favorite musical? What is the best date you have ever been on? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul19

(Lil) Red Hearts OOTD

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(Lil) Red Hearts OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred! Today we’re going to take a look at a fun little fit that I put together this past weekend when we had some company over. It features a darling button down that I got for Valentine’s Day this past year, which might seem like an odd choice for summer. However, this top was so easy, breezy that it kept me cool and comfortable all day. Check it out:

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Who? What? Wear?

Heart Embroidered Button Down: Jane + Delancey, TJMaxx

Jean Shorts: American Eagle Outfitters

Platform Sandals: Free People, TJMaxx

Lego Stud Earrings: AbbieDabbles

As I mentioned, I got the Jane + Delancey button down for a Valentine’s Day OOTD. Despite the fact that I bought it in the middle of winter, I thought that it would look so adorable for summertime wear. The stark white with the bright red hearts paired with little denim shorts seemed like a winning combination. Whenever I buy clothes, I gravitate towards pieces that can be worn for multiple different seasons so that I can appreciate them year round. I wanted to put the outfit that I planned in the fitting room all of those months back to the test and I am glad I did. I loved this look!

The jean shorts from American Eagle Outfitters were, of course, a given. I went with a non distressed pair since the pattern on the button down was so bold. The top is also just sweet as can be which would have clashed against edgy cuts and slashes on the shorts. As the button down had a slightly oversized fit, I tucked it in to give myself some shape and to prevent the issue of people thinking “does she have shorts on underneath that top?” Lol, the potential was definitely there without the tuck in. 😀

For shoes, I selected a pretty pair of platform sandals with stud embellishment by Free People. These are such a perfect summer shoe and the shiny cherry red straps gave another eye catching pop of color to the minimal palette established. Between the red on the shoes and button down, the look was tied together from head to toe. Finally, for earrings I chose the cutest pair of studs made by Lego leaves and ladybugs. I got it at a nearby Brick Convention last year and they were just right for this OOTD to let the open real estate on my neck do the talking. My three neck tattoos and chin tattoo are like necklaces in themselves so why add more?

Nothing pleases me more than what an outfit I have in my head goes accordingly to plan. My (Lil) Red Hearts OOTD was months in the making and it couldn’t have turned out better!

What is something in your closet that you can wear for multiple seasons? What is your favorite pattern? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar18

ALL Of The Coffee

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ALL Of The Coffee

Hello!! Back in the summer of 2022, the Great Kitchen Flood happened when a pipe burst in mine and Johnny’s apartment building. It was insane! The water was literally pouring out of the walls and it was so gross because the water was straight up dirty. It completely waterlogged all of my countertop appliances, including my Keurig, toaster, and air fryer. At the time, I wasn’t using my Keurig very often so I never bothered replacing it. Fast forward to this past year and my schedule changed to having to get up at three AM three days a week. Needless to say, I need ALL of the coffee those mornings!

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For Valentine’s Day, Johnny and I simply told each other what we wanted and then we ordered it. A new single cup Keurig for me and a new Levi’s jean jacket for him. I have been using my gift religiously since receiving it and all I have to say is: How did I survive this long without it?! Prior to V-Day, I was more than fine with stopping at Starbucks for a coffee or McDonald’s for a crispy Diet Coke during my early mornings. While I miss my little treats during those shifts, I am perfectly content with the K-Pod challenge… AKA just using my Keurig now lol.

I have been enjoying testing out all of the different K-Pods and my mind is never not blown by the infinite selection at the grocery stores. I started out with French Vanilla by Green Mountain Coffee and have since graduated to a Snickers flavored blend by The Donut Shop. They are both pretty good! My favorite part of the Keurig, however, is not so much the coffee as it is the coffee mugs. Lol, I have a substantial collection of coffee mugs and although I use them for any beverage, they hit different with coffee! It is also nice to remember the occasions that they were given to me for because a majority of them were gifts. In fact, the one pictured above was a mug that I got forever ago from my bestie and the sentiments ring true… Coffee always comes first! 😀

I have had my Keurig for well over a month now and I am just as obsessed with it as the day I got it. So glad that my fallen friend from the Great Kitchen Flood of 2022 finally got replaced!

What is your favorite kind of K-Cup? How many cups of coffee do you drink per day? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb16

XOXO OOTD Bloopers

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XOXO OOTD Bloopers

Hello everyone and welcome to the blooper reel from my XOXO OOTD! In case you couldn’t tell, this was a Valentine’s Day outfit and guess what I’m doing right now?? Enjoying my first cup of coffee from the Keurig that Johnny gifted me with! This is the first time I have had a Keurig cup of coffee since the Great Kitchen Flood of 2022 when a pipe burst in my apartment building. Water was literally pouring out of the kitchen walls and it ruined a majority of my countertop appliances. It was gross and highly inconvenient lol. ANYWHO, the coffee is great; These pics are not! Let’s check them out:

Easy, breezy, beautiful CoverGirl

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Thank you, thank you! You’re far too kind!

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TFYM when you’re drunk off Appletinis at Applebee’s

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I LOOK GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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I swear to stoned I’m not god

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A very gingerly Ta Daaaaa

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This past Saturday was a fantastic, wonderful day because Johnny and I got to hang out with our dear friend, Tim Misny. We made our way to Misnyland to create some content to show off the Valentine’s Day shirt that was released through MisnyMerch. On the front, it says “Tell me you love me” and on the back, it says “Or Tim Misny will make you pay”. Lol, classic! Not only is Tim’s merch cool AF, but it also does a lot of good too. All proceeds from each purchase goes towards supporting the Cleveland City Mission. This is a charity that is very close to Tim’s heart and I feel quite the same now. ❤ In fact, we sold over four hundred orders during the holiday season!

It is always such fun to do merch videos with Tim and it was even better this time around because Johnny was our videographer. We both thought he did a banner job for his first time doing anything remotely like that before. Videos are a whole different ball game than rapid fire OOTD shots! If you’d like to see the Part One and Part Two videos we made, visit me on social media! You can watch them on my Facebook page: Sarah Mushenheim. On my Instagram: @lifewithlilred94. OR on my blog’s Facebook page at: lifewithlilred . I hope you love them as much as Tim and I do. 🙂

I am pleased to say that none of these blooper faces made it into mine and Tim’s most recent content drop. They do, however, always have a very special home on lifewithlilred!

Who is your favorite internet personality? Do you prefer video or photo content? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah