Tag Archives: weather

Sep18

Scary Fun Fall Activities

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Scary Fun Fall Activities

Hello!!! Fall is the happiest time of the year for me and Johnny. The weather suits our vampire selves beautifully and autumn is when we finally emerge outdoors after a hot summer. We do not do well in the heat whatsoever and it’s so nice to be able to comfortably step out and do ALL of the fall activities together! Below are some of the things that we definitely plan on doing the next few months as well as some ideas for more fall fun. Check it out:

Hikes:

There are countless gorgeous Metro Parks in Ohio and Johnny and I live by a ton of them. Within a ten mile radius of our apartment are at least ten different ones that I can think of off the top of my head! During the week, we are hoping to fit in one or two hikes after work on the days that I get home early. It is such a joy to take a stroll through the woods during a crisp day and admire the changing leaves! Maybe we’ll even try to complete the annual Fall Hiking Spree this year, which is something we always talk about but never do lol.

Drive-In Movies:

I have only been to a drive-in movie once in my life and it freaking sucked! It was a rainy day, the car was cramped, and I was beyond over it. Johnny, on the other hand, loves a good drive-in and we plan on hitting up the one we live somewhat close to in October. The drive-in will be hosting scary movie marathons with old school horror flicks, slashers, and campy classics. It sounds like a hoot and will be a nice change of pace from our at home scary movie viewings.

Scavenger Hunts:

I think it would be so much fun to have a Halloween scavenger hunt with our friends and I would love to organize one. Perhaps a walk or drive through neighborhoods scouring Halloween decor to cross off our list? Or even visiting one of the numerous Spirit Halloweens in our area building a goofy costume on a budget. We could end the hunt making our own concoctions of spooky themed cocktails OR apple cider mimosas which I am dying to try. They sound delish! 😀

Pumpkin Partay:

One thing that Johnny and I haven’t done together is carve pumpkins and that feels like a must this year. I would love to take an afternoon trip to a pumpkin patch, pick out the perfect carving pumpkins, and make some masterpieces. Granted, no one could really see them from our balcony but we can and that’s all that matters. Here’s to me not injuring myself because this will be my first go at jack-o-lanterns – we’ll see what happens haha.

Bonfires:

This past Christmas, I got my dad a fire pit and Johnny and I can’t wait to use it this fall! We even have the kits to make the fire different colors, which will be super neat. Last year, Johnny and I had a blast passing out candy during Trick-or-Treat and we plan on creating a spooky setup with the fire pit, Halloween music, and of course dressing up too. I am SO excited to go costume shopping, although I don’t know how I’ll beat dressing up as Johnny last year!

Johnny and I are ready to live our best lives this fall and how can we not with so many Scary Fun Activities on our agenda?! Fall fun, here we come!

What is your favorite fall activity? What are you going to be for Halloween this year? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep14

Early Fall OOTD

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Early Fall OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred!! The weather in Ohio is slowly making its way towards fall like temps. The mornings and evenings are chilly, but it still is getting close to the eighties during the daytime. With this fluctuation between fall and summer temps it can be hard to decide what to wear. So, I decided to create an Early Fall OOTD to make the most of the weather, whether it is warm or cool! Check it out:

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Who? What? Wear?

Ivory Sweater: Jessica Simpson, TJMaxx

Floral Crop Top: Altar’d State

High Waisted Skinny Jeans: American Eagle Outfitters

Barbie Pink Platforms: Marc Fisher, TJMaxx

The bracelet ring is from Claire’s and I have no idea where the earrings are from lol

When I began styling my Early Fall OOTD, I already had my Jessica Simpson sweater in mind. It is brand new and I couldn’t wait to wear it! A sweet sweater or cozy cardigan is also an ideal way to go when creating an outfit for a questionable temperature. All you need to do is slip it off or on at your convenience! An important thing to note about this layering piece is to make sure what you have on underneath still forms a cohesive look in case you want to take it off. The rest of the OOTD still matters even if it’s covered up at first!

With the sweater already a must for my outfit, it was onto forming the rest of the base. I pulled from the creamy color of the sweater and chose a lavender crop top with white flowers from Altar’d State. This crop top is cute as can be and is a great piece to keep cool in once the day begins to warm up. Remember when you are layering that you never want two heavy pieces together – IE a thick sweater underneath a cardigan. All this does is create width. This crop top was just right for underneath my sweater because it laid comfortably without competing in color, shape, or style.

Since the top half of this look was oh so sweet with the soft colors and florals, I wanted to edge things up with the jeans. I went with my distressed high waisted skinnies from American Eagle Outfitters to help the cause. The high waist complimented the crop top and sweater alike because its waistline hit close to where both of the hemlines ended. The huge holes in these jeans also provided some extra ventilation in case the day started getting hot!

With the base of my Early Fall OOTD settled, it was time for shoes and accessories. For shoes, I put on my Marc Fisher platforms. I thought the Barbie pink heels paired with the lavender crop top looked darling. It also matched my nails beautifully! To complete the look, I chose a pair of dangly owl earrings and my ring bracelet. I didn’t feel the need for too many pieces of jewelry since my arms were covered by the sweater for most of the day. I also didn’t want to take away from that fabulous square neckline on the crop top!

The beginning of fall is the time to give those summer clothes a final hurrah and I consider that mission accomplished for my Early Fall OOTD. This blended look of seasons was exactly what I needed to keep me both warm and cool throughout the day!

When do you put your summer clothes away for the season? What is your favorite sweater or cardigan like? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

 

Aug7

All Dolled Up OOTD Bloopers

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All Dolled Up OOTD Bloopers

Hello everyone and welcome to the blooper reel from my All Dolled Up OOTD! I felt amazing in my interpretation of Lil Red Barbie and I had such a fun time seeing the movie. Taking OOTD shots, though? Surprisingly, not so much! It was hot as bejeezus when Johnny took my pictures, but it wasn’t as hot as these pictures you’re about to see. 😉 Can I have a modeling contract now, or? Lol, check it out:

Probably my reaction when Johnny said it was hot out. Groundbreaking!

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Strutting my stuff and SERVING

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Lol, I had such high hopes for pictures in this pose and they all turned out like this

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Just out here catching flies in all of these shots!

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Is my Barbie pose perfect or what?!

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

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Getting my phone and getting back in the air conditioning. Did I mention it was hot out?

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Now, where was I? Oh, yes. It was hot as BEJEEZUS out during this shoot and it was miserable. We started taking some pictures by the greenery around our apartment complex and by the time we were done, Johnny and I were sweating bullets. It was freaking gross. To make matters worse, I hated every single picture we took at the first location. I don’t know if it was the heat or the fact that each picture sucked or the crappy lighting or a combination of all three. I just wasn’t feeling it and I was so mad because I knew I looked awesome and it wasn’t being captured!

After cooling off momentarily in the apartment, I decided that pictures would have to be taken on the balcony where I knew the lighting was reliable. I also wanted to get things done ASAP before my entire face melted off! Johnny was such a good sport about it, as always, and our conversations during part two of OOTD shots went a little something like this: “It’s hot”. “I know”. On the bright side, I did get shots I was happy with even though I sweated my fanny off and my hair frizzed like I just got electrocuted. Not so glamorous for a Barbie glam OOTD, but what can ya do?!

Rain, heat, or snow, you can always count on Lil Red for an OOTD post. I’m basically the postal service of bloggers, but I am ready for cool fall weather anytime now after this shoot!

Do you love the heat or are you a vampire like me? Can you relate to looking great but not being able to take a good picture? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun24

Eye Spy In Nature

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Eye Spy In Nature

Hello!! In Ohio, it is currently hot AF and is a drastic change from the cool to moderate temps we experienced last week. That is my preferred style of summer weather, so it made for perfect days to go on hikes with my clients. During our walks, we were seeing wildlife left and right – Oriels, frogs, and turtles too! In total, I saw two Oriels, six turtles, and six frogs and I truly felt like the nature whisperer lol. It was a blast and it felt like a real life version of Eye Spy! Check it out:

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On my first walk of the day, my client and I saw a HUGE turtle in the middle of the path. From far away, it looked like a rock or a bundle of dead leaves. You could have knocked me over with a feather when I realized what it actually was! I was a bit worried about my turtle friend because of how little movement I saw and the fact that the water he was trying to get to was a bit of a trek away. Thankfully, after snapping a few safely distanced pics and walking away, the turtle was back on the move. I guess he just needed a little break. Also, when you see a turtle in the road (or path, in my case) it is said to be good luck and something great happened on Monday so maybe I have the turtle to thank for it! 😀

On my next walk with a different client, we went to a local Metro Park that has lots of ponds and not quite lake size bodies of water. We were determined to find frogs and on the first trip around a pond, I didn’t see jack. Then, I decided to take a closer look and realized the error of my ways. They were all around us, but camouflaged and I just wasn’t looking hard enough! It was so cool to see the frogs hiding in plain sight and they did a great job – if I didn’t inspect further, I definitely wouldn’t have seen them. We also saw five turtles lounging on logs from afar that also did a very nice job of blending into the scenery. It was a hoot. 🙂

Nature walks are always fun, but they’re even better when you can see the local wildlife. I am still delighting over the pictures of my froggy and turtle friends!

What kind of wildlife is in your neck of the woods? What is your favorite summer activity? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun14

Classic Summer OOTD

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Classic Summer OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD starring my brand new hair! I recently stepped off of the OOTD train for a few weeks due to my crazy life and also tired, but your girl is back and better than ever. Strange how new hair and new nails can do that. 😉 The pics you are about to see were taken after babysitting my nieces. I knew my best gal, Val, was going to want to play outside so I wanted to put together a Classic Summer look that was cute and comfortable for some fun in the sun.

This OOTD features summer staple pieces that almost everyone has in their wardrobe, making it very easy to recreate. Let’s get to it:

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Who? What? Wear?

Tank Top: Rachel Zoe, TJMaxx

Denim Shorts: American Eagle Outfitters

Platform Sandals: ModCloth

Daisy Earrings: Forever 21

The silver bracelet is from American Eagle Outfitters

Styling OOTDs for summertime has taught me a lot about creating looks that are simple yet exciting for being on the go in the heat. This Classic Summer OOTD required minimal think work, but I still love the way it turned out and I felt like a million bucks in it! I had a few things in mind when I began scouring my wardrobe, the first being that I would most definitely be playing outside that afternoon. The second one being that I wanted a neutral palette to make my new hair and tattoos pop.

With these guidelines laid out, the pieces of the puzzle came together and I knew exactly what to do next. To start, I grabbed my white Rachel Zoe tank top. I got this tank in a set of two and they are, easily, the best that I have ever owned. They fit perfectly and hug my body in all of the right places. I love the V neck, which is a unique twist on a classic scoop neck tank. I am also a huge fan of the material, which is so soft and a bit thick – reminiscent of a super thin sweater rather than the rougher fabric of a regular old tank top.

A simple white tank is just begging to be paired with denim shorts. Originally, I tried on a pair of distressed, high waisted shorts from AEO but the fit just wasn’t meshing with the tank top. So, I swapped it out for a mid rise pair and that was much more like it! Yes, the base of this outfit is simple but it was doing everything that I envisioned by making my hair the star of the show. I also felt like Daisy Duke and it really doesn’t get much better than that! 😀

For shoes, I wore a pair of Nikes to run around the yard with Val in. Then, for pictures, I brought one of my favorite pairs of platform sandals from ModCloth. These shoes were SO ideal for this outfit because of the palette. The base of the pattern is orange, which brought cohesion from the top of my head to my toes. The other colors in the pattern are navy and white and that was just right with the other pieces in the outfit. And, note the low ankle strap, which still gave the illusion of length since it didn’t cut my leg line off at the upper ankle.

Next up was accessories and, like the rest of the outfit, I went the minimal route. Anything more would have been fighting against the base that had already been established. For earrings, I chose a super cute pair that looked like daisies. They had a stud shape, but because they were huge, there was still movement and I loved seeing them poking out from underneath my hair. Then, I slipped on a simple silver mini cuff bracelet and my look was complete!

This Classic Summer OOTD used summertime staples Lil Red’s way and it was a look that I felt amazing in. Keep it locked for the blooper reel from this post and lots more summer fashion here on lifewithlilred!

What is one of your summer wardrobe staples? What is the most important thing to you when styling summer looks? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

 

 

Jun5

Summer Sass OOTD Bloopers

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Summer Sass OOTD Bloopers

Hello everyone and welcome to the blooper reel from my Summer Sass OOTD! I am writing this on a Friday morning in between corralling the bunnies from underneath the couch but TGIF amiright?! I am still working hard at my goal of weekly OOTD posts so keep it locked for a new one soon… The only catch: I have no idea what to wear! Did I mention a few times how much I dislike dressing for summer? Lol. Summer outfits are an interesting challenge, but there was nothing challenging about bypassing these pics for the original post from this look:

Staring into the souls of all of my darling readers ❤

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Lumbering around an apartment complex near you!!!

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

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Gazing up flirtatiously beneath my bangs that desperately need cut 😉

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My “wtf” face about the conversation some youngsters were having when they walked by

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Lol, YIKES

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I feel like I was really feeling myself in this shot *face palm*

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Although I am not a summer fan whatsoever, there has been one GREAT improvement from summers’ past. That being, mine and Johnny’s bigger apartment. Johnny and I currently reside in Timber Bottom at the base of Timber Top, but our old place in Timber Middle was the freaking worst. It wasn’t the lack of space at the first apartment that sucked, but the lack of air conditioning that made it absolutely unbearable in the summertime.

At our old apartment, we had one rickety old AC unit that was high up in the loft. It just so happened to be at the exact same level of a window way above our door, essentially counteracting anything that the AC barely did. During the summer, it was miserable and the apartment was our own personal sweat lodge. Portable fans did nothing and the space wouldn’t start cooling down until after it got dark, making for very long summers, indeed.

At our new apartment, we have a functional AC unit and it has been working like a dream! In fact, as I write this, I feel chilly and the only way I would get that feeling at Apartment One was by sticking my head in the freezer for a few minutes lol. Our place has us feeling like icy royalty even on 90 degree days and that is not a blooper at all. The only one being, the fact that there is currently a raccoon sitting on our balcony and eating trash from a dumpster. Well, not everything can be perfect!

Although dressing in the summer doesn’t thrill me, it is hoodie temperature inside and for that I am thankful. Keep it posted on lifewithlilred for all of the daily content, fun, and future updates on the raccoon who has turned our balcony into its favorite snack spot lol SMH.

What kind of wildlife is in your neck of the woods? What is your perfect indoor and outdoor temperature? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun3

Summer Sass OOTD

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Summer Sass OOTD

Hello everyone!! After a brief hiatus from my weekly OOTD shoots due to personal reasons, I am finally getting back into the swing of things and it feels great! We are experiencing pure summertime temps here in Ohio and, although summer isn’t my favorite season to dress for, I’m having a blast doing what I do best – styling awesome outfits. Today, we are going to take a look at a sassy little number that I created with drinks on the patio of mine and Johnny’s favorite bar (The Cashmere Cricket) in mind. Check it out:

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Who? What? Wear?

Mesh Crop Top: Gaze, TJMaxx

Skort: Almost Famous, TJMaxx

Floral Sandals: L’Artiste, ModCloth

Blue Flower Earrings: Bella Jack, TJMaxx

Hair Accessory: Hot Topic

Johnny and I live a vampire lifestyle and basically melt in the sun. I am also on medication that makes me more susceptible to overheating so styling outfits in the summertime for me means a 100% focus on keeping cool – even if I am in all black lol. In this regard, summer looks kind of bore me because layering or options other than shorts, skirts, or dresses are eliminated. I don’t have the most expansive summer clothes collection so it requires a bit of creativity to make looks that are fun and still feel like me.

When I started styling this look, I didn’t know where to start because I have been quickly breezing through a majority of my summer clothes on previous OOTDs. Then, my mesh crop by Gaze caught my eye and I decided I could work with that. This top is SO cute and it reminds me of something that one of the characters on Euphoria would wear. And, because it’s mesh, the keeping cool factor was already built in.

The high crop of this top also made it very easy to decide what to wear on my bottom half. Anything mid rise would expose a lot of my stomach and that was going to be a no from me. So, I selected my skort by Almost Famous, which featured a high rise and complimented the shirt perfectly. I also liked how the white floral pattern on the top seemed to pop more with the two black bases on the top and bottom. And, although this skort is of a thicker cloth fabric, it was short enough that I still could keep my cool.

With the base of the outfit settled, it was time to accessorize! For shoes, I chose one of my absolute favorite sandals by L’Artiste. These were a requested by me Christmas gift from my mom a few years ago and I still can’t get over them! I tend to avoid sandals like the plague because they are usually so flat and the kitten heel on these were just right. The floral pattern is absolutely gorgeous too! These sandals added a pop of color, length, and accentuated my leg line just the way I like.

For jewelry, I kept things minimal due to the long sleeved top and fairly deep neckline. I went with one of my favorite pairs of dangly earrings by Bella Jack that feature the softest shade of blue flowers. They are SO adorable and added movement while also complimenting the neckline I was working with. Then, I threw my hair up, stuck in my hair pin from Hot Topic as a final hurrah, and my outfit was complete!

Although summertime clothes and summertime in general aren’t really my thing, it has been a fun challenge to think outside of the box. I love my Summer Sass OOTD and it is one that can be very easily replicated!

What is your favorite season to dress for? How do you stay cool in the summer? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May17

May Flowers

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May Flowers

Hello! This past week when I got to my parents’ house after work, I found my dad in the backyard preparing his raised planters for spring flowers. It was a gorgeous day outside and it was going to rain that night, making for the perfect conditions to plant. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to bask in the sunshine and spend some quality time with my dad and even though I was dog tired, I offered my assistance which he happily accepted. We spent a glorious hour or so together creating beauty and I am so pleased with our handiwork. Check it out:

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Ever since I can remember, my dad has been an avid gardener and all spring, summer, and fall long you can catch him outside tending to the yard. During the warm months, we enjoy the bounty of his vegetable garden and the bouquets he makes weekly for my mom. Not only does he have two green thumbs, but he is also a very gifted flower arranger and his bouquets are stunning. Last year, his veggie garden went into overdrive with hauls so big we simply didn’t know what to do with everything. So, he decided flowers were the way to go this summer since all of our lives are crazy at this current juncture.

When I was younger, I loved to help in the garden and as I grew up, I tried to help as much as I could with planting and upkeep. It had been a while since I gardened and I forgot how much fun it was! Seriously, all of it was a blast from donning ridiculous gardening gloves, handling the delicate flowers, and cleaning up the dirt that got on us with the garden hose. And, of course, doing it all side by side with my dad. For the past few months, the time we have spent together is almost always driving to the Cleveland Clinic, so it was SO awesome to be able to do something with him for the joy of it.

Our garden day was the first time I had spent a considerable amount of time outside in so long. It only recently got nice out in Ohio and the previous weather had been absolute garbage. Being outside, soaking up the sun, and making something grow was just what I needed. Once we returned inside, I wanted to go back out again to plant more and I found myself thinking that I would like more house plants when I got to my apartment. I might just have a green thumb yet!

My dad has now started to plan his garden projects with my help in mind and I am more than up for the task. In fact, we will be planting flower seeds later this week. I can’t wait! 🙂

What is your favorite outdoor activity? What do you and your parents do to spend quality time together? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr29

Summertime Activity Goals

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Summertime Activity Goals

Hello! The weather in the good ol’ AK-Rowdy has been friggen abysmal and my life is in shambles lol and, for once, I find myself wishing for an extra dose of Vitamin D. Shocking, I know, since we all know that Johnny and I all but melt in the sun! Although the days are gloomy, it helps perk me up to think of activities that I would love to do this summer. I might not get to do everything I have in mind, but I know I can easily do at least a few of the following:

Hit the pool:

One of the best things about living in Timber Top, despite numerous fiascos this past year, is the outdoor pool! We actually have a really nice pool with a deep area, a children’s area, waterfall, and upper deck mini pool that I genuinely don’t understand why it’s not a hot tub! I always say that once the pool opens, I will go spend an hour or two swimming or lounging after work and I’m usually too tired by the time I get home to commit. This is not going to slide this summer, however, because this is one of the easiest things on my list; the pool is only a two minute drive away! If you don’t have a local swimming pool, then consider adding one to your property. They’re easier to maintain than you might think, especially if you use a pool cleaning service. There’s nothing like taking a summertime dip in your own yard.

Botanical gardens:

I would absolutely love to go to the botanical gardens in Cleveland or Mansfield with Johnny as a date day. I have never been to the one in Cleveland, but I adored a family trip to the Kingwood Center Gardens in Mansfield with my family a few years ago. It was so much fun to explore the grounds and bask in the glory of the flowers and landscaping. And, we all know that botanical gardens make a perfect backdrop for OOTDs! This summer, I think the one in Cleveland will be the move and maybe Johnny and I could have dinner at Pepper’s, my favorite restaurant afterwards. 🙂

Play, play, play:

My sweet niece, Val Gal, is a constantly on the move four year old and she keeps me young! I cannot wait for warm days spent in my parents’ beautiful backyard running around with Val, blowing bubbles, drawing with chalk, and searching for bunnies. Speaking of bunnies, I very much would like to get a playpen with a cover on top so Melvin and Penelope can experience being on the grass. I know Val would get a huge kick out of that and it would be a great learning experience for her. This past week, she proudly showed me a book about caring for bunnies that she got from the library because she desperately wants one of her own. My angel! ❤

Outdoor events:

There are always so many awesome events happening in my general vicinity that I always say that I want to go to, check “interested in” on Facebook, and never attend. This summer, I would like to go to at least one or two, whether it be a farmer’s market, food truck festival, or outdoor concerts and classes. Johnny and I have already been talking about going to a few baseball games for Akron’s minor league team, the RubberDucks (dumb name, I know!), and I can practically taste the Dippin’ Dots as I type this! 😀

Watercolor painting:

It has been a while since I painted watercolor due to lack of time and I miss it terribly! Like going to the pool, this is also a no excuse activity that I know I can accomplish. I would like to set up my supplies in my parents’ backyard and paint the many gorgeous flowers my dad tends to. I can picture sitting on the deck right now, painting, and sipping iced tea with my mom and it would, truly, be the best afternoon ever. ❤

Weekend trip:

A weekend trip might be a bit difficult due to the current craziness in my life, but it needs to be added to this list anyway because it’s something Johnny and I want to do so badly! I would really like to get a cabin in Hocking Hills for a long weekend to hike, relax, and soak in a hot tub. It would be so nice to have a little getaway together, as we haven’t even been on our honeymoon! Although Hocking Hills isn’t Europe, it’s still as good a place as any to start our travels together.

I have grand plans for this summer, and I hope to accomplish at least a few of the activities on this list. It will take a bit of motivation on my part to shake off my general exhaustion, but I know that having fun is sometimes the best medicine of all!

What are your summertime activity goals? What is your favorite warm weather activity? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr20

Spring Green OOTD

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Spring Green OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred!! This past week, it was absolutely glorious in Ohio and it finally felt like spring. However, this has since been redacted because the pictures taken on Saturday was the last of the heat wave. It is now cold, rainy, and a little bit snowy here in the 330 and it feels cruel and unusual after days in the sun soaking up that Vitamin D! Let’s reminisce on the spring flowers and warmth by checking out some pics and discussing this look further while I freeze in my apartment:

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Who? What? Wear?

Wrap Sweater: Caution To The Wind, TJMaxx

Lace Cami Top: mittoshop, French Rooster

Blue Jean Shorts: American Eagle Outfitters

Hoop Earrings: Argentino Vivo, TJMaxx

Cage Wedges: Juicy Couture, Kohl’s

Rings: PacSun, Target

The first few weeks of spring can be really awkward to dress for because you never know what kind of weather you’re going to get! Chilly mornings can either turn into hot afternoons or just more cold. It was about seventy degrees on OOTD day with crisp winds blowing occasionally, but I still figured that I could get away with shorts. To achieve a bit of balance in the warmth department, I wanted a light, long sleeved top and began building my outfit under those parameters.

I have been creating OOTDs almost weekly since the new year as per my 2023 blogging goals and, I’ll admit, I was feeling fairly uninspired while shopping in my closet. Although I have a decent amount of clothing for any type of weather, my wardrobe favors the fall and winter. The heat wave we experienced was awesome, but my tunnel vision for winter cold still wasn’t lifted quite yet and I needed to clear the fog before proceeding. Once I began thinking spring after a work week in jeans and hoodies, I was ready to see my warmer weather clothing with new eyes.

Most of the long sleeved tops that I have feature a fall palette so I was very happy to have rediscovered my wrap sweater by Caution To The Wind. I had all but forgotten it because this top was meant to be worn with a sports bra while ice skating, then I stopped skating. It was just what I needed, though, so I made some adjustments. I love how light and form fitting this top is and it is an ideal one for spring. The fern green and cream makes for such a rich palette and I paired it with my lace oyster shell cami underneath. Not a perfect match, but the cami was in a similar color family to the cream stripes and it worked while adding a sweet feminine pop.

For shorts, I went with an undistressed pair of midrises from American Eagle Outfitters. I love my distressed shorties, but the pattern on my top was somewhat busy and I didn’t want that conflict of visual interest between the two. A no muss no fuss option was better and I thought the simple blue jean shorts looked adorable with such a cutesy top. Remember, less is nine times out of ten more when building outfits so if you ever feel like any pieces are clashing against each other; you’re probably right. 🙂

In the accessory department, I chose one of my favorite pairs of hoop earrings by Argentino Vivo. The size of these medium hoops was exactly what I wanted. They enhanced the cleavage and long neckline I was working with as they matched up with the length of my hair. As a shorter gal, I am always looking to add length to my looks and, other than killer heels, one of the best ways to do this is through expertly placed jewelry. Accessories are just as important as the top or pants you have on! Once again, to keep my neck uncovered, I went necklace free and chose several statement rings to add some bling. I love the double ring with the rhinestone fern!

Finally, for shoes, I put on my army green cage wedges by Juicy Couture. These shoes are old as dirt, but I just can’t part with them! I had a few other pairs of army green heels in mind, however, all of them hit further up the leg and that wasn’t going to work with short shorts. The Juicy Coutures hit slightly above the ankle, which was much more like it! And, of course, they played to the color palette that I had established.

This Spring Green OOTD got me in the spring state of mind a little too late in the game before the cold hit, but that’s alright; it was nice while it lasted lol. Keep it posted for the blooper reel from this shoot tomorrow!

Which seasons does your wardrobe favor? Do you switch out and store clothing as the seasons change? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah