Tag Archives: weekend

The Things I Wish I’d Known Before Starting College

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The Things I Wish I’d Known Before Starting College

If you are going to be starting college in the fall, then you need to be prepared. There are so many fun things to look forward to, as well as busy times when the exams are on and you’re cramming super late into the night. One thing that anyone will tell you is that the time flies by so quickly. Four years and then you’re out into the ‘real’ world and onto the career path of your choice. So it is important to embrace that time and make the most of it. Here are some of the top things to take into consideration before starting college:

You’ll Never (EVER) Regret Staying In To Study: It can be tempting to just want to go out all of the time. There might be parties everywhere, movie nights, or sports games. But you can’t constantly go out, especially if you’re aiming for top grades (which you should be!). But the thing is, the parties are just parties. There will always be parties or events going on. But you do only get one shot at the test or exam. So if you feel like you should be studying, then you won’t regret it. Work hard, and then you can play even harder after you ace that test.

College Isn’t High School: In high school, people can be quite catty and mean. But you know what, when you hit the ripe old age of college age, it seems that people tend to care less about material stuff or appearances. It doesn’t matter how cool your new bag is or if you’ve got the latest laptop. No one will really care. You’re all there for the same purpose, and that is to get your college education. So you can make an effort with things like that or not. Don’t stress over it!

Work To Pay Off Your Loan: If you are going to college and are needing a loan to do so, then one of the biggest pieces of advice is to get a part-time job when you study. If you are able to take out the smallest loan possible and able to work as you study, it will help tremendously. No one wants to graduate with a load of debt hanging around their neck, right? Otherwise, you’ll need to look for things like debt consolidation for student loans when you finish. They can help as you start out on your career path. But they’re definitely not ideal.

Take Care of Your Health: Getting sick without your parents there to take care of you is the worst (for real). So take care of your health as much as you can. Taking a vitamin supplement is a good idea, as well as keeping hydrated with water. The latter also helps with hangovers, so there is another reason to drink plenty of water! Get rest, eat well, and do some exercise. Your body (and mind) will thank you for it. Especially when mom isn’t there to cook you chicken noodle soup!

College is an exciting time but it can also be an overwhelming wake up call. Be prepared for the twists and turns that your time at uni can take, and all will be well when you’re on your way to graduation! 🙂

Featured Image By: Flickr

Bath & Body Works April Freebie

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Bath & Body Works April Freebie

Hi everyone and happy Sunday! I hope that all of you are having a wonderful and relaxing weekend. This Friday, I ran into Bath & Body Works to collect my April Freebie and I am not very jazzed about it. I originally had a Sweet Pea shower gel picked out but apparently you could only use the coupon for lotion. Beggars can’t be choosers and I wasn’t in the mood to hunt down a good scent so I just grabbed something and ended up with Hello Beautiful. I thought the name was cute and the packaging was pretty so I thought “why not”. But, unfortunately, I think I should have taken the .3 seconds it takes to smell a product because I discovered that I hated it upon my arrival home! Take a look:

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A Lil Red Fun Fact is that I just don’t do floral fragrances. Like, ever. And I really should have examined the packaging closer to put two and two together that something with a flower on it is going to be floral scented, lol SMH! Hello Beautiful is just too heavy for my liking since I am all about fruity, flirty, fun fragrances. Bath & Body Work’s website describes Hello Beautiful as a: “perfect blend of white gardenia, jasmine petals, and magnolia blossom”. And guess what? I hate all three of these things!

Thank gawd this is just a travel size and I can probs pawn it off to someone or another for a gift giving occasion! And next time I grab a freebie, I will be much more attentive to what I’m picking out! #SHAMEFUL

What is one scent that you simply can’t stand? Are you a floral or fruity fan? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

New, Fabulous, Super Cute Nails!

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New, Fabulous, Super Cute Nails!

Helloooooooo everyone and happy weekend! This Thursday I got my nails done and holy moley am I obsessed. Seriously, this just might be my favorite fill of all time. Because I always opt for black on all of my talons but two accent nails, I try to make those two nails extra fun. Errr… I pick out the polish and my nail tech, Steve, does a brilliant job of making them look extra fun. Like my previous nail tech, Vinny, Steve spoils me rotten. I’ve been going to Steve’s salon (he is the owner) for the better part of two years so he always makes sure to spend lots of time making my nails look fierce. Take a look at his latest creation:

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^^^ LOVE!!

For my accent nail this time around, I knew that I wanted it to be red but I also didn’t want it to be plain. After spending some time at the polish rack while Steve was at lunch, I found this super great top coat that has glitter and confetti hearts and stars in it and I was sold. It was admittedly kind of a pain in the butt for it to be applied because if it wasn’t done right, the confetti would just clump together. But Steve made sure that I had an accent nail with expertly placed hearts all over it. What a guy!!

Every three weeks I go to Empress Nails to get my talons fixed up and I am never disappointed. I have no problem shelling out about twenty-five bucks a month to get my nails looking right, all while having an hour or two to myself to relax. My acrylics are my ultimate TREAT YOSELF accessory, but they make me happy and their gorgeous appearance is always well worth the price!

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So there you have it, my New, Fabulous, Super Cute Nails! How do you treat yoself when it comes to getting pampered? What color of nail polish do you have on right now? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Happy Easter!!

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Happy Easter!!

Hi everyone and happy weekend! I would like to take a minute to wish a very Happy Easter to those who celebrate and a very happy Sunday to those that don’t! No matter how you spend your day, I hope that everyone has a wonderful time with their family, friends, pets, or just hanging out solo dolo. Alright. That’s my spiel! Have a great day, everyone! Much love. -Sarah

Monday Update: Sister’s Birthday Celebration Edition

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Monday Update: Sister’s Birthday Celebration Edition

Heyyy everyone and happy Monday! This past weekend was SO much fun because it was my sister, Kristen’s, 25th birthday! We had such a wonderful time celebrating and I was really happy because I got to spend her entire birthday with her. Kristen is unbearably hard to shop for, so for her birthday I decided to keep it simple and snag her some gift cards so that we could make a day out of using them. Which is exactly what we did!

I got Kristen a gift card to Sephora and to the nail salon that we go to, so we spent the afternoon girling out with pedicures and makeup shopping. Although I didn’t get a pedi because balling on a budget, I got to soak my nasty feet and sit in a massage chair while Kristen got pampered and we had so much fun chit chatting and laughing with all of our favorite nail techies. Kristen got the Hello Kitty pink polish that I recently got on my nails on her toes and it looked so freaking cute! I can’t say that about my feet, but I’m glad that her toesies are on point just in time for flip flop season!

After pedicures, we went to the mall to ultimately spend what felt like forever in Sephora. I have actually never spent that much time in there before and it was surprisingly really fun. We tried on different lipsticks and browsed through the aisles pointing out ridiculous eyeshadow or lip colors and figuring out the best way for her to spend her gift card. Kristen ended up getting a gorgeous new lipstick and an eyebrow pencil as well as a birthday gift from the store (a blush and lip gloss) and some freebies that she got from cashing in the points on her reward card.

Although I tried on some okay-ish lipsticks, I just ended up going with a tube of the Better Than Sex mascara. Kristen got it for me for Christmas this year and since I’ve ran out, no other mascara can compare, so it was a must to get another one! I was really happy because the gift card that I got her covered everything that she wanted and she also got some super nice freebies, so she walked away with an awesome Sephora birthday haul.

Once we were done shopping, I treated Kristen to coffee and then dropped her off at her apartment so that she could get ready for the evening festivities. Our night was a boozy celebration of going to get margaritas with her friends and then hitting the bars afterwards for some more alcohol related fun. AND I also got to ride in my first Uber, so that was really exciting, lol. THE DRIVER WAS SO NICE!! #ubereverywhere

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(The lovely lady in the second photo, Kelsey, will be featured on lifewithlilred soon so keep your eyes peeled!)

The day after Kristen’s birthday was spent nursing a very worthwhile hangover and celebrating at home with the family. I know I had a blast and it felt really good knowing that Kristen did, too, and I like to think that I helped make that possible! Now, I’m just excited for my birthday to roll around in June so that she can return the favor!

So there you have it, this week’s Monday Update: Sister’s Birthday Celebration Edition! How did you celebrate your birthday this year? How did you spend your weekend? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Happy Birthday, Sister!!

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Happy Birthday, Sister!!

Hello everyone and happy weekend! Today is an amazing, special, wonderful day because it is my beautiful big sister’s 25th birthday! Kristen. My sister, my soulmate, my best friend on the face of the earth. Kristen is someone who my life would be absolutely impossible without. She is someone that I can go to for literally anything. To laugh, cry, complain, or just be there with to pass the time. My sister is one of the strongest women that I have ever met. Ever. She is a survivor, she is brave, and she has proven to herself and everyone around her that she can get through the worst of times and ultimately improve and better herself along the way. If that isn’t the definition of courage, then I really don’t know what is.

Kristen is someone who is kind. She is genuine, she has a huge heart, and she brings so much joy and light to everyone who she encounters. Her smile and laugh is contagious and her beauty is second to none both inside and out. If you can’t tell by now, my sister is my everything. I am so thankful not only for our sisterhood but for the friendship that came from it. You can have someone as a sibling and only view them as such, but Kristen is so much more for me than that.

From outings to the movies, shopping, the nail or hair salon, coffee, dinner, or just binge watching on Netflix, I treasure every minute that I spend with my sister. Don’t get me wrong, she drives me fucking crazy, but isn’t that what sisters do every now and then? And I promise you that she would say the same thing about me, but probably even more so!

The point that I’m trying to get at, is that I am so, so incredibly lucky to have my sister as, well, my sister. I love you more than anything, so here’s to you, you beautiful, fantastic, intelligent, loving, perfect girl. Happy birthday and I can’t wait to celebrate with you tonight!

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Happy Birthday, Kristen ❤

I FREAKING LOVE YOU!!

Sunshine Blogger Award #2

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Sunshine Blogger Award #2

Hi everyone and happy weekend! I hope everyone is having a wonderful start to their day so far. A few days ago the beautiful Olita from Ola Masalska nominated yours truly for my second Sunshine Blogger Award. I am always so flattered when other bloggers nominate me for stuff and things and I definitely make it a point to try and make a post for all of my nominations. Olita has a charming little blog, which I’m sure all of you will enjoy as much as I do, so please check it out and give her page some love. Now, let’s look at the rules:

The Rules:

  • Thank the person(s) who nominated you in a blog post and link back to their blog.
  • Answer the 11 questions sent by the person who nominated you.
  • Nominate 11 new blogs to receive the award and write them 11 new questions.
  • List the rules and display the Sunshine Blogger Award logo on your post and/or on your blog.

Q & A:

What country do you live in right now?

I live in the United States.

What is your favorite thing to do to relax?

I love to read and take a nice long bubble bath when I feel like I need to unwind.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Where do you wish you will be?

Yikes, I don’t know. I’ll be twenty-seven and that is something that I’m so not looking forward to. Growing up sucks.

Favorite TV show?

Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Face Off.

Favorite actor/actress?

Uhmmm…I love Hillary Swank, Sandra Bullock, Natalie Portman, and Tilda Swinton. And for actors, I would have to say George Clooney, Johnny Depp, and Benedict Cumberbatch.

One thing you could not live without?

Asides from the obvious ones like family, friends, yada yada I could not live without my beloved blog and a really good moisturizer.

Favorite season?

I love the fall.

Favorite social media platform (besides WordPress)?

Facebook! Because it’s the only social media page that I have, lol.

Favorite artist (painter) if you have one?

I do not have a favorite artist. Shame on me!

What is the first thing you do when you wake up?

I hate saying this, but I check my phone, Facebook, and email.

What is you favorite thing about yourself? Don’t be shy! 😉

My pasty pale skin, fake red hair, my beloved talon acrylics, my personality, and my tattoos and piercings.

My Nominees (I’m only doing three):

My Questions For You:

  1. What is your favorite store to shop at?
  2. Who is one of your role models?
  3. No makeup for a month or wearing the same outfit for a week?
  4. Favorite candy or sweet treat?
  5. What is a hidden talent of yours?
  6. What was your favorite childhood toy?
  7. What was your high school experience like?
  8. Favorite holiday?
  9. A piece of advice for those in the blogging community?
  10. What was the best date that you’ve ever been on?
  11. How about the worst?

Thank you so much again to Olita for nominating lifewithlilred for the Sunshine Blogger Award! You’re a doll! How would you answer some of the questions that Olita had for her nominees? How about some of my questions for mine? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Angie’s Bath & Body Purchases

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Angie’s Bath & Body Purchases

Hi everyone and happy Sunday! Yesterday, a special delivery came (super quickly!) in the mail – some wonderful treat yoself goodies from Angie’s Bath & Body. Angela, a dear friend who custom created Ruby Tulip is the boss lady behind her Etsy shop which boasts amazing home made bath and body care supplies like sugar scrubs, body butters, fragrances, and bath salts. I needed to purchase the finished product of Ruby Tulip for a giveaway here on lifewithlilred coming up next month so I figured that it was the perfect time to also buy a sugar scrub since they’re my fave and I’ve wanted to buy one for forever! Take a look:

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Not only did I get my Peaches & Cream sugar scrub and Ruby Tulip but Angela also treated me to a sample of her goat’s milk lotion that she’s currently working on. SPOILER ALERT: All three smell divine! As soon as I opened the package, which arrived in ONE DAY flat, I could smell the sweet Peaches & Cream scrub which was just as good as biting into an ice cold creamsicle – my favorite frozen treat. I cannot wait to use my new sugar scrub as an exfoliant before shaving my leggies to create a closer shave, silky smooth skin, and a good enough to eat scent. And can we talk about the totes adorbs little spoon that she added to dollop the scrub out with?! SO. CUTE!

The rose petals that Angela added into the Ruby Tulip bottle was a beautiful touch and will be going to a lucky reader come April! I am so excited for lifewithlilred’s first giveaway and for the new lotion that Angela is working on. I tested out the goat’s milk lotion yesterday upon its arrival and it smelled so creamy and absorbed instantly, which is a must for me when it comes to lotions and body butters. I just know that that product is going to be another major seller on her Etsy page!

If you haven’t checked out Angie’s Bath & Body yet, then I urge you to get on it ASAP and treat yoself to some new body care goodies. You won’t be disappointed! What is your favorite bath and body care item to treat yoself with? What is your favorite lotion or perfume scent? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Loft Haul

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Loft Haul

Hiii everyone and happy Monday! I hope that all of you had a fabulous and relaxing weekend. My Saturday was spent getting my shop on at Loft and scoring an amazing haul for a seriously amazing deal. If there’s one place that I know that I can turn to for totally profesh but super fun business casual attire, it’s Loft. And let me tell you, my work wardrobe was in definite need of a pick me up. The beauty of the clothing at Loft is that their clothes can really be dressed up or down depending on what you need to use them for. I love that my Loft clothes can double for work or play and that you can get great deals if you know how to shop their sales. Check out my latest haul and then I’ll reveal the price for all five items that you won’t believe! Take a look:

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The Haul:

  • Two shirts both originally priced at $54.95
  • One pair of jeans originally priced at $69.95
  • Two pairs of sunglasses originally priced at $24.50

I Paid: About $80

So how did I do it? This is all compliments of my mom, actually. Thanks to beaucoup Loft Cash, percentage off promotions, and fifteen dolla holla sunglasses, she was able to dwindle down a staggering price to something much more reasonable. My mom started shopping Loft a couple of years ago and I have always been so impressed with the clothes that she has purchased. Like I mentioned earlier, they really are the perfect work or play wardrobe staples. The clothes fall in that amazing “youthful but not trying to be young” category, which means that women of any age can pull off their clothing and still look great.

It’s not like I’m a super avid Loft shopper but when I do spend time in their store, I always seem to manage to find some really nice stuff. Their jeans, for example, are the best thing that has ever happened to the bottom half of my body so whenever I can get a good deal on their black skinnies, I always have to indulge. The frayed ends of my latest black skinny purchase (because we all know that it’s all I wear!) were a fun little detail and I’m hoping to take a razor blade to the knees if I’m feeling crafty enough. I don’t own any ripped denim but I really like the idea of it, so if anyone is a savvy pants ripper and has any tips for me, please send them my way!

And, of course, I freaking LOVE my new tops. In the pictures, they might look like your standard T, but they are actually made out of one hundred percent polyester so it feels silky and looks sleek as opposed to the regular old cotton T. These tops have an adorable eyelet detail on the back and the colors in each of them are my favorite. Green and yellow are two colors that happen to look really good on me, thanks to my pasty pale skin tone and vibrant red hair. As soon as I put these tops on, they just felt and looked SO good and if they had any additional shirts in different patterns I probably would have bought them, too!

Both of these tops will be great for when I’m out and about at work or paired under a moto jacket for errands or drinks with friends. I love the kimono feel of the yellow top and the deep green paired with the brighter teal details really had me feeling some type of way! It’s going to be really fun to create new looks for my day to day work and play wear for an outfit that’s business cashe or a young twenty-something on the go (generally going to Taco Bell).

Finally, I am obsessed with my new sunnies! I haven’t bought new sunglasses in forever because now I usually just opt for my Chanel shades from my nail tech, Vinny. But these new ones are SO fabulous and I got each of them for seven bucks, so it really doesn’t get much better than that! The solid black frames scream Miu Miu to me and the duel colored tortoise shell and navy sunnies are so unbearably chic. Both of these sunglasses are shaped in styles that I don’t already have in my sunnies arsenal so it will be nice to throw on a fresh new pair of shades before I hit the road in the Little Red Love Machine!

Obviously, Loft was really good to me this weekend and my closet so thanks me for it! I am super happy with my latest Loft Haul and am ready to welcome spring with some shiny new wardrobe additions. Who else is a major Loft fan? How are you upgrading your wardrobe for spring? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Ruby Tulip Launch!!

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