Tag Archives: weekend

Oct1

Stay Warm This Winter With These Toasty Decor Tips

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Stay Warm This Winter With These Toasty Decor Tips

I am one of those people who are always always cold. So if you are anything like me, then I am sure that you will find this post useful to help keep you nice and warm this winter:

The cold weather will soon be upon us! How are you planning on staying warm at home this winter? Of course, you will always have your heating system available to heat your rooms. But did you know that there are also some other useful decor ideas that can help you stay toasty through the winter. And, no, I’m not just going to tell you to put on an extra jumper and woolly hat! Here are some of the best tips that you should take advantage of to make sure you don’t feel the chill this winter:

Thermal Drapes: Did you know that thermal drapes are a thing? They are a lot thicker and heavier than regular ones. But that doesn’t mean they have to be gray and unattractive. Quite the contrary! You will find that you can find them in a variety of colors and patterns. If you hang them on all of your windows, you will prevent any drafts from cooling down your home. They also help to insulate your rooms and prevent hot air from escaping through the windows. And that will save you a lot on energy bills!

Gas Fireplaces: There are some appliances that you can add to your home to help support the central heating system. For example, gas fireplaces. If you ever feel too cold, even with your heating on, just turn on the fireplace. And if it is ever a bit chilly, but not cold enough to turn on your entire home’s central heating, use the fireplace. What’s more, you can now get a double sided fireplace that can heat two rooms at once.

Get Some Throws: Throws are a great addition to any family living room. They are inexpensive and will add gorgeous bursts of color to your sofas and armchairs. Plus you don’t have to take them away once spring is here and the weather starts to warm up. Simply leave them on the backs of your chairs and sofa. But they are especially great in the winter. Once you start to feel a little chilly, grab a throw and snuggle up into it! It’ll be a great way to get cozy during a movie night!

Scented Candles: Now that autumn is here, the nights will start to get longer and darker. It can be very depressing when you come home to a dark house after a busy day in the office! Thankfully, there is an easy way to brighten things up. Just add some candles to your living room! This is a quick and cheap way to create an atmospheric room. For an extra cozy touch, use scented candles and fill your rooms with autumnal aromas.

Use Festive Decorations Wisely: There are a number of Christmas decorations that can help you seal up gaps and prevent drafts. Buy a Christmas doorjamb that can compliment all of your other decorations. Not only will your door be draft-free, but your home will look exceptionally Christmassy!

Winter is coming! But you don’t have to suffer; especially now you have these toasty decor tips.

Featured Image From: www.pexels.com

I hope everyone is having a fabulous start to their weekend! How do you keep nice and toasty during the cool weather? What is your favorite fall or winter candle scent? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep25

Weldon Carpenter: A New Friend

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Weldon Carpenter: A New Friend

Hey everyone and happy Sunday! I hope all of you are having a wonderful, relaxing weekend. This past Thursday, I had to venture out to the Tri-C campus in Parma, Ohio for an extra credit lecture. Because I’m literally never in Parma since I don’t attend that campus, I decided to make a post on my Facebook to let my friends in the area know that I will be there for the afternoon in case anyone wanted to meet up afterwards. My friend, Danielle, replied and we decided to meet up at the bar that she works at in Lakewood which was about fifteen minutes away.

Because Danielle’s work didn’t open until four, we started at a bar that was down the street called The Patio. Danielle was treating me to twenty-first birthday drinks even though it’s over a year late so that’s what made me justify drinking at the bar at three in the afternoon! About halfway through our time at The Patio, an older gentleman walked into the bar and within ten minutes he came up to us and asked if we liked Playhouse Square (the beautiful theater in Cleveland).

Being an avid lover of the theater, of course I replied with an enthusiastic “YES”. This sent who I now know was Weldon Carpenter off to his car to retrieve a photo album and a surprise treat. While Weldon was at his car, the bartender explained to us that he was a historian and photographed Playhouse Square and the surrounding theaters since their openings. She also told us that he used to work as the personal chef to the one and only Miss Judy Garland.

Just as the bartender was finishing up her briefing on Weldon, he came walking in with a thick photo album and two teddy bears for me and Danielle. He told us that he has over one hundred and fifty little stuffed animals that he keeps handy just to make people smile. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a stuffie sitting on the bar that he must have gifted to the bartender when we weren’t looking. “Aren’t they beautiful?” he asked as Danielle and I held our new bears on our laps. And they really were. The beauty lied in the gesture and the bear he picked for me couldn’t have been any more perfect considering it was sporting a black t-shirt!

After we settled in with our drinks and teddies, we began to look through Weldon’s album, page by page. With every picture of each theater, there was a story or memory that went along with it and I was just mesmerized. To watch him smile and speak enthusiastically about the memories that he loved so much was something that was really special to me. None of my grandparents are alive so I haven’t conversed with someone in that age range in quite some time. Speaking with Weldon felt good and safe. It made me want to curl up in a blanket and hear more.

With every page turned, Weldon insisted on either one of us taking whichever photo we liked. “Don’t worry, I have plenty of copies and I give them all away for free”. His gentle prodding led to both of us picking out a photo that we loved and you could tell how pleased he was that we did. This man genuinely loved sharing what he felt was beautiful – and it was.

After we finished looking at Weldon’s photo album and listened to a few stories about how he met Judy Garland at his friend Mae West’s party we unfortunately had to part ways. Danielle had to be at work so we had to head down the street to the bar for a night of serving for her and more drinking for me. But all evening, I was still enraptured by the kind stranger who we spent a half hour with in the bar. The man who bore gifts and treats for complete strangers and left them feeling like they had just met their guardian angel or long lost friend.

When I got home, I Googled Weldon and found so many articles boasting that he was one of Lakewood’s local legends. Pages full of articles telling tales of theaters, photos, and stories similar to the one that I just told you. I felt proud. I felt proud that the city that he seemed to love so much loved him back. I felt proud that he was sharing his beautiful spirit and stories with the world. I felt proud that I just met him.

Will I ever see Weldon again? Maybe, if I head up to Lakewood around three or so, I’ll find him at The Patio enjoying a glass of red wine that he will be diluting with shaved ice. Maybe I’ll see him sharing a photo or a stuffed bear with another person at the bar. But until then, I’m so happy to consider Weldon Carpenter as A New Friend.

Sep24

September Finishes

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September Finishes

Hey hey everyone and happy weekend! Welcome to my September Finishes post! This month was filled with lots of great empties so take a look and then let’s discuss:

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Would I Use It Again?

  • Softsoap Sweet Honeysuckle & Orange Peel body wash: YES
  • St. Ives Green Tea Scrub: MAYBE
  • The Body Shop Vitamin C Skin Boost: YES
  • Avalon Organics Vitamin C moisturizer: MAYBE
  • Yes To Coconut Souffle moisturizer: YES

Why/Why Not?

Softsoap Body Wash: I have always enjoyed using Softsoap shower gel and the Sweet Honeysuckle & Orange Peel is one of my favorites. It’s such a bright, energizing scent to wake up to every morning and it has one of those fragrances that just makes you feel good whenever you use it. This gel’s tart zing helps put a little pep in my step every time I use it and I would definitely recommend it to everyone. It took me about a month and a half to finish.

St. Ives Scrub: I love St. Ives products but, unfortunately, this scrub falls a bit short for me. I am always looking for a good blackhead clearing scrub because I suffer from really tough blackheads on my nose that build up near my piercings. I loved the scent of this scrub but it was just not gritty enough to get the job done of buffing away the pesky blackheads that polka dot my nose. If this scrub had about a handful more grit added to it, it would be perfect. I would use this scrub again if it were on sale but I will always prefer their apricot cleanser, instead! It took me a little over one month to finish.

TBS Skin Boost: You guys already know that this product is one of my old faithfuls so I am not going to go into detail about it. Just know that I love it. It took me three months to finish.

Avalon Moisturizer: This moisturizer was a weird one because I liked and hated it at the same time. I loved that it was Vitamin C based, that I got it for a steal, and that it lasted a long time. However, the major upset about this moisturizer was that it was one of those ones that curdles up on your face and just scuffs right off. After applying this moisturizer, I would have hella problems when I was doing my makeup because the cream would flake off in sticky clusters. If this weren’t an issue, I would never stop using the cream because other than that it was fabulous. I didn’t mind using it at night but daytime use was out of the question thanks to the flakiness. It took about five months to finish.

Yes To Coconut Souffle: I LOVE THIS CREAM! My mom got it for me for my birthday and it looks, feels, and smells simply delicious. Rich, creamy, coconut cream pie in a whipped souffle of a moisturizer that leaves your skin feeling smooth, supple, and simply luxurious. After just two minutes of the souffle being applied, my skin instantly transformed into peaches and cream perfection which left me completely confident in my complexion. I LOVED IT. It took two months to finish.

All in all, I would say that September was a very successful month of finishes. I was left loving a majority of my empties and even though I did have two that I wasn’t one hundred percent sold on, I didn’t completely hate them either! Now I just need to get my hands on another Coconut Souffle moisturizer and I’ll be all set!

So there you have it, my September Finishes! What empties do you have for this month? What beauty products do you need to restock soon? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep11

What’s In My Bag?

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What’s In My Bag?

Hello all and happy Sunday! Today’s post in my fall guest bloggers series is compliments from my friend, Natasha, at Ninjette Natasha. In Natasha’s post, we get the breakdown of all of the goodies that she stores in her most gorgeous Gucci purse! Take a look and try not to drool too much:

What’s In My Bag?

Hey everyone, so I’ve never done a ‘Whats in my bag?’ post before and I absolutely love reading them. So what better opportunity than to do this as a guest blogger on LIFEWITHLILRED’s blog!

To start with I recently got the Gucci Dionysus bag in blue suede which is stunning and so beautiful. You can find the review of the bag over on my blog here. It is very roomy, and has a few compartments to keep things in so you can fit quite a bit in there. The chain is very sturdy and the bag itself is quite heavy. This can be off-putting to some, however I prefer it as I feel it really reflects the quality in the materials used. I bought this bag from a concession in Harrods in Knightsbridge. I couldn’t find a link to the exact bag online but here is a link to the tan version. I’m sure you could go down to your nearest Gucci store and ask them if they have it in stock.

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I always keep my purse with me as it’s a standard handbag essential due to the fact it has all of my cards and money inside of it. I also like to keep my points cards in there, as well. The make of my purse is ‘Floozy’ by Frost French, this brand is exclusively sold in Debenhams. Its made from polyurethane and I’ve had it for around 6 months. It’s held up pretty well and there hasn’t been too much wear and tear apart from the metal branding at the front which has gotten a little scratched.

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I always make sure I have some kind of lipstick or lip product in my bag when I go anywhere, so the lip balm ‘Smooch Operator’ by Soap and Glory is a must have. It makes your lips feel all tingly and plumped up and I love that feeling. It also doesn’t make your lips feel too sticky which is a godsend especially when it’s windy outside. The lip balm is also completely transparent.

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Another lip essential is a trusty lipstick. I have recently ventured back into my MAC collection and have had this old favourite in my bag ever since. ‘Faux’ is a beautiful mauve pink colour and works on any skin tone and with any outfit. I absolutely love it.

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Then I have a whole concoction of different little bits that I keep handy in my bag. Apart from another obvious essential being keys, I also keep a little cat mirror which was bought for me from Tiger as a gift. This is great for applying makeup and for looking at yourself after you’ve eaten a big lunch to make sure you don’t have food on your face!

I also keep a Tokidoki pen which can change colour, just in case I ever need to write anything down. Note – I don’t have a notebook to use said pen, I usually use my hand haha.

Unfortunately I am asthmatic so I keep my inhaler on me just in case I need it. My train pass as I use the train all the time so this is essential for me to get around. Paracetamol for any aches and pains. Gum for after lunch, tissues for…well…to blow my nose. A hair band, specifically the ones that don’t leave kinks in your hair, I use this for when I go to the gym, karate, or if I just want to keep my hair out of my face when it’s windy. Last but not least, my earphones. I got these in Tokyo last year so I’m not sure what brand they are, but I bought them from Tokyu Hands which is a bit like Japan’s version of TK Maxx.

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I really hope you enjoyed reading this post as much as I enjoyed writing it! What would you say is your favourite handbag essential? Let me know in the comment section below.

Ninjette Natasha xx

^^^ Thank you so much to Natasha for such a wonderful post! Once again, please make sure to check out her blog and give her some love! What is the most random thing that you have in your purse? What is one thing that you could not leave your home without? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep10

Fifteen Reasons To Look Forward To Fall

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Fifteen Reasons To Look Forward To Fall

Hi everyone and happy weekend! Welcome to my darling friend, Gintare’s, humorous take on why everyone should be looking forward to fall. This post is a hoot so I am sure you are all going to love it! Please be sure to check out Gintare’s blog, as well, for more fabulous posts! Enjoy:

Fifteen Reasons To Look Forward To Fall:

  1. You can overdose on cinnamon and pumpkin anything and nobody will dare to judge you.

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2. If you’re particularly bad at making yourself presentable, you can always tell people who stare that you’re testing some new looks for Halloween.

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3. Same goes for if the 24-7 rain messed up your mascara, too.

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4. You can skip make up entirely because nobody will see anything or anyone beyond the inside of their umbrellas.

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5. You’ll get your cardio whilst jumping around avoiding puddles and slippery leaves on the pavement.

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6. As the days get shorter the social pressure of going out and doing things will subside and you can release your inner introvert again!

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7. Mid-week movie nights will be more common, too, as it will be miserable outside so why wouldn’t you escape to an imaginary world instead?

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8. Speaking of, there will suddenly be so much time to read all those books you wanted to read since last fall!

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9. If all else fails to entertain you, you can always just brew yourself some warm tea, cozy up in an over-sized sweater, and look through the window at the people miserably running from the cold rain because they forgot their umbrella. (Admit it, you enjoy it a little bit.)

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10. Suddenly it’s a full year until you have to worry about how you look in a bikini. You know what that means!

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11. For one glorious week, if you’re lucky even longer, the look of trees will be awesome enough to inspire you to write something awesome. Or so you’ll think.

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12. Summer stuff will go on sale. This is when you buy something that’s a bit too small and aim to fit into it during the next summer. (Then you conveniently misplace it somewhere “whoopsie daisies”.)

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13. There will be some amazing TV shows hitting the Internets!

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14. Um…back to school stationery haul? Yas. I don’t even care that I’ve graduated from both school and uni already, no one can stop me!

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15. Cozy socks and we’re closer to Christmas. ‘Nuff said.

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Autumn is going to be great.

Let’s connect! Follow me on Instagram, Bloglovin, & now also on Twitter @SatOnWed – because the full name didn’t fit, haha. 9 times out of 10 I will jump into following you back, unless you’re that 1 out of 10 robot account *squints suspiciously*.

Saturday on wednesday

^^^ Love it! Thank you so much again to Gintare for giving us her countdown of reasons to look forward to fall! Once again, please check out her page and show her some love! What other reasons would you add to Gintare’s list? What is your favorite thing about fall? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep2

Hello, It’s Me

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Hello, It’s Me

Hi everyone and TGIF! Welcome to the month of September here on lifewithlilred! My first week of the fall semester went as good as it can get but I am so looking forward to the three day Labor Day weekend! With summer coming to a close, I had to squeeze in wearing as many dresses as I can sans tights before the cold weather begins. Because I was feeling pretty, witty, and gay I enlisted the help of my lovely mother to take some new pictures of yours truly. I feel like I haven’t posted some Lil Red pics on here in a while so it was long overdue! Check them out and have an awesome weekend! Also, be on the look out for my fall guest bloggers series that premieres this week. The posts are amazing and I am so excited! Much love. -Sarah

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Aug13

Urban Outfitters Haul

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Urban Outfitters Haul

Hey everyone and happy weekend! If there’s one store that I love but can’t afford, it’s Urban Outfitters. I think that I actually admire UO from afar more than ModCloth and that’s really saying something but their clothes are just so me. I love that their clothes are grungy chic and edgy which is definitely more my style as opposed to the girly and sweet ModCloth. I only have a select few pieces from Urban and I had to be head over heels, can’t live without it in love with them to even consider making the purchase. But, thanks to an amazing thirty percent off the sale section sale that Urban was having on the Fourth of July, I was able to snag some amazing pieces at a fraction of the price. Take a look:

I’m honestly not sure what made me check out Urban Outfitters on that fateful day that I was able to get two amazing jackets and the coolest pants ever for a cool one hundred but I am so glad that I did! I think I was just in the mood to online shop that day, AKA fill a shopping cart with stuff and then exit out of the page. However, knowing that all of the on sale items were an additional thirty percent off made me bite the bullet and order my cart full of goodies because I knew that I would never get them for any cheaper.

I am so obsessed with all of my purchases and have been making great use out of all of them. My new black skinnies have been my go to-s since I received them in the mail. I think that they are just the coolest and I love that they’re an actual denim material as opposed to the stretchy jegging fabric that my skinny jean collection is filled with. I think that this keeps the color looking pitch black and perfect for much longer and I am so happy that the color hasn’t faded even a little since I got them.

I have also been enjoying the days that I can break out my new slouchy blazer when I’m at my internship or other job. I have been looking for a blazer for months now but all of the ones that I have encountered have just seemed so blah. I love that this one is more of a menswear style and fit because it adds a little extra something to it while still looking uber professional. I like this blazer because it’s great for wearing to work, running errands, or a night on the town.

It has not been cool enough in my neck of the woods to break out my knee length camouflage jacket but rest assured that I love that, too. A camo jacket or pants has been something that I have been on the hunt for recently, as well, but I have never been able to find anything that I liked enough to buy it. The trick is, is that I like dark camouflage as opposed to the classic shades of green that I usually come across. That’s why I just had to buy this UO jacket when I saw it because it’s literally the camo color combination that I’ve been looking for. I love that the deep green and grey color choices are nontraditional and that it is still a camo print without screaming “look at me, I’m wearing camouflage”. Although, if it was effective camo, no one would be able to see you anyways! 😉

I am so pleased with all of my new clothes from Urban Outfitters and can’t wait to wear everything more when the weather finally cools down. Thanks to an amazing sale, I was able to buy some pieces that I would never have gotten for myself otherwise and I am so happy for that. This haul makes me even more dedicated to my ballin on a budget lifestyle and I plan on continuing to scour Urban Outfitter’s website for more sales in the future!

So there you have it, my Urban Outfitters Haul! What store do you dream about purchasing from? What store have you gotten the best deals from? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. –Sarah

Aug6

American Horror Story Airing Of Grievances

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American Horror Story Airing Of Grievances

Hey everyone and happy weekend! This week, the teasers for American Horror Story season six have began to surface, leaving everyone to wonder just what the theme is going to be. This usually would be a time when I would start to get very excited for just what lies in store for AHS, but unfortunately, I just can’t get on board for this upcoming season. Take a look at the teaser trailer and then let’s discuss:

If you recall from my posts about last season, AHS: Hotel, I had to quit watching after episode seven or so. I just couldn’t take it. I thought Coven was bad but last season really really sucked with a capital S and a capital UCKED. From the very first episode I could pick out what the problem was and a lot of people will probably disagree with me but that’s okay. My number one issue with AHS: Hotel was…Lady Gaga.

That’s right. I said it. I genuinely believe in my heart of hearts that Lady Gaga was the worst thing to happen to AHS so the fact that she is coming back for an encore in season six instantly turns me off to the show already. Unpopular opinion? Probably – but let me explain!

The major issue with having someone like Lady Gaga cast as the lead is that every. single. scene. has to revolve around her. I just couldn’t take it anymore in Hotel. I was sick of her soft core sex scenes, her dull performance, and the fact that she was now the queen bee of the show when she wasn’t doing much of anything.

Lady Gaga single handedly took away the ensemble effort of what made American Horror Story so special in the first place. When every character was committing to the story in a way that did not directly revolve around one character *cough cough* is when the show was something amazing. But when you take away the ensemble effort, you just end up with a program that isn’t even worth watching.

I feel like every scene was directed in a way that would make all of Gaga’s “little monsters” stick around to watch more and this resulted in a season that was campy, trashy, and an all around hot mess. I stand firmly in my beliefs that 1) The show is nothing without Jessica Lange. 2) They should have went with an unknown to become the new AHS queen bee. 3) OR if seniority and talent were an actual thing being considered, Sarah Paulson should have became the female lead.

So, am I going to tune in to the new season of American Horror Story? Yes, I will because I am curious and because I want lifewithlilred to maintain its status as a one stop shop for all things AHS. Am I thrilled about it? Absolutely not. After this rant, how could I be?! But as always, rest assured that when the new season airs, you can always find the latest AHS scoop here on lifewithlilred!

So there you have it, my American Horror Story Airing Of Grievances! Who has any ideas on what season six’s theme is going to be? Does anyone feel similarly to what I described in this post? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul30

July Finishes

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July Finishes

Hello everyone and happy weekend! The month of July has been an uber busy one and it left me with only two measly finishes. Although I only got through two products this month, I was happy because they were both fantastic. Take a look at my empties and then let’s discuss:

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Would I Use It Again?

  • Softsoap Citrus Splash & Berry Fusion shower gel: YES
  • VU Skin System Hydrating Body Lotion: YES

Why/Why Not?

Softsoap Shower Gel: I absolutely freaking LOVED this body wash. Softsoap gels always lather really well which is something that I like a lot. But, most importantly, the Citrus Splash & Berry Fusion scent was to die for. It seriously smelled like blue raspberry lemonade and it was the best scent to wake up to every morning. Sadly, I finished this body wash within a month because I used it as bubble bath soap and may or may not have put an obnoxious amount in the tub each time. -_-

VU Lotion: This lotion was SO NICE!! My mom and I actually got this for free with a purchase of a VU skin care product months ago and I was happy to finally get around to using it. The lotion is so light that it absorbs almost instantly and it left my skin feeling so fresh and velvety smooth. The best part about this lotion, though, was that it was unscented and the actual product stayed true to that. I cannot tell you the amount of times that a fragrance free product that I have tried has a scent to it. It was really refreshing to use a lotion that stayed true to its claim and left my skin feeling beautiful, to boot! I finished this lotion in about two weeks.

I am so pleased with my small but mighty list of July empties. Both products were successful because 1) I enjoyed using them. And 2) I would definitely use them again!

So there you have it, my July Finishes! What products have you guys finished up this month? What beauty or skin care product do you need to restock? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah