Tag Archives: weekend

May18

A Short Story

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A Short Story

Hey everyone and happy Hump Day! I hope you all are having a wonderful week so far. As you guys know, I have had an insanely difficult time finding shorts for the summer. It seems like every pair of shorts that I’ve encountered during multiple shopping trips is high waisted and that’s one trend that I just won’t stand for. All I wanted was a few simple pairs of normal rise shorts. After too many shopping excursions to count that ended only in disappointment, I began to think that my simple request would never be fulfilled.

However, a weekend trip to TJMaxx gave my Short Story a happy ending because I left with two pairs of shorts and a beautiful Nine West purse, which you can read about in yesterday’s post. Take a look at the cute new shorties that I added to my wardrobe:

What & Wear?

  • Olive Bermuda Shorts: American Eagle Outfitters, $12.99
  • Black Shorts: Hollister, $12.99
  • Grand Total: Approximately $26
  • In Store Value: Approximately $70-80

I’ll admit that I wasn’t expecting to find shorts during my last TJs trip. Past outings there were unsuccessful during my hunt for the perfect shorts so I didn’t think that my weekend excursion would be any different. But boy, was I wrong! TJMaxx had an abundance of shorts from too many brands to recall, Hollister and AEO included. I scrounged the racks of clothing and went to the fitting room with five pairs of shorts in hand. However, my heart was already dead set on wanting the pairs that I purchased desperately.

I tried on three pairs prior to my favorites and rejected them for reasons in regards to the fit and colors. I have to say, by the time I got to trying on my top two pairs, I was very nervous. I didn’t want them to end up in the reject pile and I didn’t want my high hopes for these pairs to be crushed because they were soaring sky high. I slipped on the Hollister shorts first and right away I knew that they would work perfectly. They were low rise, which I liked and they fit well without being too short or revealing. And, of course, I loved that they were black and the zippers were a nice touch!

I was pleased to have found just one pair and after a little celebration, my nerves began to skyrocket again because I really freakin liked the AEO pair. What made me antsy was that they were hung on a hanger that said size three. When I grabbed the pair from the rack, I didn’t think much of it but then I began to think “Well, shit. What if they don’t fit?” Just in the nick of time, though, I remembered that AEO has even sizes instead of odd and that the bermudas were, indeed, a size four.

Once the mystery of the size was solved, I pulled the pair on in record timing because I knew that they would fit well since I wear a four in AEO jeans. I love saying this…I was right! The shorts fit like a glove and they were like nothing that I’ve had before. I loved that they were a skinny fit which was so flattering and the color was out of this world. It was funny, because I was telling my mom on the car ride to the store that if I can’t find any shorts, I would have to resort to going to the mall and going to AE. I wasn’t exactly thrilled with this idea, though, because I really wasn’t trying to drop forty to fifty dollars on one pair of shorts.

I was so incredibly happy with my findings during this past weekend’s TJs trip because I ended up getting two pairs of shorts and a Nine West purse for under sixty dollars. The shorts were about twenty-six dollars in total which was less than what I would have spent on one pair at the mall. I now have three pairs of shorts to wear this summer and on my upcoming vacation so I can breathe easy for a while about not having any to wear. I wouldn’t mind one more pair but I’m just thankful I was able to find TWO pairs in one evening that were perfect for me. Thanks, TJMaxx!! ❤

So there you have it, A Short Story on my newest editions to my wardrobe! What is one piece of clothing that you hate shopping for? Has anyone had as much trouble as I have for finding shorts that work? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May17

It’s In The Bag – Nine West Edition

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It’s In The Bag – Nine West Edition

Hi everyone and happy Tuesday! First of all, I want to wish a very happy birthday to my older brother, Andrew! I love you! Second of all, I want to talk to all of you about the most gorgeous purse that I added to my collection this weekend. My mom and I had a gift card from TJMaxx (shocker) so we decided to pop into the store and take a look around. I ended up with two pairs of shorts which you can see on Wednesday’s post “A Short Story” and a beautiful Nine West tote bag. Take a look:

9w

^^^ IT’S SO PRETTY!!!!

I admit that I am not an animal print fan in the slightest. I don’t do leopard, nor cheetah, zebra, or any other print that you can think of. However, I freaking LOVE snakeskin…Fake snakeskin, of course. I think that snakeskin is the most edgy, cool, and rocker chic pattern on the planet. It screams luxury mixed with rebellion and I can’t get enough. So it shouldn’t surprise you when I tell you that as soon as I laid eyes on my new beauty that it was love at first sight.

I took a tentative glance at the price tag and was astounded to see that it was only thirty dollars in contrast to the Nine West tag that was still attached and boasting a ninety dollar original price. Once I saw that the bag was reasonably priced, I plucked it from its hanger and slung it over my arm. Usually I don’t like carrying big bags but this one was different. It was made so narrowly that it didn’t look bulky but rather sleek and slinky. I loved that it fit comfortably between my arm and body and of course, the color palette was pure Lil Red perfection.

Although I was so enamored with the Nine West purse, I had a hard time justifying buying a new one since I had just recently got one from Kohl’s. For the entire shopping trip I debated on if it was worth it to bite the bullet and make the purchase. Despite how much I loved the bag, I decided that it wasn’t something that I absolutely needed. But my beloved mother wasn’t having that.

Because my birthday is right around the corner she offered it as an early birthday gift from her and I just couldn’t say no! It was just so perfect and the fact that the price of it was the exact amount of our gift card made it seem like it was meant to be. I love my new purse so much and I can’t wait to use it for work, school, and my internship. Thank you so much, mom! And happy early birthday to me! 😀

So there you have it, the latest issue of It’s In The Bag – Nine West Edition! Has anyone done some shopping recently? What has been your latest purchase? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May15

Perfect Summer Drinks

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Perfect Summer Drinks

Hello everyone and welcome to part two of this weekend’s guest posts by my darling friend, Zeighn, at oneselementblog! Yesterday featured some of Zeighn’s favorite healthy summer picnic food recipes and today will showcase some sweet drinks to wash it down with. Zeighn linked me to a Cranberry & Ginger Tea Punch that sounds fabulous and will be teaching us how to make a yummy smoothie and mango based beverage below. Cheers!

Peach & Oat Smoothie:

Ingredients:

  • 2 ripe peaches, quartered, pits removed
  • 1 tbsp chia seeds
  • 1/4 cup rolled oats
  • 1/2 frozen banana (peeled before freezing)
  • 1/4 cup fresh orange juice
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
  • Optional: 1 tbsp agave, maple syrup, or Stevia for added sweetness. (Or honey for non-Vegan.)

Instructions:

  1. Add all ingredients to a blender and let set for 5-10 minutes so the oats and chia seeds can soak. Then blend until smooth.
  2. To thicken, add another quarter or half of a frozen banana. To thin, add more almond milk or OJ.
  3. Taste and adjust flavor as needed. I added a touch of agave.
  4. Serve immediately.

peachy.jpg

Super-Spiced Mango Ice:

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup chopped, frozen mangoes (or 1 fresh mango)
  • 1 heaping teaspoon orange zest
  • 1 pinch of chili powder
  • Optional: 1 tbsp honey
  • Ice cube tray (Not that you can eat that!)

Instructions:

  1. Thaw the mango for about 30 seconds in the microwave. It’s easier to chop if it’s still partly frozen. Alternatively, chop up a fresh mango. Chop into small cubes, about 1/4 of an inch, and divide evenly into the ice cube tray.
  2. Zest orange and sprinkle into each cube.
  3. Sprinkle chili powder into each cube.
  4. Optional: Squirt a dollop of honey into each cube.
  5. Fill a small cup with water and pour carefully over the tray to cover the fruit. Place in freezer over night.

mango

Thank you so much again to Zeighn for sharing her favorite recipes with us for a perfect summer picnic! If you want more from my lovely guest blogger, check out her blog at oneselementblog or follow her on Instagram. Happy summer! Much love. -Sarah

May14

Perfect Picnic Food

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Perfect Picnic Food

Hi everyone and happy weekend! Today and Sunday are going to be kind of special here on lifewithlilred because both days will be featuring a guest post from my sweet friend, Zeighn, over at oneselementblog. When Zeighn first contacted me, she mentioned that she’s a total fashionista and lives a healthy lifestyle through Veganism and daily yoga.

Initially, my first thoughts were “Great, because I love to eat” so I asked Zeighn if she could create a post with some of her favorite recipes for summer time snacks and drinks. Today will feature some food perfect for a picnic while tomorrow will show you some mouthwatering beverages to wash it down with. Take a look at the post that Zeighn created special for my readers and please be sure to give her page some love:

Perfect Picnic Food

Pack up these delicious meals and head outdoors for a refreshing outing. Best part? Everything is healthy and Vegan! All recipes will be linked down below. 🙂

Make sure not to forget your picnic blanket! A picnic is not complete without a blanket, basket, and lots of fun!

^^^ Omg. Can you say YUM?! All of Zeighn’s favorite recipes sound amazing! If you want more from my lovely guest blogger this weekend, check out her blog or follow her on Instagram. Thanks again, beautiful!

My birthday party at the end of the month is going to be of a garden party theme so now I need everyone’s opinions. What recipe listed above should I attempt to make for my guests? What recipes do you plan on trying? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May8

Au Natural MOTD

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Au Natural MOTD

Hi everyone and happy Sunday! Welcome to a shiny new guest blogging post from one of my favorites, Rehma, from Glamorous Etoiles. Her blog is absolutely fantastic so please be sure to check it out and give her some love! Rehma is the queen of all things beauty and makeup so I asked her to create an easy, fresh-faced look that’s perfect for an on the go summer day. Take a look at the Au Natural MOTD created by one of my dear friends, she did a bang up job!:

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Makeup Used:

  • Foundation: TV Paint Stick by Kryolan (FS45)
  • Concealer: Maybelline Eye Eraser (Nude)
  • Powder: Artistry Mineral Powder (Light)
  • Eye Shadows: Makeup Revolution Palette & Sleek Strom Palette
  • Mascara: Maybelline Sensation & Great Lash (Blackest Black)
  • Highlighting: Makeup Revolution Highlighter Palette
  • Contour: NYX Highlight & Contour Palette
  • Blusher: Makeup Revolution Contour Blush
  •  Lipstick: Gerard Cosmetic (Nude)
  • Liner: Maybelline Gel Eyeliner
  • Makeup Brushes: Morphe & Makeup Addiction
  • Setting Spray: Urban Decay Chill Cooling & Hydrating Spray

What I love about Rehma’s MOTD is how light it looks. I think that barely there makeup for summer time is so chic. This Au Natural look is perfect for a day of running around in the sun but can easily be transformed to a night time look with a bold lip. Rehma knows how to rock a winged liner like no other but for us gals who weren’t blessed with a steady hand, a good compromise could be a dusting of a bronze or gold eyeshadow instead! That’s what I plan on doing because god knows I would never be able to achieve a winged look to Rehma’s standard!

Thank you again so much to the always beautiful, Rehma, from Glamorous Etoiles for making this Au Natural MOTD post possible! You’re fabulous. How do you rock an easy, breezy summer look? What is your summer makeup staple? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May1

Life Is A Beach OOTD

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Life Is A Beach OOTD

Hi everyone and welcome to a special guest blog post compliments of my blogging BFF, Nida, over at Shopaholic Blogs. One of the things that I love the most about Nida is how she isn’t afraid to take initiative. From the first email I received from her back in March to ask about guest blogging until now she’s always one of the first people in my email asking about what post that she can do next and I think that’s just fantastic. It shows great confidence and tenacity and it really is amazing. I’m so happy to have Nida help me kick start the month of May here at lifewithlilred with a post that’s all about fun in the sun. So without further ado, take a look at Nida’s Life Is A Beach OOTD:

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💕Hello Sweets!
✨ I am so thrilled to be back and working with Sarah again! When she told me she was doing a month of summer and beach inspired posts I was totally on board! 🔆 Early summers here are not as intense ️and are perfect for hanging out at the beach and pool. For this look I headed out to the beautiful JBR beach for a day of fun in the sun!
✨ For the beach I like to keep my outfit as minimally fussy and cool as possible. The maxi dress is flowy and gorgeously flattering without overwhelming my petite frame. The top provides some coverage without being heavy like a denim jacket. I kept loose waves in my hair to make it beach appropriate. Since it was incredibly hot and humid I kept the makeup minimal, too!
️ Outfit Details:
☀ ️Dress: Aeropostale
☀️ Top: Bershka
☀️ Sandals: Kenneth Cole
☀️ Accessories: H&M, Fossil
☀ Tote: Aeropostale
  Makeup:
☀ Tinted Cream: Dusty Girl’s in Golden Medium
☀ Blush: IT Cosmetics in Radiant Rose 🌹
☀ Eyeliner: Hashmi in Kohl
☀ Lipgloss: IT Cosmetics Vitality Butter Gloss
💕 I hope you guys enjoyed this OOTD and hopefully it inspired you to hit the beach. I know I went a little camera crazy but it’s not everyday that you get to do a beach OOTD! Many thanks to the lovely Sarah for having me guest blog again. Do let us know how you liked this blog post!
Until next time xoxo 💋
 Get In Touch:
💟 Instagram: shopaholicblogs
💟 Email: shopaholicblogs@gmail.com
So there you have it, Nida’s Life Is A Beach OOTD! Thanks again to the darling Nida and please be sure to check out her page at Shopaholic Blogs! How do you rock a beach ready OOTD? What is your favorite warm weather clothing item? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Apr30

April Finishes

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April Finishes

Hi everyone and happy weekend! The end of the month brings us to another post about all of the beauty products that I used up in April. I emptied out a solid amount of lotions, skin care, and makeup so take a look at my finishes and then let’s discuss:

finished2

Would I Use Them Again?

  • St. Ives Nourish & Smooth Body Wash: YES
  • Victoria’s Secret Rockin’ Body Cream: NO
  • Bath & Body Works Vanilla Brown Sugar Shimmer Cream: NO
  • The Body Shop Vitamin C Skin Boost: YES
  • Garnier Makeup Removing Cleanser: NO
  • The Body Shop Mango Whip Lotion: NO
  • Maybelline Falsies Pushup Drama Mascara: NO

Why/Why Not?

St. Ives Body Wash: St. Ives is one of my all time favorite skin care brands and I love everything from their scrubs to their body washes. The jumbo sized body wash bottle is a great value and it leaves you feeling clean and hydrated after every use. It took me about a month and a half to finish this body wash.

VS Cream: This month, I tried to finish up all of the shimmer lotions that my sister left behind when she moved to her apartment. I would never use this product again simply because I despise shimmer lotions and this particular VS cream didn’t do the best job of moisturizing, either. It also didn’t make me look 5X Sexier, as the marketing claimed. 😦

B&BW Cream: Same goes for this Bath & Body works number. I love the Vanilla Brown Sugar scent, I hate the cup full of glitter that they dumped into the bottle.

TBS Skin Boost: This is my old faithful serum that I’ve been using for years. I am trying to find a less expensive serum but until I find just the right one, I’ll be sticking with this bad boy.

Garnier Cleanser: This was one of the worst cleansers that I’ve ever used. You can read my full review here but if not, just know that I hate it.

TBS Lotion: As I’ve mentioned countless times, I love all of the bath and body care products from The Body Shop. However, I can’t stand their Mango scent. It seriously smells like rotten fruit to me and I was so happy to finally be done with it because it took me for friggen ever to finish.

Maybelline Mascara: I read so many reviews on how amazing this mascara was but I just wasn’t a fan. The Falsies Pushup Drama Mascara was so clumpy that I had to rake through my lashes after I applied it to get them separated. I was thrilled when I finished this number and am currently using Covergirl’s special edition Star Wars mascara and loving it!

Unfortunately, I wasn’t too successful as far as liking all of my finished products go this month. But that’s okay, because I still have an entire under the sink cabinet filled with beauty products to try during the month of May. As of now, I’m using Victoria’s Secret’s Pear Glace lotion, a cocoa butter body wash from Suave, a shameful cleanser from Nourish Organic, and a fabulous exfoliator from Olay. I can’t wait to give some new products a try and kick the finished ones to the curb so be sure to join me next month so we can discuss what I finished in May!

So there you have it, my April Finishes! Has anyone used any of the products that I emptied this month? What did you think of them? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr25

Monday Update: Really Good Scones Edition

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Monday Update: Really Good Scones Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new week here on lifewithlilred! I hope all of you had a fabulous weekend. If there’s one thing that Lil Red loves, its cooking and baking. I could spend all day in the kitchen whipping up new meals and treats and have the time of my life. Recently, my mom acquired a new recipe from Today’s Kitchen in Wooster, Ohio to make Raspberry White Chocolate Scones and they are just as amazing as they sound. These scones are one of my favorite things to make and I just had to share the recipe with all of you since I made a fresh batch this weekend. They were delicious, if I do say so myself, so take a look at my finished product and then stick around for the recipe:

scones

Raspberry White Chocolate Scones:

Ingredients:

  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 1/2 cup flour
  • 1 tbsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 6 tbsp unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
  • 3/4 cup heavy cream, half and half, or milk
  • 1/4 tsp vanilla extract (I use 1 tsp)
  • 1/4 cup raspberries (I use 22 raspberries on the dot)
  • 1/4 cup white chocolate chips

The Glaze:

  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/4 tsp vanilla powder (I use 1 tsp)
  • 3 tbsp cream or milk

Directions:

  1.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2.  Whisk sugar, flour, baking powder, and salt together. Cut in butter until it is in small pieces. With a spatula stir in 3/4 cup cream, extract, berries, and white chocolate chips. Add more flour if dough is too wet. (Dough should form a relatively smooth, firm ball.)
  3.  Turn dough onto a lightly floured board and knead gently. (I usually have a 1/4 to 1/2 cup of flour handy because the dough will still be pretty wet.) Press or roll out into a 6 to 8 inch circle and cut into eight wedges. Place the wedges, not touching, on baking sheet. Bake scones for 20 minutes or until golden and slightly firm when pressed. (I bake mine for 12 minutes because my oven sucks.)
  4.  Cool on a wire rack and then coat with glaze.

These scones are simply to die for and I hope all of you enjoy them as much as my family and I do! Thank you so much again to Today’s Kitchen in Wooster, Ohio for the divine recipe!

So there you have it, this week’s Monday Update: Really Good Scones Edition! What is your favorite thing to cook or bake? Has anyone had any kitchen disasters lately? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr23

Guest Bloggers Update

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Guest Bloggers Update

Hey everyone and happy weekend! I wanted to thank everyone who shot me an email after this week’s Monday Update to inquire about being a potential guest blogger here on lifewithlilred. I have four fabulous bloggers selected for the month of May and am very excited! I want May to be filled with posts about sweet summertime so every Sunday will feature beauty, fashion, or lifestyle tips from across the globe! I can’t wait to ring in the summer season with some new and old blogging friends so be prepared for tons of fun posts!

If you didn’t get picked for the month of May, fear not! I will be away on vacation June third through the tenth so I will need a lot of guest bloggers while I’m away. So if you are interested, please keep those emails coming to sarah.mush6794@gmail.com and I will be sure to get back to you at some point during the month to discuss blogging for me while I’m on vaca!

No email? No problem! You can also get in touch with me on my personal Facebook page or my page for lifewithlilred. Just please make sure you give me a like, follow, or a click on my Twistfire ads while you’re there! 😉 Have a great weekend and I look forward to hearing from all of you soon! Much love. -Sarah

Apr18

Monday Update: Guest Bloggers, I STILL Want You Edition

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Monday Update: Guest Bloggers, I STILL Want You Edition

Hi everyone and welcome to another week here on lifewithlilred! I hope all of you had a fabulous weekend! As the title of this post may suggest, I’m still on the hunt for guest bloggers. I have the month of April covered with a wonderful post that’s in the works as we speak so now I have my sights set on May. Ideally, I’d like to have a guest post on the last two Sundays of the month but I’m not opposed to having more!

What I want is a team, so to speak, of reliable and talented bloggers that I can turn to for these next few months because they’re going to be insanely busy. I would much rather have posts from my blogging friends than no posts at all when I don’t have time to write them! I’m looking for everything from beauty and fashion gurus to fitness and health tips and everything in between. If this interests you then PLEASE email me at: sarah.mush6794@gmail.com. If you comment on here but don’t send an email, I’m not going to hunt you down! (I sound like a teacher there. -_-)

Guest Bloggers near and far, I STILL Want You so don’t be afraid to get in touch if you are interested! How was everyone’s weekend? Did anyone attend a concert or see a movie? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah