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Friday Favorites #494

by Kaylah Stroup
This post contains affiliate links. Check out our disclosure policy for more details.

I dig .

(via )

OMG! It’s Dana SKULLY. This appeals to me on way too many levels.

(via Creepy Co)

LOVING this jacket. Looks like the perfect piece to transition back into warmer weather. (Yes, I definitely am already over winter!)

(via Levi’s)

Love the idea behind this page a day calendar – a year of tiny pleasures. (Also available on Amazon for a few bucks less!)

(via Urban Outfitters)

Love this bird dress. It’d look so cute paired with a mustard cardigan.

(via Amazon)

Jackalope for your wall! Judging by the review photos it’s larger than this photo makes it look. Also, jackalope socks!!!

(via Amazon)

How cute is this !?

(via )

This mug is so silly. I love it.

(via Urban Outfitters)

A box of pizza socks! I know I’ve featured these before but they’re just so good I have to share again.

(via Amazon)

 

Link love…

Happy Friday!
xoxo

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six months

by Kaylah Stroup

Kaylah & Jeff, ghost town wedding, arizona wedding, palladium boots

Six months ago I had the most magical day of my life.

Never thought I’d be one of those people who thinks a wedding is magical. Let alone the most magical day of their life buuuut it happened… and it was. I know I originally said I wasn’t sure I’d be sharing any more photos from the wedding but you know I love to celebrate every little milestone (six months on the 9th) and what better way to celebrate than by sharing a few more of my favorite shots.

(Actually, a better way to celebrate would be to go back and visit Two Guns… and we did that over the weekend. I’ll share that post soon!)

ghost town wedding, arizona, the dainty squid wedding

Above; One of my absolute favorite photos. I’m so so so glad Madeline included that one even though its not in focus. It’s just such a real happy moment. I love it so much. It’s even the background on my computer.

Below; We spent so much time pulling things out of my dress. I specifcally chose footwear I knew would be good for stomping around the desert in. I was also totally okay destroying my dress for the sake of good photos but I didn’t realize how much crap a wedding dress would pick up. As we walked around taking photos my dress just kept gathering things. Branches, thorns, even weird globs of wire. The bottom of my dress has so many snags and holes in it.

Above; I wrote this on the ground back in 2016. Two years later we, of course, had to get wedding photos by it.

Below; Another favorite of mine. (Haha, jk, they’re all my favorite because Madeline is a phenomenal photographer) After the ceremony everyone drove to The Wigwam, our favorite desert oasis, for a super chill reception. Milo performed some magic for us after dinner. He can be super shy, even with just us, but he was a complete ham. Just absolutely soaking in the attention. I’m so in love with everyone’s smiles in this shot.

I’m just so madly in love with Jeff. Our wedding day was absolutely perfect. It couldn’t have been more ~us~. I’m so thankful to have found a partner who is on the same exact page as me. I don’t think there was a single thing we ever disagreed about regarding the wedding.

I spent so much time stressing over little details and worrying I might regret not having a more traditional wedding but holy cow, no. It couldn’t have been better. I kind of, sort of, not so secretly want to do it again every year. We’ve been ‘joking’ about getting married every year just to force our families on a giant vacation again and have the excuse to get dressed up. I have a feeling we’ll probably end up being those people who renew their vows every five or ten years though.

Married life has been wonderful so far. I didn’t think it’d change anything and I guess it really hasn’t or at least I couldn’t put in to words what exactly has changed. It does feel different though… and in the best way. I love being his wife. It feels safe and cozy.

Six months in and I’m still amused by the fact we’re married. Daily I say something along the lines of “Hey, are you married?” or “Am I your wifey?” I am truly annoying but I can’t help it. I’m just so excited. I waited so damn long and it was SO worth it.

In case you’d like to see more photos or read more about our wedding, check out this post. You can find our engagement story here.

details
photos – Madeline Barr
dress + topper –BHLDN
pink underskirt – Amazon
shoes – Palladium Boots
flowers – Sutcliffe Floral
pants + vest – Express

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Friday Favorites #493

by Kaylah Stroup
This post contains affiliate links. Check out our disclosure policy for more details.

Jackalope enamel pin!

(via lovelike designs)

I am majorly crushing on this moon mousepad. It’s less than $10!

(via Amazon)

! I just love that color.

(via )

Ooooh! Look at this planner! So pretty.

(via Nikki Strange)

A personal favorite of mine, this striped tunic. It’s SO comfortable. Paired with these leggings, it’s one of my favorite around the house outfits. PS. Those leggings are heaven.

(via Daily Ritual)

As if I could stumble across this Mrs. Doubtfire pin and not share it.

(via Drunk Mother Dancing Co)

Something I’ve featured before but love too much to not post again – this bird jewelry holder.

(via Amazon)

I really dig this print of crows.

(via Rhian Davie Illustration)

How pretty is this tote?! I just love everything made with this rainbow material. Also super pretty – this card holder!

(via Amazon)

How gorgeous is this stag beetle brooch?!

(via Mistfit Makes)

Link love…

Happy Friday!
xoxo

Earlier this week I made up a list of weird finds! Not my normal medical models & oddities type of thing but truly kind of puzzling finds. Things that’d make a great white elephant gifts! Check it out.

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GOgroove camera bag review

by Kaylah Stroup

Back in August I found and purchased this adorable pink camera bag. At the time I was using an older version of this bag, which is an awesome bag, I wanted something cuter though. That bag is perfect for exploring, getting dirty with, etc but I felt like it didn’t match the clothes I wear every day.

When I spotted this pink one, I knew it was the one! Something that was more ~me~, ya know? It has all the things I look for in a camera bag but for the price, I was worried it wouldn’t be very high quality.

I’ve been using my new pink camera bag consistently for a few months now. It’s been on a couple road trips, and on some great adventures but is still holding up beautifully! Fifty bucks well spent.

gogroove camera bag review

A little overview

▴ External Dimensions – 15″ x 10″ x 7″
▴ Comes in a variety of colors including blue, purple, and of course, pink.
▴ Padded laptop compartment which measures 13.5″L x 9″W.
▴ Adjustable interior dividers.
▴ Includes a rain cover that easily stores in a pocket in the upper section of the bag.
▴ Side camera access zipper.
▴ Multiple accessory pockets.
▴ Tripod foot pocket + strap.
▴ Reinforced with thick padding to protect your devices.

side access camera bag

The number one thing I look for in a camera backpack is side camera access. Being able to grab my camera from the bag without taking the bag off is something I will never compromise on again. It’s just so convenient! 

What I keep inside

My daily carry is usually my Canon 6D Mark II with 35mm lens attached. There is definitely room for a second lens in the bottom compartment though. My Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II goes in the top compartment along with my wallet and other odds and ends like my keys. All of that fits super comfortably with lots of room to spare. I can carry the bag all day at this capacity without any pain or feeling like it’s too heavy.

When flying I jam pack this thing! My iPad goes in the laptop pocket. Kindle, Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II, wallet, and Polaroid Originals OneStep 2 all fit in the top compartment. Canon 6D Mark II with 35mm lens attached go in the bottom. I remove the extra dividers and fill the space with packs of Polaroid film. Even completely stuffed like this, it very comfortably fits under an airplane seat.

Friend to bugs patch does not come on the bag, of course. I just can’t stand having a bag without a patch sewn on it. Check out Frog and Toad Press for more fun patches!

I can’t really think of any downsides to this bag, honestly. It’s comfortable, holds everything I want to carry, is a great size for my frame, and looks super cute. I feel like my equipment is safe and secure. Even without the rain cover, which I opt not to keep in the bag, my gear stayed dry while I walked in the rain. I’m super jazzed on this purchase and would absolutely consider purchasing a second bag from the same brand. There’s actually another one just like this but in more colors and with an added pocket. I kinda sorta love the black one.

I highly recommend picking one up for yourself in you’re in the market for a new camera backpack! It’d make a great gift too!
xoxo

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what I wore – overalls, always

by Kaylah Stroup

what I wore the dainty squid kaylah stroup

details
hat – Moorea Seal – no longer available (similar)
glasses – Louise wide via Warby Parker
sweater – striped sweater via Joules (beyond cozy!!!)
overalls – black overalls via Amazon
socks – Happy Socks – no longer available (similar)
shoes – Reebok Cotton & Corn c/o Zappos

Teenage Kaylah definitely would have scoffed at my short pants. Admittedly, they’re a little short, at least for this time of the year, but I LOVE these overalls. These are my seventh or eighth pair so I guess you could say I’m a bit of an overall aficionado. I’ve learned things I really like and dislike in a pair of overalls and these have all the things I like and none of my dislikes. In case you’re curious, my number one dislike in a pair of overalls is when the straps in the back go all the way down to the waist instead of connecting to a larger piece midback. The straps fall down constantly! I probably won’t get too much more wear from these outside of the house until the warmer weather makes a return though. I’m looking forward to wearing these, cuffed a bit shorter, all spring and summer long paired with my favorite sandals. It’s a perfect look. I was already trying on summer outfit ideas in the mirror because I am soooo ready.

The sizing options on these overalls nearly scared me away since they come in small, medium, large or extra large and for a pair of pants, I feel like that’s super vague. I suppose I buy pjs in sizes like that but I’m a heck of a lot more picky about how jeans fit than jammies. Since Amazon has super easy & free returns I just went for it. I really wanted a second pair of black overalls, okay? I chose large. I’m very happy with how they fit. If I were going for a tighter fit, I definitely could have pulled off a medium but I actually was looking for a pair with a more relaxed fit. They’re roomy throughout the legs without looking oversized. The waist even has enough room to fit a bulky sweater without looking stuffed. I’m around five foot seven inches with a long torso and these fit perfectly lengthwise in my torso. Always an issue with overalls!!! The only real questionable thing is the length, which I already mentioned makes them a bit more suited for warm weather. Based on review photos though, if you’re shorter they’ll most likely be perfect on ya!

Not so fun little tidbit about these photos, I re-twisted my ankle while taking them hence why there are so many of me sitting (which actually became my favorite shots!) I briefly mentioned it previously but I sprained my ankle back in the middle of October. It swelled up to the size of softball almost immediately and gave me the gnarliest bruise I’ve ever had. It wasn’t getting better quick enough for me so I ended up going to urgent care where I got X-rays and was told it was just a sprain, no big deal. What I didn’t realize about sprained ankles is that they apparently take five hundred years to heal and my ankle would be as fragile as glass even when it felt okay.

The day I went out to take these photos I was being careful. I knew I had to watch my step. Shortly after getting to the beach though, I put my foot down wrong when stepping off of a piece of driftwood and in slow motion, I felt it roll. Gosh, it was such an awful feeling, even worse than the original injury. I stayed long enough to get the rest of my photos and immediately went home where I spent the rest of my day on the couch with an ice pack.

It’s been a real rollercoaster healing this dang thing. Some days I definitely feel like I’m on the mend and then two days later it’ll be causing me lots of pain. Fingers crossed it starts to make progress quickly. I really want to get at least one last bike ride in before the end of the year.

the dainty squid

xoxo

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enamel pin gift guide 2018

by Kaylah Stroup

crescent moon pin

1. raise hell // 2. frog with eyes // 3. capture beauty // 4. ice cream cone with eyes //5. slightly bitter // 6. ice cream cat // 7. witch I might be // 8. terrarium // 9. tiny tooth // 10. pizza heart // 11. tacos up, pinkies out // 12. beetlejuice polaroid // 13. world’s greatest cat mom // 14. avocado love // 15. pizza squirrel // 16. mystic cat //17. hand with heart // 18. sweater kitty // 19. white moth // 20. doing my best // 21. coffee cat // 22. hot dog dachshund // 23. quirky rainbow // 24. jackalope // 25. skater bun // 26. buy me pizza //  27. more Saturdays // 28. beetlejuice couch lady // 29. colorful cactus // 30. Lydia cat // 31. bicycle babe // 32. til death we do art // 33. luna moth // 34. Ace Ventura // 35. big gulp //36. feminist cat // 37. on ya bike // 38. fuzzy legs club // 39. pipevine swallowtail butterfly // 40. dog petter // 41. plant life

pin display by Old English Co, who make a ton of cute enamel pins as well. 

pizza slice pin

40+ enamel pin finds, laid out in color order just for you! Pins are an awesome gift because they’re fairly inexpensive and give you the opportunity to show just how much you really know about your friend. (For example, a true friend would know this Forrest Gump pin is perfect for me!!) There is one out there for basically every single interest they could possibly have! Hopefully this list will give you some good ideas on where to start looking. Enjoy!
xoxo

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Friday Favorites #492

by Kaylah Stroup
This post contains affiliate links. Check out our disclosure policy for more details.

This planner! So pretty!

(via Urban Outfitters)

Digging . Black and white with a splash of color is definitely my favorite.

(via)

Swooning over Christmas ornaments isn’t really my thing but this one… it’s right up my alley!

(via Madewell)

I’ve really just got a thing for backpacks…

(via Amazon)

Look at these scratch off notes. I mean, I remember paper like this from childhood but I’ve never seen it like this where you can use it for everyday notes.

(via Amazon)

LOVE this idea.

(via Urban Outfitters)

is so obnoxious… in the best way! I think it’d look rad paired with a black and white coat like this one.

(via)

I love Three Potato Four’s keychains, especially that ice cream one. ‘Scoops I did it again’ Hah!

(via Three Potato Four)

Me, always.

(via BlueQ)

Love this pin by Out of Print Books. They actually have a bunch of book themed pins & fund literacy programs and book donations to communities in need with a portion of their proceeds.

(via Out of Print Books)

Link love…

Happy Friday
xoxo

PS. I have a ton more rad finds here! Eight separate lists worth including one showing off all the prettiest plants you can buy online.

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30+ gifts for your ~weird~ friend

by Kaylah Stroup

1. human organ lunch bag.
2. anatomy embroidery kit.
3. box of beetles postcards.
4. human skeleton shower curtain. I owned it for many years! Highly recommended.
5. tombstone bag.
6. skull nesting doll pin.
7. tooth enamel pin.
8. Erlenmeyer flask set. Perfect for tiny bouquets.
9. gold tooth socks. I own & love them!
10. typodont with removable teeth.
11. bug print shirt. Another thing I own & love!
12. eyeball pillow.
13. village witch mug.
14. tooth model kit.
15. anatomical knee joint model.
16. black and white skull pin.
17. natural history carry-all pouch. Made from a photograph I took of my personal collection!

tiny tooth enamel pins. (exact no longer available but I’ve linked extremely similar ones.)

clear cat jaw model

Oddities Gift Guide

18. anatomical spine model.
19. Tokyo Milk hand cream.
20. human eye model.
21. Erlenmeyer mug.
22. molar planter. (here’s a cheaper version in a slightly different shape!)
23. model of permanent teeth.
24. eye see you socks. More socks I own & wear constantly!
25. rabbit skull pin.
26. cryptid mash t-shirt.
27. vampire teeth pin.
28. skeleton jewelry organizer.
29. lunch bugs. ahem, I mean, bags.
30. anatomical skull.

molar model

anatomical hand pouch

Last year I shared the first ’30 gifts for your ~weird~ friend’ post. The response was awesome. I knew immediately it’d have to become an annual thing! I tried very hard to only include new items in this year’s guide. Although I did include one item that was in last year’s post. (That tooth planter! What can I say? It’s one of my personal favorites!)

Happy Holidays!
xoxo

Check out 2017’s gifts for your weird friend list!
I’ve got over 80 more weird finds here if you still need more!
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six things I loved in November

by Kaylah Stroup

▴ Rose cardamom lip balm. I’m a bit of a lip balm addict. I usually not only have one in each jacket pocket but probably a couple in my purse as well. I’m just really anti chapped lips, okay? Despite owning many lip balms, I think this one is my favorite. Top three easily for sure. It smells so lovely.

▴ See you later t-shirt from Wicked Clothes. Wicked Clothes has a ton of shirts that I really like but this one I just couldn’t resist. I already own a sweatshirt from them which I bought last winter but I didn’t love the material enough to buy any more. Don’t get me wrong, it’s fine but I just own other sweatshirts that are made from a much cozier material. So, despite the fact I loved their designs, I was a little nervous the shirts might not be cozy. …Yeah, I’m probably going to need to just go ahead and buy the rest of the designs I like immediately because this shirt is SO comfortable. It’s soft and fits well. I am very pleased.

I used the browser extension ‘Honey‘ to find a coupon so it was super affordable too. Honey scans for coupons when you’re on the checkout page of a website so you never have to waste time searching. Can’t recommend it highly enough, especially this time of the year when you’re doing a lot of online shopping.

▴ Teeth socks. Nothing more! Just some fun, nice fitting socks at a great price.

▴ RollerCoaster Tycoon Classic. Although I’m a huge fan of certain gaming platforms, I was never much of a PC gamer. There were only ever two games that caught my attention, one of which was the original RollerCoaster Tycoon. I played that game SO much growing up. Eventually, the computers I owned weren’t compatible with the disk and I stopped playing for a long time. I discovered recently that the original is available in the app store for my iPad! I AM HOOKED. It’s exactly how I remember it. It’s currently my favorite thing to do in the evenings to relax.

▴ Tumeric nail polish by Palate Polish. This is my new favorite nail polish. PERIOD. I spotted the color and bought it within minutes. Since it showed up in my mailbox a few weeks ago, I haven’t not worn it yet. The color is absolutely perfect. It’s a small batch, 5-free, vegan nail polish line run by a woman and made in the USA. It’s opaque, lasts a long time, and dries quickly. Basically, I’d gladly trade in my whole nail polish collection to only own this brand. Wow, Palate Polish, I think I love you…

▴ Vasque St. Elias GTX hiking boots. A little over a month ago, I sprained my ankle… like, really bad. So bad that this gal, who hates going to the doctor, ended up in urgent care two weeks after the initial sprain because it just wasn’t getting better. Surprisingly, nothing serious was wrong with it and the doctor was super nonchalant about how bad it looked. All this time later, I still have a bit of swelling and more pain than I’d like.

All that to say, we’re going to Arizona next month and I really wanted boots that would support my ankle so I feel more comfortable trekking around. So far, so good! They fit really well and my whole foot feels supported. I still definitely need to be careful with my ankle but I feel a lot better in quality footwear that’s actually made for hiking.

Did you try/buy anything awesome this last month?
xoxo

Check out previous month’s product roundups here – March, April, May, June, July,  August + September.
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