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some of my favorite posts

abandoned church

by Kaylah Stroup February 20, 2018

abandoned church

The very first abandoned building I ever shared photos of on The Dainty Squid was a church. That church is now long gone, and I’ve got a few more under my belt since then but they still haven’t lost their charm to me. Next to schools, I think they might be my favorite type of abandoned building to explore and photograph. Just something special about them!

Feeling like we’ve seen everything abandoned there is to safely see in Cleveland, we haven’t been getting out too much to explore lately. It definitely felt good to discover this hidden gem! An empty church* is always exciting but finding one with so much left behind was a real treat. Hymnals, empty offering envelopes complete with names and amounts written on them, and service programs littered the church. The pastor’s office was especially full of interesting items including a portrait of him and his wife (which if we’re being real here seems a little rude of him to leave behind, right?)

I don’t really have any information on this church or why it closed, all I can offer you today are some pretty photographs…

abandoned pews abandoned church

*Beautiful empty church shot can be found here.

Check out the ‘abandoned‘ tag for more dilapidated buildings, ghost towns, and forgotten cemeteries.
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what I wore : covered in bugs

by Kaylah Stroup February 19, 2018

beetle blouse! overalls + a button up shirt beetle blouse

details
hat – Target
glasses – Louise via Warby Parker
shirt – Bug Me button down by Catalog Classics (no idea why that listing only takes you to one specific size but here’s a link that shows all available sizes)
lapel pin – Caitlin Stout (no longer available)
overalls – TJ Maxx (I also recommend checking out Charlotte Russe if you’re looking for overalls!)
boots – fringe booties by Alpine Swiss

You guys, I found a beetle shirt!!! Last summer I found that beetle dress which was AWESOME but also a bit obnoxious. Obviously that doesn’t stop me from wearing it, and I definitely have a penchant for loud clothing. I also really enjoy wearing things that look moderately normal from a distance but up close reveal something super fun. This shirt falls into that category. Unless you’re really looking at what I’m wearing you might miss the fact that I’m covered in tiny colorful bugs!

I’m always hesitant to purchase button up shirts online since they almost never fit correctly. Hello, gaping buttons. Thank you, boobs. Buuuut when it comes to unique patterns I have a hard time resisting. Happy to report this button up fits like a dream. No gaping, it’s long and isn’t too tight in the shoulders! I’m wearing a size medium, FYI. It’s also super breezy and lightweight. It’ll be a great transitional piece when Spring finally decides to show its face here in Ohio. I’m, clearly, super stoked on this purchase!

Happy Monday!
xoxo

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four years in cleveland

by Kaylah Stroup February 15, 2018

very rare photo without bangs in my face. just look at that smile though.

Valentine’s Day marked four whole years in Cleveland. FOUR YEARS! Part of me feels like this post is wholly unnecessary. I’ve written some variation of it a handful of times before, all of which I’ve linked at the end of this post, but what can I say? Ya girl likes to celebrate!

First apartment alone. 2014.

Second apartment. April 2015. Kinda miss those blue walls…sometimes.

Current digs that I share with the man of my dreams. 2018.

I’ve been racking my brain over what I’d type in this post. I knew I wanted to share some photos from the past four years as well as some highlighting how great this last year has been but I wasn’t sure what to write along side them. Moving here was a huge momentous thing. My life is radically different. I’m radically different but it’s getting to the point where it’s no longer a ‘thing’. It just is. I live here. Does that make sense? When people ask where I’m from I tell them where I grew up, not where I lived previous to Cleveland like I used to. Life before here doesn’t really matter.

It’s hard to even remember what life was like back in 2014. I’d say most people probably have a hard time remembering what was going on four years ago but I just feel geniuenly clueless. My life revolved around… well, nothing. There were no bikes, no friends, no road trips, no wandering around at night, and dude, no sushi! GASP!

That girl who was afraid to do anything alone, who always looked out the window before stepping outside so she wouldn’t have to say ‘hi’ to anyone, who – without a doubt – was wasting her life, she could have never dreamed of how great life would be in a few short years. I couldn’t even ride my bike around the block. Now I spend my days counting down until the next time I get to meet up with a 100+ other cyclists to yell ‘Happy Friday!’ to anyone in sight.

Honestly, moving to Cleveland changed me. BIG TIME.

I’ve discovered so much about myself over the last four years. I’m happy that I’ve documented so many of my adventures, and created a space I can look back on to view my growth, especially on days I’m feeling down on myself. There are so many little anxieties that I’ve conquered that I might not even remember having had I not written about them. Creating a ‘before’ and ‘after’ has been so great for my mental health.

Life is really rad, and honestly, it is NEVER too late to start again. Being happy is worth so much more than anything that might be holding you back. Thank you so much for following along + being so very supportive of my journey.
xoxo

2014 office

2015 office

2018 office

Past posts celebrating my move to Cleveland –

▴ six months ▴ one year ▴ read more books ▴ three years

 

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valentine’s day 2018

by Kaylah Stroup February 14, 2018

Happy Valentine's Day from Professsor

This year I’m hoping to make it a little tradition here on The Dainty Squid to share themed cat photos on holidays. We (meaning Professor and I) started with Christmas and now we’re back with some precious Valentine’s Day photos! I can’t guarantee that there will always be more than one photo per holiday but these were way too cute to try and whittle it down to just a few! I’m sure you won’t mind though…

valentine's day cat

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Love all of us here at The Dainty Squid – including this little vampire kitten.

Professor’s bowtie is by Carvas. Highly recommended!
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Okay fine, I’m grateful! – a book review

by Kaylah Stroup February 13, 2018

Okay fine, I'm grateful!

‘What I’ve been reading‘ posts have been few and far between here on The Dainty Squid. I just haven’t been making reading a priority lately. I dooo, however, have a book recommendation for you!

Something I really wanted to do this year was focus on the good. It sounds cheesy but honestly, it’s incredibly easy to just get hung up on the bad things in life. I can’t even count the number of times I’ve gotten home and immediately told Jeff about somebody driving poorly instead of the gorgeous sunset that I just witnessed. I want to change that. I feel like it takes a lot to rewire your brain to stop being so negative but I also think that it’s something worth working on – OF COURSE. All that to say, I recently decided I wanted create a habit of making little lists of good things.

Right after thinking about starting a gratitude journal I happened to stumble upon this one. The sassy cover roped me in. I bought it immediately. Obviously you don’t need a special book to write positive things in but I mean, it certainly doesn’t hurt. Plus once you find the perfect one, it makes you extra excited to get started, and actually keep up with your goal.

gratitude journal

The book has a brief introduction about how important having a gratitude journal is. Studies have even shown that having one has an impressive range of benefits such as better sleep, higher levels of positive emotions, acting with more generosity, feeling less loney… The list goes on!

After that you’ll find that the left side contains quotes and the right side is where you’ll do your writing. (TBH, I am not a quote person. I could not care less about this half of the book.) Each of the writing sections says “Why I’m grateful today, more or less:” and has fifteen lines for you to journal your little heart out. The top of the page has a small section for the date, and the bottom has little mood faces to choose from to record “today’s gratitude level”.

Clearly this book was made with the intention of you using each page as a seperate day but I’ve never really been huge on journaling. List making is more my style so I’ve been writing little positive highlights from each day in the following style:

1-22 found TWO plastic soldiers on the beach!
1-22 facetiming Jeff right as he facetimed me.
1-26 bike rides yelling ‘happy friday!’
1-27 being woken up with back rubs.
1-31 got my wedding dress – I look like a princess!!!
2-5 sunshine on snowy days.
2-10 DIY haircuts gone right.
2-11 sledding with the kids!

(Those are actual things I wrote in my book.)

It may not seem like much but taking the time to acknowledge those good moments is such a game changer! It forces you to look for the good, and being able to look back on your lists is seriously the best. I make an effort to write at least one thing every single day. Some days are easier than other but I’ve found that most of the time once I get started writing I just keep thinking of things.

I bought it in the smaller, perfectly purse-sized version so that it’d be easier to always keep around but it does come in a larger version as well.

Like I said before, totally something you could do just as effectively on any old piece of paper but if you’re looking for a special place to start a gratitiude journal, I highly recommend this book! And of course, I definitely recommend taking a few moments each day to just write down some positive things that happened if you’re not doing it already!
xoxo

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affordable + dyeable hair extensions!

by Kaylah Stroup February 6, 2018

affordable, dye-able hair extensions!

For nearly a year my list of beauty related things I wanted to try included extensions. The urge to buy them would come in waves. I would desperately ‘need’ them and spend hours researching then completely forget about them for a bit. My research was never really conclusive. Good extensions usually aren’t cheap and there are more than a few overly influenced looking reviews out there floating around the internet.

I finally decided to just go for it, and purchase a set a few month back so I thought I would give a little insight into what I bought, how to dye them to match your hair, and share what they look like…

green hair clip in extensions, hair dye extensions you can dye! hair extensions you can dye!

I purchased these 16″ clip in extensions in bleach blonde. It was important to me to purchase human hair so that I could style, wash, and most importantly, dye the extensions. This set came with six pieces which was more than enough for me. Honestly, what you need will be based on how thick your hair is and what you’re looking to acheive with the extensions. My hair is thin, and I wasn’t looking to add length – just volume. I actually very rarely wear all six pieces at once. It feels a little too over the top for me – too thick, too obvious.

How to dye your hair extensions –

Dyeing the hair was actually a huge reason I was so nervous about purchasing extensions. Come to find out, I definitely over thought this step. Since I purchased bleach blonde hair, all that needed to be done was for me to apply dye. I used Punky Colour in Alpine Green, the same color I use in my real hair. I simply ran it through the extensions with gloved hands and then set them down on a plastic bag for about an hour or so before rinsing with cold water. I let them air dry then they were ready to use.

One thing to consider when purchasing and dyeing extensions is the fact your hair color fades with each wash and you most likely won’t be washing your extensions even a fraction of the number of times. I’ve embraced the fact that my hair color is an ever-changing thing and I love all the different colors and tones my hair is at any given time. I think hair looks more natural, I mean as natural as green hair can be, when there are different levels of color going on. The fact that my extensions are always a slightly different color than my hair is actually desirable. I think this post perfectly illustrates how my extensions look in my hair as it changes color over time.

How to style your extensions –

There are a ton of videos on how to put in your clip on extensions so I won’t be covering that. (Honestly, just google it! So many youtubers cover this I couldn’t pick a favorite.) I do, however, want to mention that I put the extensions in while my hair is still straight. That way everything gets curled together giving me a more natural look.

Before styling I make sure to spritz them, along with my real hair, with a heat protecting spray. Since they are made of real hair they will get damaged if you aren’t protecting them.

affordable, dye-able hair extensions! how to dye hair extensions

left – with extensions / right – without — main hair color is Punky Spring Green

I was having trouble capturing a before and after photo that I felt accurately showed the difference of just my natural hair vs extensions. Of course, I could have shot some TV style comparisons where I look super gross and run down in the before and incredibly glamorous in the after but that isn’t what this is about. Think of hair extensions like make up, it’s fun to play with but not actually necessary. My hair is just fine without them but wearing extensions is a fun little change of pace. The difference isn’t wildly different but just enough to make you feel fab!

left – without extensions / right – with

extensions - before & after

the following photos in this post all include extensions.

green hair extensionshair extensions you can dye

I’m definitely no extension expert but in my short time experimenting I feel like I’ve learned a lot. By all means, if you have any questions, I’d be happy to try and answer!
xoxo

✨ You can find hair dye tips and guides in my hair master post. ✨
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what I’ve been wearing pt. 2

by Kaylah Stroup January 29, 2018

cleveland style blogger

Back again today with another ‘what I’ve been wearing’ round up! I’ve begun making more of an effort to get dressed on days I work from home in the hope that it helps me be and feel more productive. So far, so good! Here’s what I’ve been wearing…

dress / shoes

This dress is one of my FAVORITE recent finds. I’m a huge fan of how it fits, and I’m realizing how much I loooove when dresses have a sheer overlay. Reminds me a lot of this dress. I seriously cannot wait to be able to wear this bad boy outside without a coat or tights. Nothing beats a dress that doesn’t need any other accessories to look amazing!

shirt / skirt / shoes

Another easy to wear outfit – this top + skirt. I can’t wait to wear this with just a pair of sandals!

shirt / overalls / socks (similar)

 I liked the shirt featured in the outfit previous to this one so much that I went on a hunt for similar things and ended up with this one. I hit the jackpot! Under $15, a bunch of different colors available, and it’s absolutely perfect for wearing under overalls – something my shirts do a lot of! Definitely going to need to pick up a black one.

dainty squid, kaylah doolan, green hair, ootd, pattern clashing

cardigan / shirt / skirt  (similar) / shoes

Pattern clashing LIKE A BOSS! I bought this shirt thinking it’d look cute with a pair of jeans. When I tried that on though it just didn’t feel like me. Paired with a polka dot skirt and a (mostly) solid colored cardigan it’s perfect. Super stoked about this outfit! Not super stoked about those roots though. Eeek! It was one of those times when it took seeing them in photos to realize just how grown out they were. Remedied that reeeeal quick after noticing. Wish my hair would just grow in green! 

the dainty squid, kaylah doolan, cleveland fashion blog

shirt / jeans

This outfit reminds me of New Orleans since I had just purchased this shirt right before visiting there last year. I fell in love with this outfit and was so excited to wear it while on vacation. It’s simple but it’s very comfortable (seriously, these jeans are like jammies!) and always takes me right back to that awesome trip. I love when an outfit holds memories.

▴▴▴

Check out my last ‘what I’ve been wearing’ round up here or browse the rest of the ‘what I wore’ archives here.

▴▴▴

If you’d like to keep up with my ‘outfit of the day’ posts before they’re shared here, you can follow me on instagram!
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found on the beach – winter edition

by Kaylah Stroup January 23, 2018

beach combing, things neatly organized, plastic pollution

Each year I feel like winter here in Ohio gets a little worse. Winter is rough for me, as I know it is for a lot of people. The lack of sunlight gets me down, and not getting enough fresh air definitely takes a toll on my mood. I truly understand why people move out of state when they retire. I have a hard time imagining myself waiting that long though… (Don’t worry mom, we don’t have any plans to move.)

Luckily for me, we’re having a bit of a heat wave this week. Yesterday’s high was 56 degrees Fahrenheit which in the dead of winter feels absolutely tropical. I had a whole heap of work to do but figured heading to the beach right after my morning coffee would be a great way to start the week off right. It definitely was. Within literally two minutes of being there I had found two plastic soldiers half buried in the sand which are my absolute favorite thing to find on the beach. I know it must sound so silly to read that finding some old toys in the sand could start my week off right but, yeeeeah, it did!

lake erie, wendy park, beach plastic, cleveland

above – What large sections of the beach actually look like.

below – My favorite finds of the day. Still trying to figure out what that number is. I have quite a collection of them that I’ve picked up over the years.

bee boots by Joules.

I really was just coming to the beach to get some fresh air, and decompress but the freshly thawed beach was a gold mine. ‘One man’s trash..’ I wasn’t even planning on doing an arrangement of my finds since the snow is at the ugly point where it’s just gross, dirty and half melted. Buuuut, you guys, these might be some of my favorite found on the beach photos that I’ve ever taken. They’re also the first I’ve done with a frozen Lake Erie in the background! Such a stark contrast between the dark sand, white snow, and colorful trash. I love it!

cleveland, beach combing, rainbow trash

CHECK OUT MORE ‘FOUND ON THE BEACH” POSTS HERE!
IF YOU LIKE MY FOUND ON THE BEACH COLLECTIONS – PRINTS, PHONE CASES, AND MORE CAN BE FOUND HERE. HANDMADE ZIPPER POUCHES + POST CARDS CAN BE FOUND HERE.
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earlobe reconstruction – four month update!

by Kaylah Stroup January 17, 2018

stretched ear surgery, stretched ears

Four months ago today I took a weekend trip up to Syracuse, New York with the sole purpose of getting my earlobes reconstructed.  Since it was such a huge event, and I’m a sucker for celebrating even the smallest of milestones I thought this seemed like a good time to pop back in with updated photos of my pretty new earlobes.

My original post on my earlobe reconstruction, which can be found here, quickly became my most popular post –EVER. It still reigns number one, even after getting engaged. Wild! The response was overwhelmingly awesome. I was already over the moon with the results but the positive reactions just made it all the more exciting! I even got a few emails from folks who got theirs done after reading the post which is pretty rad.

When I wrote that first post I was thinking I’d compile a bunch of the questions I got asked for this update post. Turns out there was really only two questions on everyone’s mind – ‘Can you get your earlobes repierced?’ & ‘Will you get your ears repierced?’ Short answer to both, YES!

Long answer; yes, you can absolutely get your ears pierced again after reconstruction. I’ve read to wait between six months to a year. I asked John, the guy who did them for me, and his response was “at least six months, longer if they’re still hard.” Right now my left ear, although it’s the one with the most visible scarring, feels totally normal. My right ear, on the other hand, looks better but is still very firm.

And do I want them pierced again? HECK YES. Before the reconstruction, I was beyond excited to get them pierced when the time allowed. I spent so much time browsing earrings (but miraculously had enough will power to not purchase any) For the first couple months following the reconstruction I thought I might be happy just enjoying my new hole free lobes. It was such a change from what I had the last half of my life. Now the piercing bug is back. I’m very excited to get my ears pierced as soon as they’re ready. I’ve got my fingers crossed that at the six month mark my scars are a bit softer. I am pumped to start a collection of ridiculous earrings. I’m drooling over almost everything here!

earlobe reconstruction with stitches

the second day after surgery.

one month after surgery.

four months after surgery!

Other than the surgery itself, this whole process has been so incredibly uneventful. Everything is slow going. I don’t see the difference in my scars until I look at the photos (which is exactly why it’s so important to document!) While the scars are still very visible, especially to me because we’re our own worst critics, it blows my mind how much they’ve faded already. I’ve been using both Bio-Oil and Mederma. I’ve also recently started to put more effort into massaging them which promotes blood flow to the area, and should help soften them up.

I don’t miss my big old earlobes but sometimes I do forget they’re not there anymore. I still have a tiny moment of panic when I hop in the shower and realize that I haven’t taken out my wood plugs. I still take off clothes slowly in fitting rooms so I don’t accidentally knock out a plug and have it go flying into the next stall. I even still try to do the shoulder bump as I walk out the door – my way of feeling that I put in jewelry that day.

Getting my earlobes sewn up was scary, and expensive but SO worth it. I haven’t had even the tiniest tinge of regret. They’re beautiful now, and I am constantly checking myself out in the mirror but I am really excited to see how they look in another few months.

For more photos of the healing process, and a bit more about why I choose to get my earlobes recontructed after having stretched ears for over half my life, check out this post.

A one year update can be found here!

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About Me

About Me

Hello!

I'm Kaylah! Renovating a 150-year-old home in Northeast Ohio. Likely found in my garden.

Categories

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THE DAINTY SQUID
  • blog
    • all the posts!
    • stroup mansion
    • some of my favorite posts
    • plants + gardening
    • beauty, fashion + hair
    • reviews
    • window shopping
    • explore everywhere
  • about me
  • contact
  • shop