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some of my favorite posts

rhaphidophora tetrasperma leaf timelapse

by Kaylah Stroup May 13, 2020

this post contains affiliate links.

Last week I did my very first multiple-day timelapse. I spotted a new leaf getting ready to emerge from my Rhaphidophora tetrasperma aka ‘mini monstera’ and figured it was a good time to try and flex my camera skills.

Y’all! I am SO excited about how it turned out. Watch below!

644 frames. Starting May 3rd at 1:13pm. Ending May 7th at 9:40am.

I set my camera to take photos every ten minutes and fifteen seconds. (The fifteen seconds were obviously not very important, that’s just what I accidentally set and decided to roll with.) I mostly use my shutter release to take selfies so it took a bit of fiddling around to make sure it was going to work as intended.

I kept my camera on manual settings so that I was able to very very very gently change settings as the sun changed throughout the day. I wasn’t super diligent, as you can see some frames are super bright, but I still wanted to be able to capture photos at all times of the day. Each evening I’d bump down my shutter speed. A lot of the night photos are around 3 second exposures. I also left lamps on all night to give off a bit of light.

If I were to do this again (which I will!) I would probably move the plant a bit further from the window. I really like being able to watch the light change and dance across the room but I could certainly do without the extreme brightness.

If you happen to have one of these shutter releases or end up getting one (I highly recommend it!) my settings were –

Delay – 00:00’00”
Long – 00:00’00”
Interval (Intvl) – 00:10’15’’
N – 111

’N’ represents the number of times it will take a photo every interval. I chose 111 because I didn’t want to keep hitting the up button to make the number higher. I obviously had to restart the count a handful of times. I never let it run out though or else I’d have risked missing the shot.

I’m so pleased with how the timelapse turned out. I’m excited to try again and I certainly have enough plant subjects to shoot!

sources – ▴ planter ▴ coir pole ▴ plant ( Cleveland // online) ▴ shutter release ▴ Canon 35mm 1.4L ▴ Canon 6D ▴ Dolica Proline tripod

found on the beach

by Kaylah Stroup April 8, 2020

Although I want to, I’m not going to list the things I’m missing right now while we’re stuck at home. I’m sure you’re missing a lot of the same things. I will tell you one thing though – I am glad I had the forethought to get a couple of good long beach trips in before the stay-at-home order went into effect. Saving myself some photos to edit was a nice little treat and definitely helped a tiny tiny bit.

Both of my trips had great finds and I ended up with lots of photos I really love. On the first trip, a couple weeks back, I found a small plastic trumpet, a tiny fake blow drier, a few toy soldiers, a horseshoe, a hair barrette that says “69” and… a penis straw, among many other things.

It felt like each find was better than the last. Plastic soldiers are always a favorite of mine but how could I not love that trumpet or the very very questionable children’s hair barrette. Seriously, whose idea was a ’69’ hair clip? And the penis straw. I wish you could have heard the snort I let out when I realized what it was I picked up.

It’s the little things, y’all.

…the little purple, aggressively veiny things.

Can you spot the solider below? It drives me wild with excitement how many treasures could be buried in the driftwood. I normally scan the beach twice – once walking to the furthest end and then of course, on the way back. It always amazes me how much stuff I find on the walk back that seems like it was in very clear view. I can only imagine how many fun things I just miss.

Favorite finds of the day.

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.

boots by Joules

10 things making me smile

by Kaylah Stroup March 26, 2020

▴ spotting all three animals laying in one ray of sunshine & then capturing it on film

▴ painting my toe nails for the first time in… five years(!?) and feeling like I have brand new adorable feet

polish is ‘Jawbreaker‘ by Palate Polish

▴ this prism that looks like I’m holding a little piece of magic

bonus – it makes a really cool ‘filter’ for your photos if you hold it up to your camera lens while shooting.

▴ getting film developed & reliving past trips

▴ this demon kitten

▴ this hilarious Frank Reynolds bumper sticker because everyone needs an egg for this trying time

▴ neighborhood aliens, babies, and animals – as always

more photos of my recent finds here

▴ mail from my niece (who I miss dearly because I’ve gotten used to seeing her at least once a week for the past year!)

▴ shadows from my swiss cheese plant

▴ being interrupted while playing video games to give pets

A short list of more positive things I’ve enjoyed on the internet lately –

What’s making you smile today? xoxo

support small business!

by Kaylah Stroup March 23, 2020

Hi friends! What a wild couple of weeks it’s been. I’ve been struggling a bit to find my voice in all of this. I don’t want to contribute to the doom and gloom. I figured the best thing I could do right now is continue to do what I’m always here doing and that’s sharing fun finds and talking about all the little things in life that bring joy.

So, I’ve rounded up a whole bunch of my favorite small businesses, both local and online and listed some ways to help them out (with & without spending money!)

this post contains affiliate links.

Danial Ryan makes the most ridiculous cat-themed art. I discovered them at the end of last year and immediately purchased some prints for my office. They make me smile every single time I see them. (Bonus – they’re actually having a pretty amazing sale right now!)
You know the bowties Professor wears? C’mon, you follow my cat, right!? They’re all made by Carvas Cats.
Lichen and Limestone makes some seriously great smelling candles. They even have one called ‘Ghost Stories’ that smells like marshmallows, campfire, and fear!!
It’s probably the best time in the world to learn something new. How about this kit from Mickey Alice Kwapis to pin your own moth or butterfly? Specimen, tools, and instructions are included. She also has a beetle pinning kit.
I’ve been a huge fan of Wit and Whistle for a while now. Her illustration style is so wonderful. (Also, if you’re a plant person, you need to be following her personal account on instagram!)
Frog and Toad Press makes lots of adorable cards, patches, and stickers. I’ve been a fan for years! I had to buy this patch over the weekend, it only seemed fitting.
Calliope Paperie. If you need cards, pens, etc – basically anything to make your mail cute – Kristina is your girl! She’s one of my favorite internet folks.
Atelier Stella Ceramic makes some of the most lovely ceramics. Don’t you need smiling little buddies to hold your plants!?
Palate Polish is nearly the only brand of polish I wear these days. I could sing their praises for days. Turmeric is my all-time favorite nail color. Seriously, nothing can beat it.
This skull sleep mask may help you get some much-needed rest!
I found Studio Coup through their ‘please adopt’ pin which turned me into an instant fan.
Valley Cruise Press (Cleveland based!) makes so many cute enamel pins, throws, keychains and more. They’re super nice folks too.

ramen cat by Danial Ryan, ‘I don’t worry. Why should you?‘ print by soobeeart

If you’re local to Cleveland –

Gotta shout out my favorite business first, Mason’s Creamery. Y’all I would be devastated if Mason’s didn’t make it through this time. Grabbing ice cream there after a bike ride is honestly one of my favorite summer things. Not only is their ice cream the tastiest, they’re so incredibly nice. They are currently closed but you can buy gift cards now and eat ice cream later. Think of it as doing your future self a solid.

AffoGATOO cat cafe! I was excited about the idea of a cat cafe coming to my neighborhood but when I started seeing their adoption numbers climb and climb I had a whole new love of the place. They’ve been open just over a year now and helped 375 cats find permanent homes. They are currently closed but still are caring for adoptable cats. You can help by donating on their site or grabbing a gift card to use when they open back up.

Oh Pink! Party Shop. Their storefront is currently closed but the online shop is open! You can find cards, stationery, and party supplies. They even have pre-made care packages right now that would be perfect to send to your pals.

outside of Mason’s Creamery last fall

pin by Hemleva, all polishes except white by Palate Polish

Don’t forget your favorite bands!

So many tours had to come to a very abrupt end. That’s an obvious loss of income but the big thing I didn’t even consider until a musician I like posted about is that before a tour most probably purchase A LOT of merch in preparation. That’s a huge chunk of change that they won’t immediately be making back.

Buy physical copies of their music (directly from wherever they have linked on their sites) and buy merch!

My favorite band, Man Man! They don’t have any merch online currently but they do have an album for pre-sale.

left planter by EMC Modern Handmade Ceramics, right planter by Friend Assembly

No extra cash to spend currently?

I totally get it. I almost feel weird doing a post like this when I know there are so many folks out there hurting from the current situation but what needs to be remembered is that these small businesses are those folks’ livelihoods as well. Plus there are definitely still ways to support your favorites without spending a dime.

Like, share and interact with their content. I know you’re probably sick to death of hearing about it but the algorithm can really work against small businesses. When you like or comment on things, especially on Instagram or Facebook, it lets it know that that’s quality content you’re interested in seeing, that maybe your friends would be interested too.

If someone you like hasn’t been showing up in your feeds lately, go and like their stuff! Likes are free, spread them!! Along the same lines, if you’ve ever bought in the past from them, share a photo! Haven’t purchased before? Share one of their recent posts in your stories. Seriously, just share the love! It’s such a small effort but makes a world of difference.

Friend to bugs patch by Frog and Toad Press

crescent moon pin by These Are Things

More, more & even more!

▴ Psych Blues Film! Remember when I reviewed them here? ▴ Miniature Rhino makes Sashiko mending kits. Her instagram is so inspiring. It makes me want to repair my whole wardrobe! ▴ I LOVE Cat Rocketship’s work! Skeletons but cute. ▴ For Strange Women‘s whole shop is just so pleasing to look at. ▴ Do you like mushrooms? You need to check out Margot Mushrooms ▴ Of course, I have a small business, The Dainty Squid shop! ▴ Lastly, Can I offer you an egg in this trying time?

Stay home & stay safe friends! xoxo

how’s it growing!

by Kaylah Stroup March 12, 2020

this post contains affiliate links

check out this instagram post for a timeline of this beautiful plant!

Back again with another edition of how’s it growing!

then & now –

I constantly give updates on this plant over on Instagram. Rescued from my parent’s house a few months after my mom passed away, it was very much on it’s last leg. The photo on the left is from June 26th. The one on the right is from March 5th. Less than 9 months and approximately ten leaves turned into three beautiful plants.

The two larger ones are my established ones that I’ve been growing since the beginning. The smaller one (in the center) was planted the same day I took the photo. Instead of rooting in water, I just plopped it in the soil. Fingers crossed it roots well and grows into a lush beautiful plant like the others.

I’m positively obsessed with this thing. My plan is just to keep propagating over and over until I have too many of this darn plant and have to start giving it away.

My mystery yard find! I still don’t know what this little baby is (and still haven’t tried looking it up) but will you just look at that growth from February 12th to March 8th?! More impressive than how much its grown is the fact it’s flowering! Ah!

I don’t really know how this thing will do in the long run but it has me looking at all the random plants growing in my very very tiny yard differently.

new arrivals –

Help. I can’t stop.

I popped into Lowe’s and realized they had one dollar clearance plants. Lowe’s and Home Depot used to be my go-to for plants many moons again but once I found garden centers I loved I was more than happy to support small businesses that actually specialized in plants. BUT that definitely doesn’t mean I can’t take advantage of great deals at big box stores. I MEAN A GOSH DARN DOLLAR!!! How could I resist?!

So, below are my dollar plants. They’re not bad at all but I did tidy them up after I got them home. Removed dead leaves, trimmed off anything not super pretty and replanted them in pots more to my liking.

My most recent online plant purchase – Begonia ‘Flamingo Queen’. I did a dumb thing, I bought a plant online during the coldest weather we’d been having all season. I thought that purchasing a heat pack with them would save my butt… USPS had other plans though. My package took a two-day detour around different parts of Ohio before making it to Cleveland. Although the plants I purchased were packaged spectacularly, they definitely didn’t appreciate the cold.

It’s hard to tell from this photo but the three leaves on this plant are not great. They got a little soggy around the edges from frost damage. I am SO bummed about it.

The good news is, nearly a month after getting it I’ve got a new leaf working it’s way out. It’d probably grow faster if I stopped checking on it every five minutes.

purchased from Botanicaz. It was packaged beautifully but absolutely buy a heat pack from them if the weather isn’t warm in your state!

Zebra plant! I couldn’t resist the leaves. On top of that, it’s a great specimen with promising growth. Just check out those four sets of leaves coming in!

not so great news –

Gotta keep it real, right?

My Madagascar Palm (that’s what this gal is, correct?) lived in my bathroom and barely got watered for nearly two years but still survived. I eventually moved it into the dining room with the rest of my plants. It took off! It looked so so so healthy and even pushed out a pup. Since it was doing so well, I thought it’d be a good idea to remove the pup and grow it as it’s own plant.

Nope. Apparently not the right move. She’s mad. Within a few days all the leaves on both pieces yellowed so I removed them. Ugh. I’ve got my fingers crossed for a full recovery.

above left – before // above right – right after splitting the two // below – a couple of days later after removing the leaves. so sad!

This is more good news than bad news… maybe? Another plant from my Botanicaz order – Begonia ‘Wightii’. I bought two stem cuttings. One was just absolutely toast when it got here because of the cold. The other is this one. The leaf suffered a bit but I decided to pop it in water anyway. It did nothing for a couple of weeks until I placed a plastic baggie over the top to beef up the humidity. Now we’ve got some tiny baby roots making their way out.

This plant definitely has a long way to go before it’s the beautiful specimen I was dreaming of but I guess it’ll just be all the more satisfying when it’s grown up.

Begonia ‘Wightii’ - Begonia maculata variegata

grow little roots, GROW!

fun stuff –

I thrifted this silly popcorn container and it ended up being the perfect size for this big guy. More than that, it’s still flowering! A whole month after starting, new flowers are continuing to pop up and open.

I knocked my Sansevieria Starfish off the table earlier in the week. Luckily it somehow landed safely between the chair leg and the wall so there was no breakage but it made me realize how tiny the planter I had it in was.

This happened the same day I got this funny little moon(?) planter in the mail so it actually worked out for the best. Aren’t they a precious combo?!

Okay, so I actually found a lot of really great planters in the last month. Just look at this silly little kitty one. It doesn’t fit my rule of ‘only black, white or black and white’ planters but I definitely had to make an exception – also grey is neutral anyway. (I did have to drill a hole in it but here’s how!)

Ah, well, I think that’s it for now. Better go stare at my plants so more. xoxo

Check out my instagram hashtag for more photos of my plant collection – #kaylahheartsplants.

the beetle + the mourning ring

by Kaylah Stroup March 5, 2020

You know how I have science-based beliefs regarding life and death, how I know that my mom is gone. Dead. Cremated. Mixed with the dirt and the earth. Currently sitting on a shelf, growing into a tree and now swirled into a piece of jewelry I wear.

You know how I don’t really believe in signs from the dead.

…except when it comes to four-leaf clovers.

…and now June Beetles.

This story starts 46 weeks ago. The day after my mom died or maybe a couple of days after – Honestly, that whole week was an absolute blur – some larva I had been keeping finally hatched into big beautiful beetles. I definitely didn’t think it was a sign at the time. Just a little coincidence that felt nice. A bright spot in an otherwise dismal period.

Now fast forward to August of last year, I found someone to make me a piece of mourning jewelry. It was a super important decision. I had searched high and low all across the internet for the perfect maker. I finally discovered someone who worked with both hair and ashes and offered a solid gold option. I envisioned a beautiful, timeless, elegant piece that would bring me a bit of comfort.

I waited nearly four months to receive my ring. When it finally showed up, I cried. Not because I loved it so much but because it was hideous. Nothing at all like I had imagined or like I had ordered. There were massive chunks of cremains, which even to me, felt so morbid. The hair, which was to be featured inside, looked more like scratches on the ring. There was no way I could wear it.

Since it’s something so important (and honestly, expensive) I felt like it was worth going way out of my comfort zone and telling the person who made it how I really felt about it. She understood my concerns and offered to remake it.

Two months later, it showed up in my mailbox again. I felt absolutely awful when I opened the box. It’s still nothing like I had in mind. I can get over the money because it’s already long gone but this was a piece of jewelry that I had wanted so badly.

Opening up that package, seeing that the ring was still not what I had been hoping for made me feel a lot of emotions. The thing about grief is that it’ll hit you out of the blue and it’ll hit you hard. Brand new feelings are always weaseling their way in. This piece of jewelry was so important but instead of bringing comfort, it made me feel worse.

It had been such a nice day leading up to that. I didn’t want to let the grief spiral take hold so I busied myself with cleaning. It’s my favorite way to distract and redirect my energy. While cleaning my living room, I ended up throwing away the small plastic container full of dirt that my beetle larva had been housed in. It had been a few months since there was any activity inside. I went through the dirt thoroughly before tossing it just to confirm there was nobody living inside then it went into our lidded trash can.

A couple of hours passed, I walked into the kitchen and making its way across the floor was a massive june bug! Of course, the obvious answer here is that I somehow missed this little dude when I was sifting through the dirt but my first thought upon seeing this beetle was “Mom!”

I picked up the beetle and plopped down on the floor to admire it. Then I remembered that the very first beetles I grew hatched the day after she died. Maybe they were a sign. Maybe THIS was a sign. I cried. I Facetimed my husband and sobbed some more while holding the beetle up to my phone. Gosh, what a saint he is to deal with me.

It was just a beetle crawling across my floor but the timing felt like it was my mom letting me know the ring was fine and I was just being typical overly picky Kaylah. This random beetle gave me more comfort than the expensive ring that actually has pieces of my mom inside of it.

I still don’t love the ring. It’s nothing like I had imagined. I do wear it every day though and I think the beetle has a lot to do with it.

I don’t know, y’all. There’s a massive part of me that knows signs from the dead can’t be real. This one obviously has an explanation, I just missed the beetle while sorting through the dirt. Then there’s this tiny tiny tiny part of me that believes (because FYI – it was a very small container so where was he hiding!?) I guess there’s no harm in believing, especially if it brings even a little bit of peace.

So, now, not only are four-leaf clovers something that bring me comfort, June bugs do too.

More posts on grief, my mom and loss in general –

▴ my mother’s plants ▴ grief & road trips ▴ I cry over four leaf clovers ▴ grieving in the digital age ▴ the greatest loss ▴ six months / things I want to tell you ▴ the dead moms club – a book review

how to drill holes in planters

by Kaylah Stroup March 4, 2020

this post contains affiliate links

face planter

I will only plant things in containers with holes in the bottom. Period. No exceptions. You can try to tell me that rocks in the bottom provide proper drainage but I’m not buying it. A way for excess water to escape is the only way to go. Otherwise, even with rocks in the bottom, if you’re thoroughly watering your roots will eventually be sitting in water which can lead to root rot.

For the longest time, I avoided pots without holes because I didn’t realize how easy it was to drill my own. Years and years ago, I had asked my dad to drill a hole for me but he refused after I tried to make him promise wouldn’t break my pot. I felt like if my dad couldn’t do it, it can’t be done buuut that thinking is clearly flawed because I’ve started drilling my own holes and knock on wood I’ve had zero breaks!

Doing this is literally so easy you probably don’t even need a post to tell you how but I wish I had found a post like this years and years ago just to give me the confidence to try it out for myself. I think once you’ve done it once or twice you really get the feel for it and will start to even hunt down pots without holes – I have!

Supplies needed –

a drill
glass + tile bit (I’m using 5/16 inch)
ceramic pot that needs a hole
rag to catch dust
occasionally, a water bottle.

All you do is turn the pot upside down and start drilling. The key is to take it easy though. Apply pressure but not too much. I’ve found that some are super easy and go through like butter and others take a bit more elbow work.

On tougher pots, the bit might start to get a bit hot in which case I like to spritz a bit of water on it. That keeps your bit from prematurely wearing out, it also keeps the dust down. Spritzing every pot isn’t a necessity though. I’ve also found that coming in at a bit of an angle after already getting the hole started helps open it up more quickly.

That’s all! Super easy. All it takes is the correct drill bit and a bit of patience. For your first one, practice on a pot you wouldn’t be totally upset if it broke and that should give you all the confidence you need to go through and make holes in your whole collection!

hand planter

dog planter / for planters with uneven tops like this one I hold them between my legs while I drill. (be careful, please.)

Seriously, this is stupid easy. Buy this drill bit, charge up that drill and get to making holes. Your plants will thank you!

things I loved in February

by Kaylah Stroup February 26, 2020

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

▴ Patterned sheer socks. I don’t know what it is about this style of sock but I am obsessed. Over the years I’ve owned a couple of the polka-dotted pairs but when I saw this set of five I had to order them. They are SO cute in person. I love the way they look, fit and feel.

For reference, I wear a size 8 shoe & the socks fit like a glove. If you have really tiny or really large fit these might not be for you since they don’t have much stretch.

▴ Rit Dye (purple). This was my first time dyeing an item of clothing and holy cow, I may have found a new obsession!

I had this white shirt from my favorite band, Man Man, that I had to have because I loved the silly design but when it comes right down to it – I hate white shirts. They don’t look good with my skin tone. I inevitably stain them. Also, I don’t own a white bra to wear with them. Needless to say, this shirt wasn’t getting much wear time.

I made a spur of the moment decision to toss it in some dye and wowowow it’s perfect. It took basically no time at all too. I can’t wait to find something else to dye.

PS. I posted a quick video of the process here.

▴ Dog planter. I just couldn’t resist. In order to give all my plants a more cohesive look in my home, I only use black, white or black and white planters. This fits the bill! So happy I happened to stumble across it.

It should be noted that I did have to drill a hole in the bottom of the pot which is no big deal. I use this drill bit (and totally plan on writing a post about it soon!) but if you’re not comfortable doing that and want drainage, you might wanna pass on this little cutie.

▴ Backlit mechanical keyboard. I posted about this in my Friday Favorites a little while back but I am still not over it. Jeff originally bought a similar one for himself. While he was at work it arrived, he said that I could try it out on my computer aaaand I was hooked instantly. I didn’t want to give it back.

He ended up buying me this one because I wouldn’t stop talking about his. It is PERFECT. First of all, mechanical keyboards are so much more fun to type on. Secondly, the colors! It’s so vibrant. It even has 18 different modes. My favorite is the one in the GIF above where it just kind of cycles through the colors.

I can’t tell you how much I love typing on this thing. Replacing boring things with fun ones especially ones that light up! is the best.

▴ Goodthreads High Rise Skinny Jeans. I’ve actually had these jeans for a couple of months now but gosh, I’m obsessed. They fit SO nicely. I love a good pair of skinny jeans but most of them that I already own are a thin, stretchier material. These are a bit heavier (not super hot or anything though) and just feel so much more substantial. I also feel like they make my butt look awesom – obviously a plus!

I want to grab a pair in each color, especially the ‘authentic blue‘!

A couple of other things;

▴ Cleveland related – I tried The Vegan Doughnut Company for the first time the weekend before last. Literal best doughnut I have ever eaten. We went back last weekend and bought a dozen for just the two of us. I highly highly recommend the lemon lavender. Go! Go! Go!

▴ I’ve been using Duolingo to learn Spanish and I’m hooked. With the leaderboard, there’s a bit of a competitive element to it – at least for me – which is super motivating. I’m obviously not fluent and not sure I’ll ever be but I do feel good spending my free time learning something new instead of just scrolling social media.

▴ New favorite pen. I tried these out at a craft store, bought one, then had to hop on the internet the next day and buy a whole pack of them. I just love the way these make my handwriting look. I feel like I need to write a love letter with one. (Seriously, try one! You’ll understand!)

I just love this little pup so much!

What have you discovered and been loving in February? xoxo

10 things making me smile

by Kaylah Stroup February 17, 2020

▴ my valentine’s day flowers matching my silly new vase.

▴ “Aunt Kaylah, I have something for you!”

▴ making something silly just for the fun of it.

▴ this plant I rescued from my parent’s house that is now flowering (the flower opened the day after my mom’s birthday!!! cue the tears.)

▴ Sunday walks with my whole family which sometimes leads to jumping rope with a giant vine outside of a tiny old cemetery.

▴ experimenting with night photography (& getting the results I wanted even though I haven’t practiced in who knows how long!)

▴ this teeny tiny beach find turned planter.

▴ this view of Ellie Mae being a ham, which I assume is the same one my mom sees.

▴ this shrimp *ahem* kitten.

▴ tiny critters that are still invading my neighborhood! I spot a new one nearly every single walk.

Other good things on my mind: ▴ getting new plants in the mail! ▴ sled riding with my family ▴ getting a surprise visit from my best friend ▴ checking out a new doughnut spot & falling instantly in love ▴ the sun finally making an appearance ▴ shipping orders to places far far away ▴ learning a second language (y’all Duolingo is fun!)

What’s making you smile today?
xoxo

PS. Can’t recommend this gratitude journal enough!

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