Category:

reviews

perfect display for heirloom rings!

by Kaylah Stroup September 11, 2019

When my mom passed, I inherited her wedding ring. I wore it for a month or so before determining that I felt better keeping it somewhere safe. It’s not really my style and I don’t actually enjoy wearing very much jewelry. I briefly searched for ideas on how to nicely display a special piece of jewelry but came up empty-handed. The ring eventually found a home in my desk drawer.

Fast forward to last month, my dad gave me his wedding band. I put it in the drawer with my mom’s ring and headed back to google to hopefully find a good idea for how to display them. I didn’t want to wear them or repurpose them in another piece of jewelry. It was important to me to keep the pieces as-is. My mom’s ring is missing a couple of stones and my dad’s is comically misshapen. I just needed a good way to display them that fit my style.

Then, as luck would have it, as I was working on a Friday Favorites post I stumbled upon this sweet little glass case. Seemed like exactly what I was looking for and it was under $15! I ordered it immediately, half assuming it was too good to be true.

It is PERFECT. It fits my needs exactly. It’s 100% my style, looks great with my decor and is a beautiful way to display something really precious to me.

I did end up cutting two or three links out of the chain just so the rings hung up a bit higher. I literally just used scissors! It took one minute and was totally not a big deal.

This was a super simple post but one that I think is important. I can’t be the only one out there searching for the perfect way to display an important piece of jewelry. I was honestly surprised to have not found an abundance of options.

You can find the ring display here. It’s affordable, delicate and the absolute perfect way to keep heirloom jewelry safe! It even comes in a couple of different shapes too.

hair dye diaries

by Kaylah Stroup July 30, 2019

Its been around two months since I made the big change from green to orange. In that time period, I feel like I’ve had to touch up or deal with faded hair way more than normal. This is my one last hair change with Arctic Fox then I’m off to try new brands. (I say that… but honestly, I bought some Punky Colour last night and I already know it’ll treat me well.)

I very recently dyed my hair yet again with Arctic Fox’s Sunset Orange, Cosmic Sunshine + Virgin Pink. Because I am trying to now document any and all hair changes, I have a video!

Watch below + subscribe on YouTube!

These are the colors I was really looking forward to doing the most after leaving green. I wouldn’t say it came out as expected. Maybe next time!

It feels kind of silly to continue to dye my hair with Arctic Fox when I’m so unhappy with the results. (In hindsight, I probably shouldn’t have bought the 8oz bottles.) Don’t get me wrong, the initial color is GORGEOUS, although never really what the bottle shows. I still can’t believe that it covered the mess of green I was left with after bleaching but it just does not last. The fading is worse than anything I had ever tried before. Its been about a week and a half since I filmed that video and already my color is… meh.

It leaves me with such vivid color when it’s fresh that I know despite how I feel now, in a years time or so, I’ll probably convince myself to try it again. For now though, I’m excited to tuck the remainder of those bottles in the back of my cupboard and try something else.

Supplies used – (affiliate links)

Arctic Fox Virgin Pink (Amazon / Sally Beauty)
Arctic Fox Sunset Orange (Amazon / Sally Beauty)
Arctic Fox Cosmic Sunshine (Amazon / Sally Beauty)

You can find tips & guides in my hair master post – including Bleaching your hair 101, 7 tips for maintaining bright hair color, Two tips for switching hair colors easily. & so much more!

5 things I tried in May

by Kaylah Stroup May 30, 2019

▴ GoPro Hero7 Black. For our five year anniversary I bought Jeff a GoPro. A month later, I ended up buying myself as well because I enjoyed using his so much. I’ve been wanting to play around with making videos for… like ever. I’ve just felt like there was too much to learn and I wanted to just be good at it automatically. I’m not sure what it is about the GoPro that makes me feel so excited about learning but I’m super inspired. I am very excited about this purchase.

As for actual product notes on this, I’m very happy I sprung for the Hero7 Black instead of the Gray. (Approximate $150 price difference currently) The video stabilization is AMAZING and having a removable battery is much nicer than having to charge the actual camera.

PS. Follow The Dainty Squid on Youtube!

▴ String lights. Not just any old string lights though! I own more than a few different sets of string lights, all of which are battery operated. I feel like they go through batteries like crazy and are never all that bright. These bad boys are different. First of all, they plug into an outlet. Second, they’re bright as heck. Third, they’re super long! The lights comfortably wrap all the way around my inspiration board and the excess sits in my lamp (which isn’t plugged in anymore because string lights > lamp) I truly didn’t know string lights could actually work so well. I was under the impression they were kind of just junky, pretty but not all that useful or reliable. These are different!

▴ 1 hour intense teeth whitening kit. I have been very casually looking at teeth whitening products for years now. I’d be interested in them for a few days, read tons of reviews, be unable to choose one, and then forget about it for a while. It just seems like the reviews are all so flooded with overly edited photos.

Earlier this month at Target, I impulsively bought this kit. I had very modest expectations and this product met them. I don’t feel like it made a radical difference but it definitely improved how I felt about the color of my teeth. It didn’t make them sensitive either! I’m not sure I’d buy the same one again though but only because I’m more interested in trying out their 7-day kit instead.

I guess what I’m saying is – it wasn’t life changing but it was definitely worth the twelve bucks I spent. On that note though, if you’ve had REALLY great results with another product I’d love to hear about it!

▴ Set of 28 washi tapes. Why am I mentioning these? Because I spent seven million years comparing prices and listings before finally pulling the trigger and grabbing these ones. Buying cheap washi tape, both online and in the store, always feels like a risk to me. I’ve bought so many non-sticky tapes that don’t even come off the roll nicely. This set was cheap and it’s actually really nice! They weren’t tiny either, each roll is 5 meters long! I use them to pack The Dainty Squid shop orders. I will absolutely reorder when I get through these ones.

▴ Storage trolley. I was tired of breaking my back ironing fabric on the floor. A second office chair that I moved into my office to iron on gave me the idea to look for something similar but with a flat top. I loved the height and that it rolled out of the way when I didn’t need it. This printer storage trolley was the first thing I found and holy smokes, it’s perfect. I use this cutting mat on top when I want to cut and iron. It’s a great alternative to another desk in my tiny office. I don’t think anyone who makes things has ever been opposed to more surface space to work on!

One last thing purchased after I got the majority of this post done – this jumpsuit. An ad for it popped up on my instagram feed. Five minutes later, after scouring their instagram for more photos of people wearing it, I bought the jumpsuit. Happy to report back that it’s just as amazing as the site hypes it up to be. I will be wearing this alllll summer long.

Did you try/buy anything awesome in May?
xoxo

things I loved in March

by Kaylah Stroup April 2, 2019

▴ Jade facial roller. I’m a little late to this party. These jade rollers were all the rage a year ago but excuuuuse me, I am here now. I don’t necessarily like that they advertise it as “anti-aging” and that you’ll be saying “goodbye to lines and wrinkles” because that very much feels like a stretch. That being said, holy smokes, it’s relaxing!

I have mine sitting on my bedside table so each night, after washing my face, I lay in bed and use the jade roller. Some nights I don’t use it with any product, other times I use it to roll in Herbivore Botanical’s orchid facial oil (which feels ultra luxurious!) It makes my skin feel plump and smooth. It’s not an effect that lasts forever obviously but it does truly relax me which definitely counts for something!

If you’re someone who likes to rub your face when you’re sleepy, I think you’d love a jade roller!

Jade face roller + Herbivore Botanicals Orchid

▴ Revlon Kiss Cushion Lip Tint in Naughty Mauve. Ugh. Naughty mauve? Why?! Worst name ever aside, I LOVE this stuff. Love it so much I bought it twice, actually. The first time I bought it on a whim, got it home, tried it on and instantly loved it. I went to find it the next day and it was missing. I searched high and low. I looked every single place possible and eventually came to the conclusion I must have accidentally thrown it away. I sucked it up and bought a second because I just couldn’t stop thinking about how much I liked the color and consistency.

I love lipstick. I want to wear it more often but I stress whether or not its worn off in a funny way. Obviously, the solution for most people is just to, uh…ya know, check but I really do hate having to touch up anything throughout the day. I just want to put something on in the morning and not worry about it again. That’s my make up style – one and done! This lip tint works for me because it wears off nicely. It looks excellent when you first apply it and as the day goes on, you eat, drink, etc, it wears off evenly. At the end of the day I have lightly stained lips which is ideal!

Revlon Kiss Cushion Lip Tint - Naught Mauve

*It also fits perfectly in my standard sized pouches. I love* *this jackalope print* *so much I had to steal one for myself.*

▴ Joules ankle rain boots. I have been a big fan of Joules rainboots for quite a few years now. I have a pair of their taller rainboots that I get a ton of use out of but I wanted a more casual pair. Honestly, something I could wear to the beach and then go grocery shopping in on a sunny day without feeling like a goofball in. These fit the bill perfectly. They’re comfortable and they keep my feet dry so I can search for treasures along the shoreline. Plus they are covered in a cute raindrop pattern! What more could you want?

I will say that I think they run a bit large. I’ve noticed in reviews of Joules products people always mention not buying their regular size. For my mid-calf height pair, I bought my normal size. Never once have I felt like they were anything other than perfect. Despite the reviews warning otherwise, I went ahead and bought this shorter style in my normal size as well. They definitely feel a bit big. If I were to purchase another short pair in the future I’d probably size down.

Still, a great purchase! I love Joules boots!

▴ Speedball Rubber Stamp Making Kit. I already wrote a whole post about how much I loved this kit! (Read that here!) It’s perfect for anyone looking to carve their own stamp or give lino cutting a try. No complaints here! I’m just stoked to have a new hobby to play with.

▴ Thigh high socks. I own many thigh high socks alas I am always on the hunt for the next best pair. I think I may have finally found them. These bad boys stay in place all day long, don’t get baggy after hours of wear and perhaps most importantly, aren’t snagged easily. They’ve certainly gotten their fair share of use this last month and aren’t showing any signs of wear yet.

I bought the set with one gray pair and one black pair. I’m already considering buying a second set because I wear them so often.

One last thing…

▴Tubi. Have y’all heard of Tubi yet? It is a 100% free streaming service. I’ve only been using for a few days now but I AM STOKED to have discovered it. We have both Hulu and Netflix but sometimes it can feel like there’s nothing left to watch. (I marathon movies while I sew!) Tubi has lots of big names movies that I recognize and tons of other stuff that is 100% new to me. So many documentaries! YES!

Obviously, it is supported by commercials but they’re no worse than if you were watching cable. I take that back, sometimes they’re very randomly placed. For a legal free way to watch tons of movies and TV shows that I don’t have access to anywhere else though, it rocks!

Did you try anything new & awesome in March? Tell me all about it! xoxo

six things I loved in January

by Kaylah Stroup February 5, 2019

▴ Maidenform ‘tap pants’. Let’s call these what they are, booty shorts. They’re super comfortable and gosh darn it, they look good. For under $20, you basically can’t go wrong with them. I like them so much I even ordered a second pair in another color with a matching top. Sexy/comfy is my favorite!

▴ foldio3 + halo bars lightbox. For the relaunch of the Dainty Squid shop, I wanted an easy way to photograph products. In the past, I had a little homemade set up with posterboard and two OttLites. The thing with that was I had a specific place built in my office that it worked. It wasn’t something I could move around. My office these days isn’t as large and I wasn’t sure where I’d set up a photo area or if it was something I would be able to leave set up all the time. I wanted something I could easily tear down when I was done with it for the day.

I hunted around the internet looking for the best lightboxes but couldn’t really decide. Everything seemed to have some huge negative. Then I stumbled upon the foldio3… The foldio3 is ranked by many photography websites as the absolute best of the best. It’s a bit pricey so I really took my time on this decision but ultimately couldn’t get my mind off it or find anything that even came close to being as awesome looking.

I’m very pleased with my decision to splurge. It’s super easy to set up and tear down. (It’s just magnets!) The lights are adjustable, super bright, and easily replaceable if they burn out. It’s exactly what I was looking for. Perfect for any small business owner looking for an easy lighting set up.

▴ Moon mousepad. My old mousepad was gross. I needed a new one. This one is adorable and super cheap. That is all!

▴ Moon PopSocket. Okay, but for real, why did no one ever tell me how amazing PopSockets are!? I asked for one for Christmas because I was curious about them but didn’t really want to buy one myself. (Don’t get me wrong, they’re cheap but I wasn’t super sure I’d love it.) Anyway, it was love from the second I put that bad boy on my phone. It’s just so much easier to hold on to your phone and it’s fun to play with. I ended up getting a new phone in the middle of the month and subsequently needed a new case. A new PopSocket was the first thing I ordered after the case! I will never not have one on my phone from now on.

▴ Raise Hell Eat Tacos shirt. Love love love this shirt! It’s soft, it’s comfortable, and it fits well. It actually sold out after I linked to it over on Instagram but its still available in a tank top, a gray t-shirt, and a patch. The company who makes it, Pyknic, sells all sorts of great food-related clothing items!

▴ Exercise bike. It feels very cliche to say I got an exercise bike for Christmas and started improving my fitness in the new year BUT I don’t care one bit because holy smokes, I feel amazing.

I started riding consistently the second week of January and I’ve ridden every day since for at least 20 minutes per day. I have literally never felt better in my entire life. I have so much more energy than I did before and my body image is through the roof. Obviously, this is what I hoped for with getting an exercise bike, I just didn’t expect the results to be this dramatic nor did I expect to like riding as much as I do.

I think the key to working out consistently is to actually find something you enjoy. I liked yoga but I dreaded doing it every day. I enjoy running but after hurting my ankle back in October I still haven’t felt confident enough to get back out there (as in – ugh, my darn ankle still gives me problems!) But every day I actually look forward to my bike ride. I love sweating it out and starting my day on a positive note. I feel so accomplished. I’ve even gotten Jeff hooked on it too!

What great new things did you try in January?
xoxo

8 favorite clothing purchases in 2018

by Kaylah Stroup January 2, 2019

▴ . For the past few years, I’ve been very into oversized cardigans. They’re basically my favorite way to make any outfit cozy. Despite owning many, this mustard colored one quickly moved into my top spot. It’s so incredibly soft! It looks great with dresses, and pairs easily with jeans and a t-shirt as well.

I purchased a medium and it fits comfortably loose. Medium is my normal size for a cardigan but I’d normally expect them to fit a bit more snug so if you’re looking for a tighter fit definitely size down. Cuddly fit? Get your normal size.

▴ Teva flatform sandals. Formerly a member of the cheap sandals club, these were the most expensive ones I had ever bought. I couldn’t understand why sandals should cost so much. I ended up splurging because I really love the style… and holy cow, my mind is 100% changed. These bad boys taught me that paying for a quality sandal is life changing. That sounds so dramatic but y’all, these are like walking on clouds! I can walk and walk and walk all day with zero pain or rubbing.

Can’t forget to mention the fact that they literally match everything. I can wear them with jeans, shorts, and even dresses and somehow they look perfect with every single outfit.

I wore them almost exclusively all summer, walked a ton and took them on lots of adventures. They show no real signs of wear other than the whites of the stripe on the side being a little dingy. I did see tutorials specifically on how to clean Tevas which I’ll have to give a shot! I definitely want to buy another pair this summer. Maybe these since they’re a tad dressier? Either way, I’m hooked. They’re worth the money!

▴ Bali Illusion-neckline underwire bra. I don’t think that I actually discovered this bra in 2018 but it is the year that I almost exclusively switched to it being my only bra. I love this bra so much that I own multiples in three different colors. (Only reason I don’t have more colors is that every time I want to buy a new one the price on the colored ones seems to be super-inflated compared to a black one)

What’s so great about this bra? Honestly, no idea. I can’t really figure out what makes this bra so perfect and comfortable but it’s so nice that I got rid of every other bra I owned aside from a few ‘fancy’ ones. It looks smooth under t-shirts, the straps don’t dig into my shoulders, and my boobs just fit in the cups really nicely. I don’t feel like I’m overflowing. It also doesn’t do that awful thing where it looks like it fits until you sit down and then the cups pop up.

I truly just love this bra!

▴ Double zip half moon purse. Large enough to hold the essentials but small enough I don’t carry unnecessary crap! Plus it’s super cute and affordable. Simple as that.

▴ Wild Meadow bell sleeve dress. I LOVE this dress. I was a bit hesitant to purchase it based on the one other review but I’m certainly glad I went for it (and for under $15 I really had no excuse not to!)

So, my first impression? It’s perfect! The material almost feels like swimsuit fabric except maybe not as heavy. It’s very comfortable. I actually really enjoy the material its made from because it doesn’t wrinkle very easily. Even sitting at my desk all day in it, it stays wrinkle free.

The fit is spot on. I bought a large, which is what I normally wear, and it fits exactly as I’d expect it. The length is great. I’m five foot seven and find that most dresses are a little short but this one is long enough that I feel comfortable wearing it anywhere.

If you’re not a fan of bell sleeves – this dress is basically the same thing but with different sleeves and a different pattern.

▴ Levi’s skinny jeans. Black high waist skinny jeans are kinda my thing. I’m very happy to have found this pair. They fit my body beautifully, don’t get baggy after wearing them all day, and don’t actually feel like wearing jeans. Don’t get me wrong they aren’t as comfy as leggings but they’re certainly the most comfortable pants I own!

▴ GOgroove camera bag. I love this camera bag so much I wrote a whole post dedicated to it. Read that here. A quick recap though – my all time favorite camera bag and trust me, I’ve owned a lot of them. It holds a ton yet remains comfortable to wear all day. Through my many adventures and the couple road trips its been on, it’s still clean and looking fresh.

One of the most important features it has 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!

This bag is basically a steal! I highly highly recommend it if you’re in the market for a new camera bag. Be sure to check out my full review for more photos and details.

▴ Black overalls. 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!

I am super excited to pair these with my Tevas when the weather warms up!

How about you? What were some of your favorite 2018 clothing purchases?
xoxo

a few of my favorite face masks – part 2

by Kaylah Stroup December 26, 2018

Back in January of this year, I shared a post featuring a few of my favorite face masks. Check that out here. Doing masks together is still one of my mine and Jeff’s favorite little rituals. It’s relaxing and with the dry winter air, our faces need all the extra love they can get.

A few more of my favorite face masks, in no particular order…

▴ Palate Polish Bio Cellulose Kombucha Sheet Mask. This is, without a doubt, the best sheet mask I have ever used. First of all, it actually stuck to my face! Sure, most sheet masks stay relative well but they always have weird gaps around your nose and don’t really stay on around your jaw but just take a look at this bad boy below! It’s actually stuck on my face!

Once removed, the mask left my face so incredibly soft, smooth, and glowy. I have never experienced results so dramatic as I did with this. If you were looking for a mask to do before a special event – this is it! Need even more reasons to buy? The mask is compostable, vegan, never tested on animals and from a woman run company!

Palate Polish sheet mask

▴ L’Oréal Paris Pure Sugar Scrub. First things first, this isn’t a mask. As the name states, it’s a scrub. Since it’s something special I don’t use every single day, I’m going to go ahead and group it in with masks.

At just around five dollars, this is the cheapest product on this list but don’t let that fool you. It’s incredible. The container is fairly small but after five uses I still have over half left. I will definitely be repurchasing once I run out. It makes my face feel smooth and refreshed. Its what I reach for when my face is feeling rough and dull from the dry winter air. It also smells very very tasty and washed off easily!

If you have dry lips, this scrub can also be used on your lips! When I use it I actually just massage my whole face, including my lips with it.

▴ Charcoal Peel-Off Mask. Not even going to play it cool, this is my favorite mask ever! I’d been on the hunt for a really nice peel off mask like this for a while. They were really popular there for a minute and that lead to a lot of them being on the market – which also meant there were a lot that maybe weren’t that great. Searching through reviews was daunting. It seemed like half the reviews were fake (super positive) and the others were complaining that their faces were basically being ripped off when they removed the mask.

ANYWAY, I decided to just take a chance and try this one out. My first time using it the results were incredible. When I peeled off the mask it had blackheads and tons of dead skin attached. I couldn’t believe it. I sent pictures to Jeff immediately! Of course, each time after that it’s had less and less but I’m obviously going to take that as a good sign.

I don’t apply this mask to my whole face just my chin, nose and forehead. It definitely does a great job pulling off anything that shouldn’t be there but still, it doesn’t hurt to remove. My one word of advice is to use this mask after a hot shower since your pores will be open.

charcoal peel off mask

Pretty gross, huh? I’m including it though because that’s exactly the kind of photo that sells me on a face mask.

▴ Aztec Secret Clay Mask. This was probably the number one mask people recommended to me after my first post on face masks. It’s one of the most popular masks out there right now, and with good reason! It leaves my face feeling clean, and smooth although I definitely wouldn’t use this in the morning since it leaves my face red for a little bit.

My one complaint about this is just what a bother it is to rinse off. It’s no harder than any other clay mask I’ve ever tried but masks like this always take a bit more elbow work to remove. I’ve become a big big fan of peel off and sheet masks lately for this exact reason.

The good news is, this mask is perfect for spot treating. If you have a zit that you feel might make an appearance in the next few days, this mask will basically stop it in its tracks.

▴ Freeman Sweet Tea and Lemon Peel-Off Mask. I’m a big fan of all of the masks I’ve tried from Freeman so far. (This is my third. Read about the first two in this post.) As I mentioned above, I really love peel off masks. This one is definitely a bit more gentle than the charcoal one I raved about earlier in the post. It doesn’t get as many blackheads out and is much easier to remove. That being said because it is more gentle, I apply it to my whole face instead of just problem areas like my chin. It leaves my skin feeling so soft!

a few of my favorite face masks

Have you discovered any great new face masks lately? I’m especially fond of anything super moisturising this time of the year!
xoxo

GOgroove camera bag review

by Kaylah Stroup December 6, 2018

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

six things I loved in November

by Kaylah Stroup November 27, 2018

▴ 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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