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twenty-eight

by Kaylah Stroup August 2, 2018

details
glasses – Bonlook
hat – TJ Maxx
earrings – Target
dress – TJ Maxx
boots – Golden Ponies

TWENTY-EIGHT

Today I am twenty-eight years old. It’s… whatever. I don’t know. I’m trying not to stress about ‘getting old’, and I think I’m doing a decent job. I’m happy to be in good health. (I mean, I could do with fewer headaches…) Happy to be recently married, to be comfortable in my own skin, to have the cutest lil apartment in my favorite neighborhood, to have lots of travel plans coming up, et cetera. I’m also pretty darn jazzed to have an excuse to bug my friends to go on bike rides, and eat ice cream with me. Not that I ever need an excuse…

Just like last year, I’ll be doing my best to stay busy on my birthday. I used to like to lay around and just relax on my birthday but the older I get, the more I realize how much happier I am when I’m moving about. Hopefully by the time this post goes live I’ll have already grabbed coffee, hit the beach, and come home to get cleaned up. I spotted some estate sales that look ripe for the pickin’. Cross your fingers I find all the best treasures today.

The Dainty Squid birthday

Fun little side note about this dress, when I was checking out the cashier, a woman of similar age but of very different style, was like “Oh my gosh, I can just see you in this. You’re gonna look amazing!” It was basically the best thing ever. I’m pretty sure I left the store glowing. I really do love this dress and feel like it’s very flattering but honestly, no idea how much of it is just because she hyped me up so much. Either way, I love it – both the dress, and women building up other women! Can you do me a birthday favor? Give someone you see a genuine compliment.

A peek back at previous year’s birthday outfit posts featuring balloons – 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 + 2017!

five years with Klaus!

by Kaylah Stroup July 23, 2018

This year I celebrated eleven years with Squid, eight years with Professor, and now, five years with Klaus. On July 20th, 2013, I adopted a very tiny puppy from a shelter I had driven past a million times before. I went ‘just to look’ but ended up bringing home the cutest brindle baby ever. I don’t think I really knew what I was getting into by adopting a dog. They’re so much work but he’s definitely worth it. I’m sure glad this big smelly mutt is in my life. Klaus brings me immeasurable happiness. He can be a real rascal but gosh darn it, he’s a good friend.

Klaus is a huge baby. I have never met a dog who loved to snuggle more than this guy. He’s never happier than when he’s curled up between Jeff and I on the couch. He will lay in any position, no matter how uncomfortable it has looks, as long as it means that he can be near us. Every single night he starts of at the foot of the bed but manages to sneak his way up between us in the middle of the night. I basically never sleep all the way through the night because I wake up cold – someone is a major cover hog. I can whisper yell “Klaus, move! Go puppy!” a thousand times and he’ll wake up just enough to let me know he’s too lazy to move. I wouldn’t have it any other way. I actually miss it while we’re on vacation.

His other happy place? Mud puddles! Seeing him run and play at my parent’s house makes me want to leave the city and buy a huge piece of property with a pond just for him to enjoy. Seeing how much he enjoys cooling off his belly in the squishy mud is just the best. Even if it hasn’t rained in a while, he’ll always manage to find that one puddle left to get filthy in!

Klaus is a toy fanatic. He haaaas to get one every time he gets excited. If you hype him up with “who’s a good pup!?”, he’ll grab a toy for you. He’ll also bring you one if you say “bring me a snake!” No matter where he’s relaxing, he’s usually gathered himself a small pile of them to lay near. He’s not greedy though, he greets Jeff when he gets home from work every single day with a toy, a demonstration of how noisy that toy is, and lots of kisses.

My current favorite thing he does? Make nests. Klaus takes such care in arranging his blanket into the perfect little nest every evening. He’ll just work on it forever, turning in circles, pawing, biting ever so gently to make it the coziest spot. He has a couple blankets of his own throughout the house but every so often thinks he should try to use my nice couch blankets. Just yesterday he pulled one of my blankets that was folded up beside the couch over to the middle of the living room and started nesting. It’s just so sweet to see him work so hard on something even if it does mean I have to wash it afterward.

a few of my favorite Klaus posts;

▴ the little things – Professor + Klaus are finally friends!
▴ the critters – an update on how the animals are adjusting to life in the ‘new’ apartment.
▴ what we wore: no bones about it – matching skeleton costumes with my pup!
▴ puppy love – health scare = a good reason to gush about how much I love him.
▴ the little things – Klaus + his best friend, Ellie May!
▴ fashion Klaus – just a tweet about my favorite fashionable dog.
▴ my mud puppy – guess who finally likes the water!!
▴ Klaus’s pup-iversary – three years together.
▴ Klaus at the beach – my favorite pup + my favorite place.

Also, I really just love this photo of the sunlight grump gang.

Klaus and his favorite person.

Here’s to many more years with you, you big smelly puppy!
xoxo

five tips for buying clothes on Amazon

by Kaylah Stroup July 16, 2018

This post contains affiliate links. For more information on what that means, read here.

bug shirt

I don’t think it comes as any surprise that I’m a huge fan of Amazon. I buy just about everything except groceries on there (and that’s only because I enjoy going to the grocery store!) In the last year or two I’ve become a really big fan of shopping for clothes on Amazon too. They have a ton of brands I already know and love, new ones to discover, and even some prime exclusive brands. Basically, they have something for EVERYONE no matter your style!

A few months ago I was posting a lot of outfit photos featuring great amazon finds on my Instagram page. That led to a handful of questions about how I find such rad clothing on such a massive site. I’m finally here to share some of my best tips for buying clothes on Amazon.

dress / shoes

Check out curated lists.

Amazon is REALLY good at recommending products. I first figured this out when they’d suggest books to me that were related to other books I happened to be looking at. More often than not, their recommendations would be spot on. They’re just as good in other categories too!

I suggest checking out their fashion page to start with, from there you can view their current lists. They have ones based around styles like boho, casual, classic, etc. They have even more lists showcasing trends like vintage dresses, statement bags, colorful denim, and more! It’s super helpful and can be a great jumping point to finding things you’ll love!

I’d say more often than not my Amazon finds happen from just clicking around rather than directly searching for a specific product. When I’m looking at something I even remotely like I always make sure to check out their recommended products at the bottom of the page.

Lots of bloggers have lists of their favorite products too if you’d rather go that route. I recently created a clothing based one, ‘dainty squid style‘, that features some of my favorite purchases as well as other clothing items I’m crushing on.

tassel slip ons

Read reviews.

This is so obvious, right? Actually take the time to read them though! I’ve found things that ended up working really well for me that actually had low star ratings. Sometimes people complain about things that might not matter to you (like fabric preference or if an item needs ironed before wearing) and it’d stink if you missed out because you didn’t give it a shot. You don’t have to read every word of every review but skimming a handful for information that is important to you (for me – dress length & roomy chest!) makes a huge difference.

Also, be wary of too many 5 star reviews. Nothing is perfect to everyone. Too many totally positive reviews may mean they’ve been paid to write a review.

On a related topic, make sure to leave reviews once you get your order! Write what you liked and didn’t like about a product specifically, instead of just writing things like ‘didn’t fit” or ‘i don’t like it’ Reviews help everyone and reviews with pictures are even better. You don’t have to be a fashion blogger, simple mirror shots are great and get the job done.

alien sweatshirt

alien sweatshirt

Check size charts.

If you’re unfamiliar with a brand, check the size chart! You should know already that a size medium isn’t the same in every single brand. This is especially relevant when buying online from a brand you don’t regularly wear. A quick check will ensure the best fit and that you’re not stuck with something that will barely fit a toddler.

Don’t be afraid to purchase + return.

A lot of items on Amazon are available for free returns when you have prime! (Seriously, get prime! So worth it!) Any reason at all, you get a full refund with no shipping charges, as long as it’s in new and unused condition. Just double check beside the price before you add an item to your cart, it should say ‘free returns’. I honestly really hate returning things but Amazon makes it so easy to do which in turn makes it easy to try things out I might otherwise pass on from other sites.

polka dot dress / striped dress

Utilize prime wardrobe!

Have you heard about prime wardrobe yet? You can pick three or more items across clothing, shoes, and accessories. They ship them to you, you have seven days to try them on, and then you send them back with the provided return label. You’re only charged for the items you decide to keep. It’s a super easy way to try things on without ever leaving the house. I think it’s especially awesome because trying on things at home gives you the opportunity to test out items with pieces you may already own.

dress / shoes (similar)

What’s your favorite item of clothing you’ve found on Amazon? I’m nuts about these leggings. They look like simple black leggings but they’re nice enough that I feel comfortable wearing them instead of jeans.
xoxo

PS. You can sign up for a 30 day free trial of Prime here. Highly, highly recommended. Makes getting things in the mail super quick and returning super easy plus you get the added bonus of watching all the weird documentaries they have streaming.

tips for buying clothes on Amazon

cardigan & shirt / black skater skirt

my earring collection

by Kaylah Stroup June 20, 2018

Eight and a half months ago I got my earlobes reconstructed. I had started stretching them over thirteen years ago. After nine years of having them at 38mm, and hundreds of dollars in jewelry, I finally decided it was time to say goodbye. I’ve chronicled the journey (with lots of photos) fairly throughly and now it’s time to move on to the next chapter.

What’s the next chapter? Finally getting my cute new earlobes repieced and starting an epic earring collection!

As you may have seen, I got my ears pierced back toward the end of April. It was painless, and they healed up quick. I can’t even begin to tell you how excited I am to start wearing cute earrings. Loving that statement earrings are so popular right now too. Its made it easy for me to quickly build up a fun collection. Maybe a little too easy.

Just so things wouldn’t get out of control, I made it a rule that I couldn’t buy any earrings until I got my ears pierced. Obviously I bought a pair to celebrate the new piercing and I guess I’ve just been celebrating a whole bunch since then because my collection is already pretty darn awesome. I can’t imagine what it’ll look like in another year if I keep going at this rate.

left to right, top row first; Vintage Acorn, Océanne, Flying Tutu + Acute Designs

BaubleBar

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9 // 10 // 11 // 12 // 13 // 14 // 15

I wore no.12 on my wedding day! They were also the first pair I bought.

And, finally, my current storage situation. Not a good one, clearly. I take that back, it looks fine in this photo but this photo was taken fairly early on. The number of earrings has more than doubled. I think it’s time to suck it up and buy an earring rack like this one.

Now I leave you with two questions – How do you store your earrings? & Where is your favorite unexpected spot to find cute earrings? Right now I’m loving Target’s earring selection. Not super surprising because Target always has cute stuff but I’ve been picking up a pair nearly every time I go there!
xoxo

Babbleboxx unboxing – Bridal Bliss

by Kaylah Stroup May 19, 2018

This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx.com.

Y’all, I am getting married in less than 25 days! Almost everything is taken care of, and it’s kind of just time to wait. (…Or ya know, nervously pack and repack my luggage thirty-three times. Same thing!) All my thoughts revolve around this massive upcoming event. So when Babbleboxx recently reached out to see if I’d be interested in receiving their Bridal Bliss box full of goodies ‘every bride needs for her big day and beyond’ I couldn’t say yes quick enough.

Inside my BabbleBox was…

▴ . Mixbook sent a sampler of their wedding stationery options. You can order a free sample kit from their site too! You can create beautiful, one-of-a-kind wedding cards, photo books, and home decor. Make your own from scratch or if you’re not great at designing things yourself, you can use one of their gorgeous pre-designed templates. Seriously, they make it so easy even if you’re not computer savvy.

The ones with gold foil were my favorites, it’s just such a pretty touch. It’s a little bit late for me to get wedding invitations at this point but I will definitely be keeping them in mind for my ‘thank you’ cards! I really look forward to getting our photos printed in every way possible!

Code BABBLE50 will get you 50% off all wedding stationery! Expires 12/31/2018

▴ Zoya Nail Polish. I was super jazzed to see these in the box. I LOVE Zoya nail polish! I’ve been a fan for a very long time. If you’re not familiar, Zoya is free of the 10 worst chemicals found in nail polish. On top of that, they’re just great polishes that last a while without chipping.

The trio I received included Jordan, a gorgeous creamy pink, Leia, a sheer opalescent white with flecks of fuchsia, green and gold, and Abby, a pastel purple. Jordan was easily my favorite of the bunch. I actually wore it to my bridal shower, it matched my shoes perfectly. It’s even one of the two colors I’m considering doing my nails for the wedding!

Zoya Jordan

▴ . It smooths, tucks, supports, and is honestly, super comfortable. I’m not really all that into shapewear – mostly because it’s just another layer of clothing and I don’t like being too warm but I’m surprisingly into this body briefer. Not so much because of how it makes me look but because of how it makes me feel. Wearing any out of the ordinary underthings, even a pretty slip or fancy matching pieces, always makes me feel fierce. It’s also soft and breathable!

▴ . This is a product I was thinking I wanted before I even knew it existed! RingHero is a wristband you put your rings in to keep them safe while you workout, garden, clean, etc! I am always getting myself into situations where there is the potential to damage my ring. Even with beach combing I worry that I might lose it in the sand. I love the RingHero because it gives me somewhere to put my ring that’s safe and I know exactly where it is. I used to just pop my ring in my camera bag but the idea of it falling out when I opened the bag to grab something else always made me nervous.

Use code BBRingHero for 10% off. Valid May 1st through June 30th, 2018

▴ . Yep, 100% swooning over these bad boys. I think it’s well established I like really funky earrings but that doesn’t mean something simple and sparkly wasn’t on my wishlist are gorgeous! Even Professor liked them!

Moissanite is one of the rarest minerals found in nature. Due to its scarcity, Charles & Colvard have recreated moissanite in a lab so they’re able to deliver an artfully crafted and eternally brilliant gemstone that is socially responsible too. Charles & Colvard’s moissanite is extremely hard, durable, and resistant to scratching. On top of that, every one of their ‘Forever One’ gems is guaranteed to stay as beautiful as the day you bought it! They come with a limited lifetime warranty that protects against damage to the stone and any changes in color, clarity or brilliance which is really awesome!

Use Code BRIDALBLISS15 for 15% off* purchases on www.charlesandcolvard.com from 5/1/2018 through 11:59 pm PT 06/30/2018 (*Discount not valid on loose gemstones, green moissanite, prior purchases or with any other offers. Offer expires 11:59 pm PT 06/30/2018.)

xoxo

Christmas Wishlist 2017

by Kaylah Stroup December 11, 2017

Slip-on Vans. A nice pair of slip-on shoes is basically an essential for me. I use them when I take Klaus out and on walks, when I run to the store, and anytime I’m too lazy to put on other shoes. The pair I currently have are completely falling apart. I literally wore them to shreds. It’s time for a new pair!
Light ring. Because I’d love to be able to take photos even after it gets dark inside!
Winking face pillow. I had loved this pillow for so long. It’d look lovely on my blue couch beside the other black and white pillows I have.
Tiny, creepy baby dolls. A tiny porcelain doll purchased for $2 at an estate sale sparked a new obsession for me earlier this year. I now want to collect small, creepy, old, porcelain dolls. I don’t know what it is about them but I just love them so much. I’m not super picky – they just have to be creepy, like the one pictured above, not made of plastic, and small enough to fit on a shelf.
Polaroid 600 film with circle frame. This is more a purchase I want for our wedding buuuut whatever. I love the circle frame and think that photos of Jeff and I all dressed up would just be gorgeous!
Giant light bulb. Sooo, um, I almost started a house fire? I had Christmas lights strung up around the ceiling in my office. I happened to look up and notice that there were burn marks on the wall. I immediately unplugged the lights and ripped them down. Come to find there are burn marks the entire way around the room! The lights apparently got very, very hot. I’m just so thankful I caught it before anything happened. All that to say that it’s really dark in my office now that I don’t have that extra lighting. I really enjoyed how cozy the Christmas lights made the room. I’m not a fan of regular overhead lighting so I need to find a way to light the room cool like before. I think that something like this giant bulb pendant would be perfect.
Bird leg table. Ugggh. This table, man! So good!
Swiss army knife. My swiss army knife got confiscated at the airport. I always keep it in my camera bag and apparently completely forgot to take it out before leaving on our last road trip. It made it through Cleveland’s airport security (way to go, guys!) but on our way home the Denver airport pulled my bag and searched it. I could not for the life of me think what would be triggering the search so when I was repeatedly asked “what’s in the bag?” I was like “Nothing?!” since I hadn’t added anything to the bag while we were on the trip. The guy eventually found it and I felt like the biggest dingus alive. Anyway, I used my knife, specially the scissors, all the time to make bouquets. I miss it so much!
Prosthetic eye. In all my years of collecting oddities, this is the one thing that continues to elude me!
Canon L series macro lens. Is it really a Christmas wish list if I don’t put one really expensive piece of camera equipment on it? I upgraded my camera body this year thanks to an incredible black friday sale and I now need a an L series macro lens to go with it.
TONYMOLY banana lip balm. Banana errrrything, please and thank you.
Forrest Gump lapel pin. Forrest Gump is my all time favorite movie so I think it’s pretty clear why I need this pin.
Sally Hansen Insta-Dri nail polish. Obsessed with this brand. I liked the original but the improved Insta-Dri line is seriously amazing. I’ve got three colors so far and am looking to add to the collection!

What are you hoping is waiting under the tree for you this year?
xoxo

30 gift ideas for your ~weird~ friend

by Kaylah Stroup December 6, 2017

tooth, dental, bones, oddities, gift guide

brain specimen coasters.
standard typodont.
skull lapel pin.
skeleton oven mitt.
denture shaped ice mold.
PyroPet candle.
beetle dress. Confirmed as the cutest darn dress – see it on me here!
chatterbox pouch.
molar vase. Perfect for small plants – see!
mini human body model.
brain mug.
didactic human skull.
denture soap.
spine model.
human eye model.
brain in a jar lapel pin.
skeleton toe socks. Own them & love them!
wind up teeth socks.
tooth magnets.
tooth zipper pouch. Made from a photo I took!
anatomy coloring book.
typodont with braces.
visible man.
curiosities shirt. I own the sweatshirt version – see it worn here!
eyeball lunch bag.
skeletoucan lapel pin.
skull lapel pin.
tiny skull ring.
human foot model.
bone pens.

The Dainty Squid’s version of a gift guide! Did you expect anything different? I had this idea toward the beginning of the year and have been anxiously awaiting the moment I could finally start the post. Included in this post are 30 items perfect for your friend with weird tastes or to send your relative who has no idea what in the world to get you!

Happy Holidays!
xoxo

project 365 : days 288 – 294

by Kaylah Stroup October 23, 2017

288 : 365 A smiley goob in a cute sweater. Check the full outfit post here.

289 : 365 Pressed fall memories.

290 : 365 Professor and I had a little photoshoot. I’ll save the best for the week of Halloween but for now, here’s a little something to hold you over.

291 : 365 You guys, I can’t tell you how many years I’ve been trying to grow my hair out only to end up cutting it. I’m so incredibly proud of the length it is now. Sometimes I look in the mirror and I’m just shocked how long it’s gotten. I love it so so so much but also somehow feel a little bit disconnected from it, like it’s not actually mine? I don’t know how to explain the feeling. Guess it’s just from having short hair for SO many years. Anyway, I’m way into my hair these days. Also, way into this photo. It’s totally cool for me to make this the main photo on all my social media even though I have my eyes closed, right? Heh.

292 : 365 Got an LED light strip (under 10 bucks right now!) for behind my computer and couldn’t be more tickled about it. I’ve said it before and I’ll probably say it again, I can’t believe what a huge difference lighting makes in how cozy your home feels. Read more about the fun lighting I have around the house here.

293 : 365 Some photos I shot for Love, Anji. Putting together those small arrangements on the left is one of my favorite things to do. They’re like the perfect size for on your desk, at least that’s where I always picture people putting them in my head.

The shop has changed so much since I last blogged about it. (Literally so much my old post isn’t even worth linking to!) I really need to share some updated photos of the store. It’s a must visit if you’re coming through Cleveland.

294 : 365 Jeff and I picked up my nephew and headed to my parents to watch the meteor shower on Saturday night. We played with roman candles, sat by the fire and slept in hammocks. It was pretty fun. Ya know, other than Jeff’s hammock, which was above mine, slipping down a few inches in the middle of the night. Sooo he literally just slept right on top of me all night. The big butt claims that he thought I must have been fine since I didn’t make any noise. I was squiiiiished. I woke up sore since I wasn’t able to move much but I see the humor now that I’ve had a good nights sleep. Hehe!

I have such a busy week ahead of me that I am so ready to get started on already. Getting over this hurdle just means I’ll be one week closer to our roadtrip thats coming up at the beginning of the month. I can’t wait. I guess staying busy is the best way to make time fly, right?! Hope your week is off to a great start!
xoxo

project 365 : days 281 – 287

by Kaylah Stroup October 16, 2017

281 : 365 Love when something just happens to be the perfect size to display something else. This plant and pumpkin were a match made in heaven.

282 : 365 When I bought it I didn’t realize that this bat candelabra held three candles and not two. I didn’t have any more so I improvised and my little bat got an air plant hairdo instead. I think this might be even better!

283 : 365 Critters sharing a ray of sunshine. Also, I really love my living room. It’s so cozy.

284 : 365 A few of the things I found on the beach were strangely Halloween themed. Guess Lake Erie is pretty stoked about Halloween too!

285 : 365 I didn’t take any photos with my ‘big camera’ but I did take this super cute boomerang. I’m more than a little obsessed with that dress. I spotted it at TJ Maxx and was like “ah, it’s cute but I really shouldn’t…” Glad I did though because I felt like a million bucks the first time I wore it out of the house!

286 : 365 Friday at the flower shop.

287 : 365 I have so many photos from Saturday… except they’re all super cute outfit photos so I’m not going to share them yet. Here’s a shot at my phone case instead.

Happy Monday! Hope your week is off to a great start.
xoxo

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