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shackman multishot – wedding roadtrip

by Kaylah Stroup

instant film

My brother + dad climbing around Twin Arrows.

Two years ago a very kind person sent me a little package with a camera they no longer had use for. I’d never even heard of a Shackman Multishot before but it’s safe to say, I fell in love quickly! Despite it’s very clunky size and super expensive film, it’s one of my absolute favorite cameras.

The Shackman Multishot has two lenses that sit beside each other. You can either take two nearly identical shots, or you can cover one of the lenses and take two totally different shots that will appear on one photo. Most of the time I opt for the second option. Getting two shots per frame is cost effective, looks really rad and is just something totally different than anything my other cameras can offer me.

Very shortly before I aquired the camera, Fujifilm annouced they’d no longer be producing the film needed for this camera. Luckily, I had the foresight to get it while the getting was good! I have a gold mine of film in my fridge that I only break out on special occasions. Special occasions really just meaning road trips most of the time. I figured this would probably be one of the most important and unique trips of my life so I brought along a ton.

I’m SO excited about the photos I captured while we were out west last month! The first one in this post being my absolute favorite. I can’t get over how well those shots work together! My only regret is not shooting more photos with the Shackman Multishot.

xoxo

Film for this camera can be found here. Be warned, it is no longer made and therefore very expensive to purchase. As for the camera itself, perhaps check eBay. Last time I checked, there were none of this exact camera but one of a similar model that has four lenses. So tempting!
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five years with Klaus!

by Kaylah Stroup

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

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Friday Favorites #474

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

This pin!

(via Lost Lust Supply)

Another day, another striped dress I’m lovin!

(via Anthropologie)

Nobody tells me what to do!

(via hello DODO)

This instax photo frame is also a jewelry holder! Each one of those columns flips around. How rad is that!?

(via Urban Outfitters)

Add these to the list of things I’d like to collect!

(via Vintage Archeology)

This sweatshirt! So cute!

(via Modcloth)

Welp, I bought myself a birthday present…

(via Anthropologie)

These earrings!

(via Urban Outfitters)

I love list pads.

(via Quill & Fox)

Hello, yellow nail polish! What a great color!

(via Moorea Seal)

Do I even have to tell you how I feel about this rug!?

(via Urban Outfitters)

Link love…

Happy Friday!
xoxo

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

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adventures in avocado propagation V

by Kaylah Stroup

adventures in avocado propagation

June 19th, 2018

It’s been a little while since my last avocado propagation update and a lot has changed. Back on June 2nd, the pit shown above had fallen from the windowsill where I had it and split in two. I briefly considered throwing it away opted to put both pieces back in the container together to see if it’d continue to grow. I’m glad I gave it a chance because it definitely continued to grow. By the time we got back from our wedding trip, it had grown so much that it barely fit in the container. It was at the point where it would halt the growth because it was so resitricted or just break out of the glass.

Originally I thought that I’d just leave them in the water indefinitely. I really do enjoy watching the roots grow and change but this one seemed like it’d be a good one to experiment with. On June 19th I popped it in a small planter.

June 27th, 2018

Five of the six pits I have growing. (Number six being the one in the tooth planter.) I think it’s really interesting how differently each seems to be growing.

That one in the middle? It was my first to sprout but it didn’t take long before I realized how weird it was compared to the others. As I said, they’re all kind of doing their own thing so I was thinking that maybe it was just a different kind or something. Time went on and it never seemed to get any bigger. I thought it was especially strange that the leaves weren’t opening up. I just kept letting it do it’s thing though.

Fast forward to last week, I gently pulled one of the leaves open and there were mealy bugs!! So disappointing! I tossed that badboy straight in the trash and picked up some neem oil to protect the rest of my plants. So far I haven’t seen any others. Hopefully this was just an isolated incident.

July 4th, 2018

July 3rd, 2018

I decided to trim this guy down to help promote healthier, fuller growth. I kind of just winged it. This whole process has really just been about experimenting so I figured it wouldn’t be too big of a loss if it never grew back. It didn’t take long before I started noticing new growth!

In hindsight, I think it should have cut it lower, most likely below the first little sprout. No big deal though. I’m excited to see what it does from here and if I can see a difference between it and one I didn’t trim back.

July 11th, 2018  —-> July 13th, 2018

July 17th, 2018

avocado plant leaf

July 17th, 2018

Planted two more of the pits in dirt. One now lives with my pencil cactus, and the other in a small pot of it’s own. This decision was mostly based off the fact that the water was getting dirty really quickly. Since I started them, I’ve been changing the water fairly frequently. Most of the time it was even dirty but these last few weeks it’s murky looking in no time at all. I don’t quite understand why but figured maybe it really was time to plant them.

It’s been such a long process. The first photo I have from this whole adventure is from January 12th. Six whole months and I feel like I’m just now seeing real results. I mean, of course roots sprouting, growing, and changing was thrilling but I officially have leaves on something that came from food. Gardening is a blast!

Have you started your own avocado pits yet!? If you couldn’t tell, it’s pretty darn satisfying.
xoxo

Past updates – part 1, part 2,  part 3 + part 4.
Here’s a link to the tooth planter, if you’d like to grab one for yourself.

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2018 birthday wishlist

by Kaylah Stroup

1. Pet hair eraser handheld vacuum. Love my pets, obviously, but really really hate their hair. The reviews on this lil things are incredible!!!
2. Tiny skull earrings. I have loved these earrings for so long, even way before I even got my lobes reconstructed. Now that I can actually wear them, I love them even more. I’m on the hunt for a pair of earrings that my sensitive ears can handle for daily wear and these would be perfect.
3. Hand push pins. At first, when I spotted these, I thought they were neat but couldn’t think of a reason I’d actually needed them since I don’t have a pin board anymore. Then I was laying on the couch and spotted small mirror that I have hanging from a push pin. It would look SO cool being held up by a tiny hand instead. I’m sure there are a few other things hanging around here that could use one too. It’s not a huge decorative piece but it’s the little things that make the most impact.
4. Have a nice day shirt. Femfetti actually has a handful of shirts I love!
5. Pink Princess Philodendron. I’m normally very chill about what plants I bring into my collection. I love browsing my local garden centers and buying what catches my attention instead of looking for very specific plants. Then I spotted this baby. I need to find one. I hunted around online a bit and couldn’t find any that were affordably priced and in stock. I don’t want someone to buy me an overpriced one, I want the garden center gods to leave me one at my favorite store. Fat chance but a girl can dream!
6. Winking pillow. I have loved this pillow for so long.
7. Polaroid cube frame. I’ve been shooting more instant film than ever and of course, struggle with how to display them properly. I have a bunch of photo albums but it’d be nice to actually show them off instead of tucking them away.
8. iPad. Totally not a necessary investment for me but gosh darn it, I want one.
9. Earring rack. Still leaning toward this as the best way to display/organize my collection of earrings.
10. Gale’s Garden Center gift card. A gift card to my favorite garden center!
11. Polaroid film, of course. Film is always a great present idea for me but after acquiring the new Polaroid One Step Two it’s basically the best present idea. I have a completely renewed loved for film. It’s basically all I want to shoot right now. I’m also digging the pastel color frames.
12. Frozen Charlotte dolls. Grew up terrified of dolls, now I actively collect the creepiest ones. I love tiny porcelain ones. The smaller the better. Ya know, so I can maximize the collection without taking up a ton of space.
13. Mrs. Meyer’s Hand Lotion. I’m a huge fan of Mrs. Meyer’s cleaning products but only recently realized they also had lotion! I’ve gotta have some. I also totally wouldn’t mind a bunch of her multi-surface everyday cleaner in an assortment of scents.
14. This puzzle. I LOVE puzzles.

twenty-seven – last year’s birthday photos

Feels like I just wrote one of these posts but I guess it’s been a year already! The wedding has consumed my thoughts for the last eight months. (Yes, still consuming my thoughts now too even though it already happened!) Now, all of a sudden, it’s almost my birthday. I am very excited. I’m looking forward to picking out a birthday dress, treating myself to an awesome day, forcing my friends to ride bikes all day long, and of course, I always enjoy making up a wishlist.
xoxo

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Twin Arrows + Two Guns

by Kaylah Stroup

I have a lot of photos from our most recent trip out west that I want to share. A lot of pictures that I’m really, really excited to show off! Despite covering ground we’d driven just a few years prior, we still managed to make lots of new stops. That being said, aside from our actual wedding photos, these might be some of my favorites. Not because they’re well composed or of wildly interesting subjects but because they’re really special.

I think I end up writing one of these posts after each road trip; where I just go on and on about how much I love traveling with Jeff, how it means the world to me, and how there’s nothing else I’d rather do despite the fact it’s not always perfect. This post from 2017 is a prime example. Well, Surprise! I’m here writing another one.

The day before the wedding, instead of a traditional rehearsal, we opted to just show off two of our favorite desert spots to our family. First stop, Twin Arrows. This was mine and Jeff’s third visit to the abandoned gas station, trading post, and diner since 2014. It’s going down hill quick but still remains one of those spots that just makes me fall in love with the desert all over again every single time. It’s also the inspiration behind the two arrows on the enamel pins we had made for our wedding.

After wandering around for a while, finding a snake, and coming up empty handed in the hunt for a geocache we moved on to the most important location of the trip. Just around ten miles away lies one of my favorite places in the world, Two Guns.

A little bit backstory here, we discovered Two Guns back in 2014 on our first trip our west. It was right on the way to where we were heading except we were majorly crunched for time. We had reservations and had to check into our wigwam before the front office closed for the night. But Two Guns!!!! It looked amazing. We had to stop, there was no two ways about it. Jeff and I agreed we’d only spend ten minutes there so we both got out of the car and literally ran from building to building snapping photos like crazy. The ten minutes was up in no time at all. We got back to the car gasping for breath and full of adrenaline. My pictures weren’t that great but it’s honestly one of my favorite memories from that whole trip. We visited again in 2016.

After we finally made concrete plans to get married there I could not wait to be there with everyone. The thought of showing it off to our loved ones was enough to make me all teary eyed. I can’t quite explain why but it’s such a special place to both of us. I’ve never been more excited to share something with someone than I was to share Two Guns with them. Even looking back now, I can’t believe that we actually managed to pull it all together.

For a brief moment before leaving for this trip, I contemplated not bringing along my camera. I figured I’d just be so busy I wouldn’t really have time to shoot much of anything. There were definitely a couple days where my camera didn’t get much use and just hung out in a bag that made my back really sweaty but I am so thankful to have had it at our ‘rehersal’. The photos from this day make my heart feel so full.

Two Guns ruins at Two Guns ghost town View from the top of the crumbling building we chose to exchange vows on.

Although the ruins aren’t what comes to mind when I think ‘Two Guns’, they were always my first choice when it came to ceremony location. They don’t have as much graffiti on them, and I really didn’t want any poorly drawn genitalia in my wedding photos. Before this trip, Jeff and I had actually never wandered out this far on the property. I had seen some photos of the building we ended up choosing online and even made a comment about how great the staircase was but didn’t truly consider it because I knew it was pretty far away from the road. When we actually approached that building with the staircase though, collectively the whole family was like ‘Is this the one?!’, ‘Can it be here?’ We found a heart shaped rock, and some random people showed up with puppies so obviously it felt right.

Picking the exact location the day prior was a really special moment and one of my favorite memories from the whole trip. I was definitely stressed and sweaty but I’d do it over and over again in a heartbeat! Not sure what else I could write that wouldn’t just be me repeating myself about how wonderful it was to be there with everyone. The whole trip just feels like a dream. I was so anxious about our very offbeat plans but dude, we nailed it.

Climbing down into the Apache Death Cave.

More from this trip;
▴ just married!
▴ instant photos from our wedding week
▴ that time I got married in a ghost town
▴ Cadillac Ranch
▴ Boothill Graveyard

Apache Death Cave

Our loved ones in the cave! How was this real life!?!

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five tips for buying clothes on Amazon

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

tips for clothes shopping on amazon

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

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Friday Favorites #473

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

JvstYourType has pins for each letter of the alphabet made out of cactus! They’re soooo good!

(via JvstYourType)

Cactus dress!

(via Amazon)

Yes!!!

(via squidlicks)

Be Nice or Leaf!

(via Annie Dornan Smith Design)

Can’t write a plant themed Friday Favorites without including a link to one of my favorite dresses! This cactus halter dress is too good!

(via Modcloth)

Cactus dog toys! How precious!

(via Purplebone London)

Plant lady mug!

(via Rosalynne Love)

How cute is this notepad?!

(via Idlewild Co.)

Loving this monstera keychain!

(via Idlewild Co.)

Link love…

Happy Friday!
xoxo

PS. I have a list of more rad finds here + they’re organized by color! This week I added a whole bunch of green items. On top of that, I recently started a brand new list featuring some of the best plants I could find!

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Boothill Graveyard

by Kaylah Stroup

Boothill Graveyard in Tombstone, Arizona is easily the most tourist filled cemetery I have been to. Even more so than Granary Burying Ground! It also marks the first cemetery I have ever paid admission to check out. $3 gets you entry, a pamphlet detailing all of the known burials, and a short speech about the cemetery from the sweetest little old lady. (Dream job much???)

Tombstone wasn’t originally on our itinerary but when I realized how close we were I figured it’d definitely be worth a detour. With a name like Tombstone, it’s no surprise that I’d be interested in visiting this historic town. Tombstone calls itself ‘the town too tough to die!’ Its a place essentially frozen in time. Down the main strip, lots of original buildings remain some even decorated with bullet holes from gunfights. There are ghost tours, daily gun fight reenactments, mine tours, gift shops, a shooting gallery and most exciting to me, pressed penny machines galore!

All of that was great but I was most enthused by the cemetery! Since the original grave markers were wood very few stood up to the test of time. What can be found now are recreations. Some are humorous, like Lester Moore whose epitaph reads as follows…

‘four slugs
from a 44
no les
no more’

Others give the cause of death such as Six-Shooter Jim who was ‘shot by Burt Alvord’. Then there are lots that are just ‘unknown’. The pamphlet you get when you enter gives you even more information. To be honest, I didn’t look at it once while still in the cemetery because I was so excited to see everything and take photos but I really enjoyed reading it once we got back in the car. The cemetery isn’t that large but there’s lot to see.

boothill graveyard, tombstone, arizona, cemetery Boothill Graveyard Tombstone, AZ

It was hot as heck, and the graveyard was full of living folks (I did an A+ job shooting around people, huh?) but we all really enjoyed ourselves. Definitely worth the price of admission to cross yet another famous US cemetery off my list!
xoxo

More from this trip;
▴ just married!
▴ instant photos from our wedding week
▴ that time I got married in a ghost town
▴ Cadillac Ranch

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