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project 365 : days 212 – 218

by Kaylah Stroup

212 : 365 I was trying to get a photo of Professor laying here on the table right by our front door but clearly the lighting wasn’t working in my favor. I do think it’s hilarious you can see his creepy little teeth though. He looks like an angry little snake.

213 : 365 Squid has been so darn affectionate lately. She’s been doing this thing where she just walks up to you and buries her face in your arm. It’s very sweet.

214 : 365 Birthday bike ride to the beach.

215 : 365 Leftover cake and some of my favorite coffee for breakfast. Seriously, that coffee is too good. Drinking it out of the carton really adds to the taste too. That almost sounds like I’m being sarcastic but truly, I LOVE the flavor it adds. Reminds me a lot of the milk in the small carton you’d get at school, except its coffee!

216 : 365 Photos like this of my sweet little angel of a kitten absolutely crack me up. He looks so mean! Really he was just excited about light and I was saying “get it! get it, buddy!” That’s usually what’s happening behind the scenes anytime you see a photo of him with his mouth open.

217 : 365 My birthday bike ride! The goal was hit fifty miles but we started a little late in the day, took too many long stops for snacks, and had a slower paced rider. Still a ton of fun! I totaled 28 miles for the day. Not too shabby!

Previous to this ride I think my longest had been around 30 miles which absolutely kicked my butt. I was so tired afterward. This ride felt like nothing. I, of course, was a little tired at the end of the day but definitely still had a lot of miles left in me. I easily could have kept riding for a few more hours. It’s so encouraging to see improvements like this.

218 : 365 Sunday mornings are generally pretty awesome around these parts. I love a slow start to the day with Jeff.

Hope your week is off to a great start!
xoxo

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Friday Favorites #426

by Kaylah Stroup

 

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

I discovered Old English Co earlier this week and spent so long browsing! It was super hard to narrow it down and decide what to share here! I’m especially lovin’ this patch and this notepad!

(via Old English Co)

How rad is this moon light? It’s super affordable too!

(via Modcloth)

Oh, just a perfect striped top! This one rocks too!

(via Levi’s)

This set of deco tape is tops!!!

(via Mighty Paper Shop)

I definitely don’t have any more space in my apartment for maps but I sure do love this one. Such lovely colors.

(via Microscope Telescope)

True romance!

(via Analog Supply Co)

THIS SHIRT. Holy smokes!

(via Modcloth)

Simple yet lovely tote!

(via Paper Tigers Apparel)

Love this stamp!

(via Beetle Ink Co.)

Really diggin’ these new shades from Warby Parker!

(via Warby Parker)

Ain’t that the truth!

(via Nikki McWilliams)

Link love…

  • Not sure I’d feel comfortable in this romper but I love it on the model!
  •  Constellation socks!
  • I know I’ve featured these overalls before in previous years but with fall sneaking up on us again, it’s time I feature them again. They’re just such a lovely color!
  • This iridescent shower curtain is ridiculous, and i love it!
  • You guys, this bomber jacket covered in cactus is on suuuuper sale!
  • Didn’t realize electric kettles could be this cute! Ours is about to poop out… now I’m kind of excited!
  • I’m obsessed with these jeans. That frayed hem.. or lack of a hem? Whatever, it’s super cute.

Happy Friday! Hope you have a rad weekend!!
xoxo

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twenty-seven

by Kaylah Stroup

the dainty squid, birthday, balloons, green hair, colorful

cleveland blogger, ohio blogger, cleveland, green hair

kaylah doolan, ohio blog, fashion blogger

details
hat – Target
sunglasses – Moorea Seal
shirt – 3/4 sleeve top via Target
skirt – denim front button skirt via Target
sandals – pansy via Amazon

TWENTY-SEVEN.

This is officially the “other side” of my twenties. Well, twenty-six was… and twenty-five probably was too but for some reason I tried to hold on the idea that I wasn’t closer to thirty than twenty. No denying it now. Still a little confused how I’m this old but don’t feel any more like an “adult” though.

I’m hoping that by the time this post goes live I’ll already be outside getting some early morning miles on my bike. Ideally I’ll get twenty-seven miles in today but I might poop out early, and that’s fine too. In previous years I’ve written about how I’m going to do something relaxing but if I’ve learned one thing in all my years it’s that I’m happiest and most satisfied when I’m busy. So I’m going to do my best to make it a full day of bikes, beach, coffee, and food!

Sparklers with my dad, then smoke bombs with both parents. This one with my dad looking down is easily the most flattering of the three of us. Later photos would show us choking. Its incredible how smelly those things are. Probably cut at least six months off my life breathing that stuff in. Happy Birthday though, right?

PS. You should check out my instagram stories for a super cute GIF from this shoot that I wasn’t able to include in this post.

Here’s a peek back at previous year’s birthday outfit posts featuring balloons!  2013,  2014, 2015+ 2016! Some things really never seem to change…

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August Goals

by Kaylah Stroup

July Goal Recap

  • Stay ahead! I didn’t do this goal as well as I had hoped but without a doubt I was more ahead than I have been in recent times. This is definitly a goal I’d like to keep working on.
  • Dye my hair. Yes, ma’am! I said goodbye to green, and hello to yellow! I’ve already got the itch to dye my hair again too. I actually feel a little bit uncomfortable with yellow. (Read more about that here.)
  • Keep on pedaling! While I didn’t get as many miles in as I did last month, I got out there a lot more than last year at this time. There were quite a few evenings spent cruising around the city on bikes. I’m still swooning over these photos.

August Goals

  • Learn to french braid my own hair. Growing my hair to a length it hasn’t been in twenty plus years is something I’m really proud of. Throwing it up in a ponytail nearly every day is something I’m not proud of. There were a few days earlier this summer where I had Jeff braid my hair (sooo cute!) and instantly felt so much more put together than when my hair is just in a ponytail. The thing is he’s not very consistent and of course, he’s not home all the time to do my hair. Ya girl needs to learn to be self sufficient. If you guys have any tutorials that helped you learn – leave me a link!
  • Update blog photos. It’s amazing how quickly photos feel out of date, especially after you dye your hair. I want to go through the whole TDS website, and update all the little things like my about me page, the photo at the end of posts that says “author”, etc. There is so much of that stuff to fix up. It’s so easy to do yet so time consuming.
  • Celebrate the heck out of my birthday month! Tomorrow is my birthday! Woo! I always celebrate my birthday month. The whooole month. Bring on the bike rides, the ice cream, the adventures, and the milking of the phrase “but it’s my birthday month!” as an excuse to why we should do something.

How about you? What do you want to accomplish this month?
xoxo

PS You spotted my spider pal in those photos, right?
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project 365 : days 205 – 211

by Kaylah Stroup

205 : 365 Plants on plants on plants.
Tiny face planters by Friend Assembly, eucalyptus pin by Hemleva, and air plants from Aura Creations.

206 : 365 Taking Klaus out in the evenings is normally Jeff’s job but a few evenings ago I took ended up taking him out before bed. Right where the sidewalk and my driveway met I spotted this lil dude. Upside down and dead – like he was waiting for me! He hadn’t dried out yet either so I was able to pin him right away. I’ve already got a couple of these dudes in my insect collection but there’s always room for another!

207 : 365 Just a gal who maybe sorta already went mostly green again and some sparklers.

208 : 365 Pencil cactus!

209 : 365 Friday we woke up early to go camping with my family. I have SO many photos to sort through and edit. I feel very happy with what I shot. I’ll probably have enough to break up into a few blog posts. In the mean time here’s my niece showing Jeff her snake, and the moon.

210 : 365 We stopped at Kinzua Bridge. Jeff and I had visited earlier in the year (photos here!) but it was fun to go again with my family.
PS. If you have a land camera, you can find film for it here. It’s expensive but so worth it.

211 : 365 On our way home from camping we made a little detour to visit a state hospital. Jeff really enjoys the architecture of this certain type of hospital, I had wanted to check out a psychiatric hosptial cemetery for a while now, and there was a geocache on the hospital grounds so it was really a win/win/win. I didn’t take many photos since basically all of the headstones were the same but I did take a handful of shots essentially  just to say “I was here.” With the spotty lighting I wasn’t sure I’d have anything worth sharing but I did end up loving the photo below. My favorite part has to be that ghostly looking thing near the center of the photo between the tree and the flag. Eeeep!

Hope your week is off to a great start!
xoxo

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the timeline myth

by Kaylah Stroup

When I was a young teenager I thought I’d be married in my early twenties. I’d definitely be a homeowner and my life would be sorted. That by twenty five or so I’d have popped out a baby or two. Obviously things didn’t go as “planned”

Even more obvious than that is that that’s a good thing. I’m certainly glad I dodged any martial bullets, and I’m elated that I was able to reach a point in my life where I actually considered whether or not kids were for me – they aren’t – before just having some because I thought it was what I should do. I also found that homeownership really didn’t fit my life, at least not at this point.

It feels like so often we do things only because it’s what we think we’re supposed to do. I thought I had to be married and having kids in my twenties or else I was a failure of some sort. That there was this timeline that my life had to follow.

In your twenties and not married? How often do you get asked when you’ll be tieing the knot? Even if you’re not dating anyone seriously. It’s like it’s more important for you to cross off that milestone than do anything else. There were times when shortly after Jeff and I started dating people would ask when we were having kids. Like it was a given that that is what I wanted to do with my life. It’s such bull crap. It doesn’t make anyone feel good to be asked those invasive questions, especially since they’re normally asked by those who have no right to be asking in the first place.

The idea for this post stemmed from a private message I received on instagram about how long it took Jeff and I to move in together, and how reading that it took us three years gave her hope. I wanted to write something that I, myself, may have needed to read. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve googled things like “how long do you wait to move in together?” and “how long do you date until you get married?” All the top results felt so phony, the answers so cheesy and sometimes even manipulative. All I’ve ever wanted to hear is that everyone has their own timeline. There is no wrong amount of time for people to wait to do things.

My parents were married within four months of their first date. Forty one years later, they’re still married (and cute as heck together, I might add!) Clearly that worked out for them. That doesn’t mean that everyone should do that. It doesn’t make mine and Jeff’s relationship any less real, important or stable because we decided to wait longer. It doesn’t mean we love each other any less. It just means some people need more time to make big leaps.

So meet someone new, move in together within a few months.
Meet someone, fall in love, wait three years to share a home together.
Get married.
Don’t get married.
Have kids.
Don’t have kids.
IT DOESN’T MATTER, as long as it’s what right for you. No one has any right to make you feel any less for your decisions or the amount of time it takes you to do something.

I feel like I could keep writing this post forever. But let’s keep it relatively short and to the point…

There is no one timeline that works for everyone.

This applies to everything – driving, college, relationships, moving out of your parents house, marriage, kids, jobs. As long as you’re happy and doing your best that’s all that matters. You do you! 

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project 365 : days 198 – 204

by Kaylah Stroup

198 : 365 King of the pillows! Also, would you look at that photo of Professor and Squid! They were basically cuddling. Laying that close together is a big deal for them.

199 : 365 I made stuffed peppers for dinner. This is right before they got popped in the oven. I wanted to use chorizo but the grocery store was out. I ended up stuffing the peppers with hot sausage, black beans, onions, and a variety of shredded cheeses we had in the fridge. They were so tasty! I always put off cooking but when I finally do it I feel so accomplished and proud.

200 : 365 Shot some photos of my postcards around the house for the post announcing their release. I really enjoy that one of the abandoned building on that shelf. I should probably just keep one for myself so it can stay there permanently.

201 : 365 My first missed day of the project. Whoops. It was a busy day. I had plans to take my daily photo in the evening but when I got home I realized I had left the fridge open all day. That generally wouldn’t have been such a huge deal but a few days early I had just gone grocery shopping and stocked up on everything. Needless to say, it killed my spirit. Jeff asked if pizza would cheer me up. Of course I said yes so we laid in bed, ate pizza, and fell asleep early.

202 : 365 Wade showing off some video he’d just taken of us on his roof. After this we biked 15 or so miles. I sadly didn’t take any photos on the ride. Definitely wishing I did though!

203 : 365 Jeff and I took a short walk together, in the oppressive heat, so I could pick some weeds to make an arrangement. This is one of my favorite summer activities.

204 : 365 Ziggy enjoying? hating? getting used to? the water. We got an early start to the day and headed to a swimming hole before the summer weekened crowd took over. It was a blast. I do love a nice, clean swimming pool but there is definitely something special about places like this.

Here’s to making this an awesome week! …Maybe one where I don’t leave the fridge open.
xoxo

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It’s the little things…

by Kaylah Stroup

Y’all, every time I write one of these “It’s the little things…” posts it’s about my darn pets. Part of me wants to apologize but I also feel like if you don’t like seeing silly photos of them, you’re probably some kind of monster because they’re perfect angels. Only partially kidding.

Yesterday I was walking to the front door to fix up the mess of shoes that had been driving me nuts for the past two or three days. I like shoes, Jeff also really likes shoes. Therefore, we have a ton of them! When I turned the corner I spotted Professor casually lounging in the mess with litter stuck to his tiny little wet nose. I immediately turned around and speed tip-toed back to my camera. When I got back to him, he decided it was time to really ham it up.

He rolled around, looked at me while upside down, rubbed his little fangs all over Jeff’s shoes, and yawned oh so dramatically toward the ceiling. Professor reminds me of the typical handsome yet really dumb guy. Just look at those stunning blue eyes… and then the litter on his nose. Why does he always have litter on his nose!? Squid never ever does but at least once a day I catch this little dummy with something stuck to his face.

cat yawn, weird cat, funny cat photos, cat in bowtie handsome idiot, siamese, weird cat,

This little cat brings a smile to my face every single day. I threaten Jeff “You better hurry up and marry me or I’m going to marry Professor!” He makes everything better, and his little meows warm my heart. I don’t know what I’d do without him. Also, I missed the opportunity to write a seven year anniversary post for him this year but you can read our six year anniversary post here.

Hope my silly little kitten brightens your day too!
xoxo

PS. Don’t forget that you can follow Professor’s Instagram account if you enjoy seeing ridiculous cat photos.

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mellow yellow

by Kaylah Stroup

A few years ago I was really good at documenting my hair dye adventures. I always made an effort to take before and after photos, and write down what colors I used. Eventually I kind of got stuck in a rut where I was doing the same colors in rotation every few months. I guess it just didn’t seem like it was worth the time to document it. Looking back I definitely wish I had taken photos of the colors while they were fresh and typed out what dyes I used.

Yellow is a completely new color for me. In the ten plus years I’ve been dyeing my hair – this is a first! It’s the only color I hadn’t done yet. Clearly, it’s not pure yellow but that is without a doubt the main color. I’ve got a bunch of photos for you here today, as well as a little bit about the process from green to yellow.

above – 5/31. Fresh green + blue hair.

below – 6/25. No dye applied since the photo above. I had been rinsing with hot water, and using this mask to condition and purposely fade the color. On one hand I feel like “wow, it faded a ton” and on the other like “dang, that color really stuck around!” Either way, it faded beautifully. If it weren’t for my roots, I’d have probably rocked that color for a lot longer.

above – 7/2. Immediately after bleaching. I was shocked to see how blue my hair was still. Part of me wanted to dye it green again but I had already purchased an abundance of yellow dyes. I presumed it would turn out mostly green after adding the yellow.

below -7/3. After dyeing + styling. I couldn’t believe just how yellow it turned out after I failed so hard to get the blue out.

the dainty squid hair, green hair, yellow hair, sunshine hair

To be 100% honest, this is not my best dye job. The blue that was in the bottom layer of my hair when it was green ended up looking pretty rad with the yellow on top of it. It turned a beautiful light green. I wasn’t planning on keeping any green in my hair but it ended up working out pretty well. I enjoy the yellow to green fade I’ve got going on. It makes the transition a little bit easier on me. Even though I’ve been dyeing my hair bright colors for all of my adult life, its still a bit of a shock each time I change colors.

There was one spot that apparently either got missed when I applied the bleach or had a lot of blue in it on accident from when I dyed my hair back at the end of May. Sooo there was a spot in the middle of my beautiful yellow that was green. I was very self conscious of it the first week or so.

As I always try to mention in any posts I write about hair, half the fun of dyeing your hair is the adventure. I never really know what it’s going to look like when I start. Ya win some, ya lose some. Not that this is even a loss because it looks way rad and I’ve been able to fix up the splotch by essentially painting the hair around it so it’s a natural looking darker area instead of just a spot.

I only used one dye for this which is also a first for me. I’m usually the master of dye mixing! I decided to try a brand completely new to me – Arctic Fox. Cosmic Sunshine was the color I choose. Even now I feel like it’s too early to form a complete opinion on it since the fade time will play a factor but first impressions were definitely good. It smells nice, applied easily, and hasn’t given me any issues with staining my hands or clothing. So far, so good!

arctic fox cosmic sunshine

I’m not sure how long I’ll stay yellow but I’m certainly glad to have finally pulled away from green. I still can’t believe I kept a hair color for that long! I feel like I’ve got the color changing bug again.
xoxo

YOU CAN FIND HAIR DYE TIPS AND GUIDES IN MY HAIR MASTER POST.

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