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extraterrestrial highway

by Kaylah Stroup May 31, 2017

stickers, area 51, nevada, aliens

Next on the agenda, after the Seven Magic Mountains, was Nevada State Route 375… or as it’s more commonly known “the Extraterrestrial Highway.” Area 51, the top secret government base, as well as lots of reports of alien activity, prompted the state to officially designate the route the Extraterrestrial Highway back in 1996.

Visiting this area has been on my bucket list for quite some time now. I went through a huge alien obsessed phase in middle school, and definitely still believe they’re out there. The moment I realized that sign that said “Extraterrestrial Highway” was real, I knew I had to see it myself. I love it even more covered in stickers. Although if stickers aren’t your thing there is a second sign, coming from the other direction, that doesn’t have quite as many. This sign alone was what prompted me to look more into this area and add it to our map. I know, it’s kind of silly. It’s just a sign but it’s the little things that make me the happiest.

Though sadly we saw no real aliens, there were lots of wonderful photo opportunities of ridiculous alien related things…

giant metal alien, nevada, area 51, extraterrestrial highway alien welcome center, alien research center, desert, alien, area 51 area 51 aliens extraterrestrial highway, area 51, aliens, spaceship

To be honest, the Extraterrestrial Highway isn’t all that exciting. The scenery is gorgeous but it’s a bit repetitive after a while. There are a few really great signs, as shown in the photos above, and I could never say a bad thing about a giant metal alien but if signs and aliens don’t do it for ya, this is easily a section of Nevada you could skip right over. Despite the fact this area draws in tourists, it was a beautifully lonely stretch. There were free range cows all along the highway which I thought was equal parts nerve-wracking and exciting. Let me get close but please don’t run out in front of the car! While Jeff tried to snooze in the passenger seat, I was hitting the brakes every five minutes to take photos of cows.

Last year I got to cross off Roswell, and this year I finally got to check out this strange area. Maybe next year I’ll get to see a UFO? Fingers crossed!
xoxo

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seven magic mountains

by Kaylah Stroup May 30, 2017

colorful rocks, las vegas, desert

The very first stop (after late night tacos + coffee in Los Angeles) on 2017’s road trip out west was the Seven Magic Mountains. I’m going to assume if you use instagram, you’ve probably seen one… or fifty billion photos of these incredibly colorful boulders.

This art installation in the middle of the desert opened up in May of 2016 and from the second I saw it I was in love. Less than a year prior we had driven around the same area and I was disappointed to have been so close but missed out. Why couldn’t they have been there then?!

Eventually, as time passed, my intrigue grew to disinterest as I saw photo after photo after photo pop up on social media. Gosh, I hate to even admit that. It sounds so bitter but it’s at least a little bit understandable, right? Every photo I saw showed the “mountains” surrounded by people. It looked so crowded. It just didn’t seem like somewhere very enjoyable. Part of what I love so much about our trips to the desert is that it’s kind of a solitary thing. The places we go just seem so far off the grid, so untouched and untainted. It’s an escape of sorts.

Still, I couldn’t resist the lure of these wildly colorful things in the middle of the desert. I had to see them with my own eyes. We drove through the night, stopped to sleep a bit at a rest area, and arrived at the Seven Magic Mountains as the sun came up. To my surprise, there wasn’t a soul around. We had the whole place to ourselves. It. was. magical! Seriously, an amazing way to start the trip.

moon, magic mountains, desert art sunrise, desert art, las vegas, 7 magic mountains las vegas art, roadside attraction

Normally I get my film hand checked at airport security since it shouldn’t be X-rayed. This year I didn’t have room in my carry on-to take my land camera which already had film in it. I just decided to toss it in my checked bag and hope for the best. I was pleased to see that the resulting damage was actually a pretty cool looking effect.

They’re only going to be on display for two years so I’m super happy I finally got the chance to see them. I probably wouldn’t have enjoyed it even a fraction of the amount I did if it had been as busy as it always looks in photos but the Seven Magic Mountains are definitely worth waking up super early for!

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project 365 : days 142 – 148

by Kaylah Stroup May 29, 2017

142 : 365 I am obsessed with this photo of Professor. He’s such a beautiful little baby.

143 : 365 An air plant and some land camera photos from vacation. Definitely still feel like I’m coming down from the vacation high.

PS. If you’re looking for film for your land camera, you can find it here.

144 : 365 Skeleton toe socks and a spooky little kitten.

145 : 365 Things that live on the table beside my desk.

146 : 365 Post Critical Mass ice cream date with my brother and his family at Mason’s Creamery. I got an affogato, as per usual.

147 : 365 Saturday shenanigans.

abandoned cleveland, abandoned factory

148 : 365 Squid and Professor tolerate each other – no more, no less. In all the years they’ve been living together I’ve never seen them cuddling together but y’all this sure as heck looks like progress!!!

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

4th annual road trip out west

by Kaylah Stroup May 24, 2017

A few weeks back I was sitting at my desk, drinking coffee and responding to emails, shortly after Jeff had left for work when the feeling hit. That intense urge to travel. I text Jeff and said “I need to go to the desert. We can sleep in the car again!” I figured he’d give me the usual “I know, I miss it too.” Instead, he said, “Look for flights then!” Less than two hours later, without ever speaking of it other than through rushed, excited texts, we had a flight booked. A week later we were on our way to the airport!

Each year since we started dating Jeff and I have taken a trip out west. We fly into whatever city is the cheapest, rent a car, and just spend a week aimlessly driving. Each year has had its highlights, and of course, low moments but I think this year’s trip may have been my favorite so far! Last year was nice because we had booked a hotel for every night in advance so there was always a cozy bed to look forward to but this also meant that were on a schedule. If there’s one thing I’ve learned about taking road trips and how I function on the road, it’s that schedules kill fun. In an effort to not only save money but be free to do whatever we wanted, whenever we wanted we slept in the car three of the five nights. It wasn’t the most comfortable but it allowed for us to easily catch sunrise and sunset – the two most magical times of the day, especially somewhere as beautiful as the desert or the ocean.

This year we flew into Los Angeles, drove around in Nevada for a while then headed to the coast. Despite the fact we drove the Pacific Coast Highway back in 2015, we saw completely new things this trip. I feel like we could drive the coast again ten more times and still not see everything there is to see.

We watched the sun rise over giant colorful boulders in the desert, drove the extraterrestrial highway, met all sorts of amazing animals, crept around sunbaked abandoned buildings, searched for ocean life in tidepools, saw all sorts of random roadside attractions, wandered around some of the most interesting cemeteries I’ve ever seen, and fell in love with more than a handful of new places. Lookin’ at you, San Diego!

You’d think after four years of taking the same trip we’d be tired of it but I get the feeling we’d both be fine continuing this little tradition for as long as humanly possible. There is just something so incredibly special about the desert and the time we spend there. The ocean too, I could never tire of it!

mine fire headstone, cemetery, nevada

I have SO many photos to finish going through and organize into posts. I can’t wait to share more!
xoxo

what I wore : note to self

by Kaylah Stroup May 17, 2017

kaylah doolan, overalls, what I wore, cleveland fashion blog, green hair, cleveland blog pin game, lapel pin, denim jacket, green hair cleveland fashion blogger, green hair, pink demin jacket, target style, kaylah doolan, cleveland green hair, fashion blog, what I wore, kaylah doolan palladium boots, what I wore, eyeball socks

A list of things I need to write, read, and remember…

The beauty of another person doesn’t diminish my own.

You don’t have to be petite and delicate to be a beautiful woman. There is nothing wrong with being tall, and there is definitely nothing wrong with curves.

Not having a flat stomach does not ruin an entire outfit. No one actually gives a shit, and if they do… well they aren’t the kind of people you want in your life anyway.

The human body is an ever changing thing. My weight will fluctuate and that’s perfectly fine.

outfit details
glasses – Louise via Warby Parker
jean jacket – pink jean jacket via Target
pins – things will work out + feminist pin c/o Moorea Seal
backpack – TJ Maxx
shirt – Daisy Natives
overalls- H&M (a few years back)
socks – eye socks by Coucou Suzette
shoes – Palladium Boots (similar)

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found on the beach

by Kaylah Stroup May 16, 2017

beach trash, gradient, rainbow, lake erie, plastic, pollution

Just a small ‘found on the beach‘ layout for you here today. In my last beach trash post, I mentioned how the last few times I had been to the beach previous to that visit it was actually very clean. It seemed like the park was on the up and up! There were new picnic benches, a fancy pants wooden fence, and most noticeably of all, it was clean. This beach that was previously covered in driftwood, and trash was actually somewhere people might want to go again. But that was before winter though. It seems as though it was ignored for a few months which meant it was a mess again. I think Earth Day marked the day that beach cleaning started up for the park. All of that to say, my preferred trash beach is fairly clean for the time being which is great obviously but means I don’t find as much.

This layout was from my first visit after their clean-up. Not too many things but the stuff I did find was pretty interesting. I’m working on another found on the beach fabric collection so needless to say, I’ve been hunting for really great little odds and ends to make the photos really pop. I was happy to find two plastic planes, the letter ‘G’, and a couple of strange little animals from hair clips.

It isn’t my best or largest beach trash photo but I can never resist the opportunity to arrange things in rainbow order, and get a few shots…

the dainty squid, beach trash, lake erie, plastic pollution

A quick found on the beach FAQ

Did you find all this stuff in one trip? Sadly, yes. This isn’t even a quarter of it either.
What do you do with all after you’re done? Normally I toss it in the trash. Sometimes I may take certain pieces with me if I think they’ll look cool in a future arrangement. On rare occasions, I leave it as I photographed it. I’m still not sure which side of the fence I fall on here. It’s a bit counteractive since it’s still on the beach after I spent the time to pick it up but maybe others finding it and seeing what an issue plastic is, and possibly getting a kick out of the fact that someone made something colorful and fun from trash, is better than it sitting in a landfill forever. I don’t know.
Do you wear gloves when you pick all this trash up? No, I don’t. These are things that are washed up from the lake, not just left on shore. They’re no dirtier than the sand or water. That’s not to say I don’t sanitize my hands as soon as I get back in my car though…
How long does it take you to do these? Maybe 20 mins (probably less) depending on the size to pick everything up, and another 20 minutes to lay everything out and shoot it.

gradient, found on the beach, palladium,

My last arrangement inspired me to start a new little photos series where my shoe color starts the gradient in the arrangement. The white pair is still my favorite, just because I think that arrangement is the prettiest. I currently have one other colorful pair of Palladium Boots, in blue, so I’m looking forward to adding to the series. I’m thinking I’ll like it a little bit more when it doesn’t just remind me of the Italian flag. Heh! I also should probably get this pink pair, right?!

beach trash buddy!

Check out more of my beach related posts here.

Laurel Grove Cemetery

by Kaylah Stroup May 9, 2017

laurel grove cemetery, savannah, georgia, cemetery

You guys! I finally, finally, fiiiiinally have the last post from November’s trip to Savannah ready to go. I essentially shot nothing but photos of cemeteries which, tooting my own horn here, I think I’m pretty good at. I’ve blogged about it twice already how when I got home I wasn’t really happy with any of the photos. Slowly but surely, cemetery by cemetery, I’ve been editing them and falling in love. These ones from Laurel Grove Cemetery are the last of the photos. Ideally, I’d like to say I’ve saved the best for last but I think these are a happy medium, not my favorites but not the worst. I’m just happy to have saved some photos from one of my favorite places.

My first visit to Laurel Grove Cemetery was back in early 2014. I didn’t spend very much time there but I was instantly enamored. I was SO excited to get back and shoot it properly this last visit. I had two things working against me though. The super bright sunshine for one. Just like at Bonaventure, the sun and the huge trees created an absolute mess of uneven light. Secondly, I realized that my camera was malfunctioning. The shutter isn’t working properly so when it’s bright and the shutter needs to open and close super quickly… it just doesn’t. The result is a large black area in the corner of the frame. I first noticed this issue while shooting these photos so instead of worrying about getting great shots I was stressing about what in the heck was wrong with my camera. In some of the shots it’s very obvious and just looks like kooky editing but in a lot of the other shots, I feel like it kind of works. The sun and my funky shutter were my sources of frustration but with a little bit of patience in lightroom I feel fairly confident that they were salvaged.

cemetery, headstone, savannah, laurel grove laurel grove cemetery, savannah, georgia, cemetery, headstone, graveyard spanish moss, cemetery, laurel grove, savannah

Even though I so clearly struggled with all the photos I got from this trip I still really do think Savannah has some of the most beautiful cemeteries. That spanish moss just gets me every time. I can’t look at these photos without feeling a little pang of homesickness. I’m sure I’m not the only one to get this feeling, the yearning for somewhere that you’ve been before. Somewhere that isn’t home but still holds a special place in your heart for one reason or another. I’m sure there is some word in another language that doesn’t translate to English that explains this feeling. Whatever it is, these photos make me feel it.
xoxo

More from November 2016’s Savannah road trip – Bonaventure Cemetery, Zion Chapel of Ease Cemetery, Old Sheldon Church Ruins + Colonial Park Cemetery.

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Zion Chapel of Ease Cemetery

by Kaylah Stroup April 27, 2017

I’m throwing it way back to November’s trip down to Savannah, Georgia today. Basically, I only shot cemetery photos while we were down that way, and when I came home to edit them I hated nearly all of them, except for the ones from Colonial Park Cemetery. Still swooning over those, actually! It took a few months but I eventually started going back through them hoping to salvage some. First, my shots from Bonaventure Cemetery which were noooowhere as bad as I originally thought. Now, my photos from Zion Chapel of Ease Cemetery!

I originally spotted this cemetery on our way to get Thanksgiving Dinner. We stayed on Hilton Head Island. I don’t recall if I mentioned how much we didn’t enjoy that or not. But yeeeah, we didn’t end up having much fun there. Our experience there was just that everything cost a lot of money and/or was closed. It was Thanksgiving weekend so it’s not surprising that things were closed but it was still kind of shocking how little there was to do that appealed to us. Anyway, our holiday dinner options were $50 per plate hotel food or to hopefully stumble across something on this fancy pants island that was open. We ended up finding a tiny little diner where we were able to play mini golf next door after stuffing our faces. So clearly, it wasn’t all a bummer.

Anyway, I spotted this cemetery off the main road on our way to the diner. We made plans to wake up early the next day, and head straight there.When we arrived the next morning the lighting was beautiful but I was slightly underwhelmed with the cemetery itself. It was a lot smaller than I had anticipated. Only 46 marked graves! There just weren’t many shots to take. When I came home and sorted through the photos I liked a handful of the shots but felt like there wasn’t enough to post. Fast forward to last week, I decided to revisit the photos yet again and wouldn’t ya know it, I ended up really digging them, and finding a few more worth sharing.

zion chapel of ease cemetery, hilton head island cemetery

Built in 1846, the mausoleum is the oldest standing structure on Hilton Head Island.

hilton head island

I just can’t get enough of this combination of early morning light, Spanish moss, and beautiful old headstones. These photos make me want to go back immediately.

There is one more cemetery worth of photos left from this trip that I still don’t like. We’ll see how I feel about them in another few months! 😉
xoxo

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tiny, temporary art installation of beach trash

by Kaylah Stroup April 25, 2017

beach trash, lake erie,

It happens every year. When the warm weather comes around I remember just how much I love spending time at the beach. I remember just how relaxing it is for me just to wander the shore, listen to the waves crash, and search for colorful items that have washed ashore to make arrangements. I literally blog about this same thing every single year but somehow the realization is completely new and exciting each time. Every year I discover that this is my happy place.

I’ve been spending a lot of time at the beach these last few weeks. Because you should always take time for the things that make you happy and ground you. We’ve had some pretty awesome storms recently which always washes in an abundance of crap from the lake. The beach has been a mess which I guess works in my favor. I’ve been gathering beach finds for another round of limited edition pouches. My first batch was really awesome but so far I’ve gotten some real gems that I can’t wait to work with.

While searching for interesting pieces for my project I’ve also been picking up lots of kind of normal, not so exciting things as well. When I went to lay out my finds on this particular day I didn’t really have much that worked together in a single arrangement so I ended making a few. It turned into a tiny, temporary art exhibit of sorts. It wasn’t something I planned but now I want to do it over, do it larger, and with a thought out plan.

beach trash, plastic combs, lake erie beach trash, beachcombing microplastic beach trash, rainbow, beachcombing

For a spur of the moment idea, I think it turned out pretty neat. Someone who happened to show up at the beach as I was finishing up even managed to find me on instagram later and comment on my little installation which felt pretty neat. When I returned two days later it was still standing, although you could tell the waves had washed some sand over a few rows of lighters. It makes me wonder how many other people stumbled upon it. I wonder what they thought…

Check out more of my beach trash arrangements here.

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