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what I wore : green + pink

by Kaylah Stroup February 21, 2017

green hair, the dainty squid, cleveland, fashion blog, banned clothing

green hair, the dainty squid, outfit of the day, fashion blog, cleveland blogger

kaylah doolan, cleveland blogger, fashion blog, green hair, floral dress

details

glasses – Louise via Warby Parker

sweater – Charter School Cardigan via Modcloth

dress – floral halterneck dress c/o Blue Banana (also on Amazon in more sizes!)

belt – thrifted

shoes – Modcloth

I am madly in love with the combination of light pink and green. Actually light pink is kind of my jam right now. I just looked over at my right hand where I have on the rose gold Apple watch, my mouse is resting on a pink mouse pad and I can see my Kindle which has a case of the same color. I haven’t fallen so hard for a color in my life. I’m not sure what it is but I think it’s probably partially because it goes with my hair so nicely and since this hair color doesn’t seem to be going anywhere soon (despite the “Is that for St. Patrick’s Day” comments that make me want to rip it all out) I guess it’s a good thing I’ve fallen for a color that compliments it so well.

Hope you’re having a lovely week.
xoxo

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project 365 : days 44 – 50

by Kaylah Stroup February 20, 2017

44 : 365 I went digging in my box of photobooth strips for my Valentine’s Day post. There were so many that I wanted to share. I really liked this one from back in 2014. The abundance of solo photobooth strips I have make me want to get back into the habit. I think I’ll really enjoy looking at them in a few years. I already could spend ages poring over that box, I should add to it more often.

45: 365 A peek at my Valentine’s Day outfit.

pin from Daisy Natives.

46 : 365 Beautiful yellow roses from a dude who did not blow it.
The candle is from The Candle Creative. You get to choose from a bunch of different designs by awesome artists and then choose your scent from there. So you can pick out the one with the cutest design, and still get the scent you want! This bad boy is hot fudge and it’s heavenly!

47 : 365 A+ Marshall’s score!

48 : 365 I took a handful of photos for a living room sneak peek post that’ll go up later this week. I really enjoy this view from the kitchen into the living room.

49 : 365 We had some majorly warm weather hit Ohio over the weekend. Jeff and I decided to make the most of it by taking a drive to shoot some photos. On our way to another spot I found word of this one online so we added it to the agenda. It worked out perfectly because we got to park the car at a park, get a geocache, and then hike to this. Definitely worth the trip.

50 : 376 Another day of warm weather!

Hope your week is off to an awesome start.
xoxo

Bonaventure Cemetery

by Kaylah Stroup February 16, 2017

One of my all time favorite headstones. I took a photo of it back in 2014 and made sure to hunt it down again on this most recent trip.

Back in November Jeff and I took a quick weekend trip down to Savannah, Georgia. It was my second visit down there and since my first I had grown immensely in my photography. Needless to say, I was excited to shoot some photos. The number one spot I wanted to shoot was Bonaventure Cemetery. Bonaventure is one of those places that is sooo incredibly beautiful that it’s a tourist destination even for… well, normal people? Ya know, normal people who don’t specifically hunt down cemeteries in each city they visit. IT. IS. GORGEOUS.

When we arrived we were greeted by an employee at the gates. In my mind she was about to tell us we weren’t allowed to go in for whatever reason. Instead she asked if we needed any help, warned us Bonaventure wasn’t in tip top shape, and handed us a map.

A month prior to our visit, Hurricane Matthew had ripped through and caused quite a bit of damage to the cemetery. A lot of trees came down, damaging the headstones below. Bonaventure was closed for a few weeks to clean up some of the damage but opened shortly before our visit. Which I’m really happy about. I would have been SO disappointed if we went all the way down to Georgia and didn’t get to go to one of my favorite cemeteries! Large sections of the property were taped off but it didn’t really hinder our visit at all. One would think in the condition it was in that the number of visitors would be low but I don’t think I’ve ever been in a cemetery with so many other people (other than in Granary Burying Ground, of course!) For a place with over 30,000 interments it sure is lively!

I enjoyed our visit to Bonaventure enormously. Seriously every other sentence out of my mouth was “Oh my god, this is amazing!” or “Look! So cool!” Despite how much I enjoyed being there I was not happy with my photos, even as I was taking them. The warm sunshine was felt so good but I’m not huge on shooting photos in bright sunlight. That intense light paired with the enormous trees, and draping spanish moss meant there were a lot of shadows. You don’t have to know much about photography to gather that really bright patches of light and really dark areas don’t exactly make the best photos. I was bummed because I had been so excited to finally shoot the cemetery properly. For two whole years I had been dreaming of going back!

When I got home, imported my photos, and started to sort them I wasn’t surprised when they weren’t awe inspiring. I put them in a folder and moved on. Oh well, at least I got to enjoy the cemetery again! Fast forward to last week, I’m in the middle of organizing all the folders on my computer when I rediscover all my photos from Bonaventure. I found one I liked, edited it. Niiiice. Found a second, edited it. Okaaay, I can dig it. Found another, same thing. After about twenty minutes I had a whole bunch of photos that I couldn’t understand why I didn’t like them the first time around. I’m so glad I didn’t just delete them!

spanish moss, savannah cemeteries, georgia

Until next time, Bonaventure! I’ll be back in another few years to photograph you properly.
xoxo

PS. If you end up visiting Bonaventure some time soon, they have a cemetery tour app! It isn’t free but the proceeds help maintain the cemetery which is pretty rad, and after the storm they could probably use all the help they can get!

three years!

by Kaylah Stroup February 14, 2017

1st apartment alone. 2014.

I love holidays. Honestly, any excuse to celebrate is fine by me! It’s Valentine’s Day which is really just a day for overpriced flowers, and cheesy proposals. I have no problem with either… well, I did make Jeff agree to never propose on a holiday but that’s neither here nor there. Today I’m not only celebrating Valentine’s Day but I’m celebrating three years in Cleveland! It’s weird because on one hand I feel like I just moved here, and on the other it’s like I’ve been here my whole life.

I’ve briefly touched on the subject many times, most recently in a post titled ‘just me, in my element‘ back in October. Maybe an important read if you’d like a little bit of backstory on me? Making that leap, and moving to Cleveland on my own was one of the most important decisions of my life thus far. It was terrifying to have never lived alone, to be struggling with social anxiety, and to leave this “cozy” life I had built behind. It was the right choice for me though. I can honestly say I have never once looked back after making that big decision.

Feb+March 2014. We spent a lot of time in the photobooth.

We haven’t talked in a while (All my fault. Ya girl is the worst at texting back!) but I owe a debt of gratitude to Mickey for basically showing me that a woman can be successful, and happy on her own. She was just this single girl out there, doing her thang and killin’ it. I didn’t realize it at the time but I got a lot of my strength from her those first few months. I don’t think we ever really discussed what I was going through, and to be honest, I don’t even feel like I knew what a big deal everything was until much later. It’s funny how sometimes life just throws you the right people at the right time. She definitely helped me land on my feet. Thank you so much, Mickey.

I think without meeting her I may never had the idea to even move here in the first place. Growing up in the middle of nowhere, the city was kind of a scary for me. Okay, it was reeally scary to me. I adapted quickly though. In a post back in March of 2014 I wrote “I feel like I’m exactly where I need to be right now. Initially a little nervous about city living, my fears have disappeared! This place is perfect for me.” It’s only gotten better since then, especially now that I’m living in my absolute favorite neighborhood in my dream apartment.

Instagram photos from February 2014. I can still smell that apartment if I think about it real hard.

I know a lot of people think Instagram holds no real value but I love looking back at these photos from that pivotal point in my life. The one of the keys, despite being a really ugly poorly composed photo, is one I’m especially happy to have. That photo was from this day in 2014. It blows my mind how radically different my life is now compared to three years ago. At the risk of being cheesy by using the most silly, overused example out there, I really was like a goldfish in a small tank. Cleveland has been the great body water I needed to grow.

I am so happy to live where I do, to have grown as much as I have, and to have been able to meet so many great people in this city. I’m extremely proud of myself for taking that leap, and so thankful for those who helped me along the way. Basically if we’ve been in touch in the last three years, you’ve probably impacted my life in some meaningful way. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

My Valentine + the city I love so dearly.

No matter what your relationship status is, don’t forget to celebrate yourself and all the people who help make your life special today! I hope you have an amazing Valentine’s Day!
xoxo

project 365 : days 37 – 43

by Kaylah Stroup February 13, 2017

37 : 365 It’s just Professor chasing light, nothing new. He’s such a wild little thing.

38 : 365 Silhouette of my second favorite plant. I was really nervous about where my big plants would fit in this apartment since I didn’t really have a good idea of the layout before moving in. Well, I really lucked out. The kitchen is spacious and has a big old window that this hefty cactus can sit in front of. It gets so much sunshine during the day.

39 : 365 I’ve started collecting cards for my memo board because they’re way cheaper than prints, and they’re smaller so I can display so many more. This one from Moorea Seal is my newest addition to the wall.

40 : 365 Instead of just hanging single frames in my office, I opted for photo ledge shelves so that I could change it up often and make cute little arrangements with my small knick knacks. Definitely the right choice for me.

(sources- spine candle + diffuser <– smells amazing!)

41 : 365 I am cackling over how dumb Klaus looks in this photo. This is a pre-yawn face.

Another photo for the day. I bought this lip balm at TJ Maxx and it’s basically the weirdest thing ever. It starts off just like a normal lip balm then it starts to tingle really really intensely. I bought it because I thought it had a nice purpley-pink tint which it doesn’t (it’s just clear) but I still think it was a pretty fun purchase. Bonus points for being strong enough to transfer the tingly surprise when you kiss!

42 : 365 Jeff and I took a quick weekend trip up to Rochester. I haven’t even begun to look through my photos but I definitely have some posts on it coming soon. For now, here is a close up of some colorful graffiti. I dig the combination of colors with the interesting surface textures here.

43 : 365 I liked this little dude on the back of this abandoned building in Rochester.

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

xoxo

You can keep up with my Project 365 photos under the hashtag “project 365“, of course!

It’s the little things…

by Kaylah Stroup February 8, 2017

like taking hiiiiilarious photos of your cat.

You’re right, that totally is a “little things” post I did last year. It’s here + worth checking out if you need a smile. Professor is just the most expressive little guy out there. I’ve met my fair share of really amazing cats but there is something special about this one. He’s a huge goofball with an out of this world personality. I feel like he’s constantly doing something cute or weird or some combination of the two. I always post the most ridiculous photos of him because…well, he’s ridiculous. Guess what! I have more ridiculous photos of him for you today courtesy of a piece of ribbon he so desperately wanted.

“fight me, bro!”

Hope you’re having a stellar week!
xoxo

If you’re looking for more things to smile about this morning, you might find some under my “the little things” tag or over on instagram under the hashtag #fessermakesfaces.

what I wore : a pop of green

by Kaylah Stroup February 7, 2017

warby parker louise, the dainty squid, kaylah doolan

cleveland fashion blog, fashion blogger, kaylah doolan

ohio fashion, cleveland blogger, kaylah doolan

green hair, the dainty squid, cleveland blogger

details

glasses – Louise via Warby Parker

sweater – Forest Cardigan c/o Moorea Seal

pins – pro pin by a shop no longer in biz, Pee-wee Herman by Weird Beard Candle Co.

shirt – Old Navy (Similar)

jeans – TJ Maxx

boots – Fringe Boots c/o Alpine Swiss

One of the best things about having a blog is being able to look back at your old posts. Similarly, one of the worst things about having a blog is being able to look back at your old posts. Heh! I often get lost in my own archives. I just keep clicking and clicking… and cliiicking. Things change so rapidly, even if it doesn’t really seem like it, its fun to look back and get a peek at what things used to be like. I have a love / hate relationship with my old outfit photos. I think a lot of them are kind of embarrassing but I’m happy to have documented them. I may look back now and think “Oh my goodness, what were you thinking?” but at the same time I feel very “Hah! You do you, girl!” about them too. It’s kind of hard to explain but a lot of those old photos it’s like I’m just looking at someone else.

Looking back at all those old photos has shown me how far my style has come in the past few years. I feel like I have a lot more of a consistent style, and that it’s a lot more wearable. Instead of buying things that have a really awesome print or whatever but maybe aren’t that practical I tend to purchase things that I know I’ll be able to wear often, that are comfortable, and that truly fit my lifestyle. No more super short dressed just because the pattern rocks! These photos, in particular, I feel show off that new Kaylah style. Maybe I’ll laugh at this outfit in another few years but I feel like it looks like it was put together by someone who has a pretty good idea of what works for them. It’s cute, it’s cozy, and that’s all I care about.

I do have to admit, these boots are slightly out of my comfort zone. I’m kiiind of obsessed with them and how badass I feel in them though. I’m hoping it will be like my intro to lipstick where I felt a little bit strange wearing it the first handful of times but eventually it just became totally normal. I tend to feel more comfortable in shoes that I can run in. I don’t know what that’s about, it’s not like I ever have to run anywhere. Maybe just a weird built in brain safety feature? I’m new-ish to heels of any sort and these are my very first pair of ankle boots but daaaang they look good. I don’t know about you, but I feel like a BOSS walking in heels. I know, someone out there is snickering at me thinking these heels are high but they are for me! I’m currently eyeing up this pink pair of ankle boots. I’ve put together so many outfits in my head with them already.

Happy Tuesday!

xoxo

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project 365 : days 30 – 36

by Kaylah Stroup February 6, 2017

30 : 365 My Urban Outfitters inspired DIY bulletin board. Read more here. Still over the moon about how this turned out. I really, really love this room.

31 : 365 Just some grumpy little cat yelling about something.
Also, that new bowtie? TOO DARN CUTE.

32 : 365 Box buddies! A little bit later in the day Squid was still sitting in that box and Professor apparently forgot because when he came running by she sneaked out and he jumped nearly a foot straight up. It was the cutest.

33 : 365 I went Trader Joe’s specifically to buy myself flowers. They just have the best selection at the best prices. I’m almost glad I don’t have one any closer or else I’d probably be buying flowers multiple times a week. Two things; this candle smells amazing, and that cat wine bottle makes a perfect vase!

34 : 365 Afternoon sunshine is the best!

35 : 365 Another plant filled corner of the apartment. I love this view, and all our weird things.

36 : 365 Hanging things on the living room wall! Wooo! I mean, kind of “wooo!” It only got partially finished before Jeff and I both got frustrated with the wall itself, which was hard to drill into, and with how the heck to arrange things. Despite the fact it isn’t done, it’s already so much cozier in here. I can’t wait to finish it up! Have I mentioned recently how much I love this apartment? Heh!

Hope your week is off to a lovely start!
xoxo

You can keep up with my Project 365 photos under the hashtag “project 365“, of course!

Friday Favorites #401

by Kaylah Stroup February 3, 2017

The most fitting duvet cover for this late night snacker!

(via: Zana Products)

For all my weird stuff lovin’ friends, I present to you, bone shaped pens! It’s a pack of ten for ten bucks. You’re welcome!

(via: Amazon)

Great color, great cut, and it’s covered in one of the cutest animals out there? Yes, please to this dress!

(via: alice nightingale)

Two of my favorite things – cats + pizza!

(via: Oh Plesiosaur)

These days my fashion choices are pretty chill, I mean… for me at least. I think these craaazy shoes might be a tad out of my comfort zone but I adore them! They’re so awesome! Also, the company that makes them, Hot Chocolate Design, makes some other super neat shoes including these map ones. That’s right! MAP SHOES! One last thing – their boxes are amazing. Seriously, go look through the photos!

(via: Amazon)

Always telling you how I’m always a sucker for a pretty notebook!

(via: Sarah Abbott)

This kitten mug is too darn cute!

(via: Modcloth)

This isn’t true about me, I’m notoriously grumpy after naps, but I still love this blanket anyway.

(via: Calhoun & Co)

I’ve got major heart eyes for this pink coat. It’d look lovely with my green hair and predominantly black and white wardrobe.

(via: Amazon)

These brain specimen coasters are riiiiiiight up my alley!

(via: Think Geek)

Do you sew? Well, here’s a pattern to make your own bralette! If you’d rather just purchase some that has already been made, Ohhh Lulu also sells those too! You’ll have to forgive me, I’ve gone lingerie crazy this past week or so.

(via: Ohhh Lulu Sews)

Link love…
▴ Butt first, coffee. Literally, butt. Showing you that because I hate that stupid saying but I do like butts.
▴ This bra is the dreamiest!
▴ This cat tea set is too cute for words.
▴ Twenty six years old and still obsessed with stickers. Somethings never change.
▴ Love this “not so common” patch!
▴ This monstera leaf bag is kind of the coolest.
▴ Do any of you guys watch Archer? Its one of my favorite shows, and without a doubt Pam is my favorite character. I’m obsessed with this print of her.

Happy Friday!!
xoxo

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