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what I wore : five years later

by Kaylah Stroup November 10, 2016

green hair, cleveland fashion blog, blogger, ohio, ootd

cleveland blogger, green hair, autumn fashion, the dainty squid

punky colours, jerome russell, green hair, ootd, wiw, cleveland blogger

details

sweater – Coraline Cardigan c/o Moorea Seal

dress – Modcloth (many years ago)

glasses – Bevy c/o Classic Specs

pin – crescent moon c/o Moorea Seal

belt – Modcloth

tights – Target

shoes – Suits You to a T-Strap Flat c/o Modcloth

Last Sunday we threw a surprise party for grandpa’s 85th birthday. I drove out early in the morning (after speed cleaning my apartment because my landlord texted me to say she’d be coming by), made a few pit stops to shoot foggy photos, helped my parents set up, partied, ate too much, helped them tear down, blah blah blah. It was a super busy day. I really really wanted to squeeze in outfit photos though.

Five years ago we actually threw my grandpa surprise party for this 80th. Before going I took outfit photos that I considered some of my favorites for a long time. See them here! I liked the outfit, the photos were pretty and I felt like I looked really good. I even thought this the other day while glancing back at the post. Even though I don’t own those clothes anymore, I like any excuse to draw parallels between different times, events, blog posts, etc. The thing that would connect these two would be that they were both taken on the day we threw a surprise party for my grandpa. So I was really excited when the sun stayed in the sky long enough for me to grab a few quick shots.

It wasn’t until I got through editing these photos that I realized how sad I looked in that last post. I’m not saying that not smiling in photos makes you look sad. I actually really hate that notion. I just feel like in the photos from last weekend my happiness is contagious. I found myself grinning while editing them. Even if there was a huge stain on my dress that I didn’t notice until now. I have nothing more to elaborate on, just wanted to say life is good. (Oh, and holy cow, I LOVE MY LONG HAIR like a lot a lot a lot!)
xoxo

“Mom! We’re at Grandma’s house. I wanna run, not sit for photos!”

It’s the little things…

by Kaylah Stroup November 8, 2016

like crisp autumn days + finding all the super tiny pieces of beach glass.

I didn’t mind the winter so much as a child, it meant playing in the snow! These last few years though, the season has hit me harder and harder. It just gets dark so early! It hasn’t snowed yet and it’s not even technically winter but already I feel like it’s taking a toll on me. Each year I understand a little better why people retire to Florida. Although my choice would be Arizona…

Luckily this November has been really, really amazing. Aside from a few rainy days, there has been lots of sunshine! I’ve been trying my best to soak it all up whenever possible. This is my perfect beach weather. Late in the season so there aren’t many people. Its cool enough to wear a coat, and warm enough to not wear gloves. Plus nothing beats the crispness of late autumn! Something about leaves falling on the beach is just really beautiful.

Last week I spent a nice little chunk of my day wandering around the beach, picking up tiny pieces of beach glass, and enjoying the crunch of the leaves underneath my feet. I find searching for glass and arranging it in some sort of order so relaxing. It’s absolutely one of my favorite ways to decompress. I also, of course, love the idea of someone else finding my little arrangement after I’ve left.

I hope we get at least a few more crisp autumn days this year!
xoxo

PS. Don’t forget to check out my tips for finding beach glass!

digit review / how I saved $500 in four months

by Kaylah Stroup November 2, 2016

case by Valley Cruise Press

2024 UPDATE: Digit is now called Oportun. I’m leaving this review as is though because I still stand by it. All these years later, I’m still using the app.

One of my goals for 2016 was to save money… which next to “get fit” is probably one of the most popular goals in the world that no one ever actually accomplishes, right? Yeah, well this year I DID IT, all thanks to Digit! Hilariously enough this post, which is not sponsored, sounds more like a sponsored post than ones I’m paid to write. Hang with me here though because this simple app may have been one of the best things I started using this year.

It was around this time last year that my friend Jake told Jeff and I about Digit, a money saving app he used. He really liked it because it was an easy way to save money without even thinking about it. I think Jeff signed up right away but I just kept forgetting. Whatever, it was just another app to take up space on my phone, or so I thought. Eventually, on the last day of May of this year, I signed up. Within no time at all I realized what an awesome app it was. In my midyear goal update I mentioned it and said how I’d probably end up doing a review if I still liked it a few months later. Since then I’ve been trying to think of a way to bring it up without it seeming super out of place. While I blog about a wide range of things, from cemeteries and abandoned buildings to hair tips and my favorite bath products, money saving tips some how just seem a little too unrelated to my normal content. Until Digit saved my butt and I couldn’t help but shout praise from the rooftops…

Not too long ago I noticed that my car, which I bought at the very very end of last year, was a little bit louder than normal. I asked my dad about it and he said it was no big deal and they we’d fix it next time I came over. I continued to drive my car, even taking a few hour trip to check out a some cemeteries. (These ones!) When I started my car at the last stop of that trip it was WAY louder than normal. Something was definitely wrong. At stop signs and red lights it was rattling so loud that I was embarrassed to be sitting there. I pulled over the first chance I got and tried to identify where the noise was coming from but it honestly sounded like it was coming from everywhere. I decided to just drive home, no matter how noisy, and immediately call somewhere to get it fixed when I got back.

Long story short, my bill which I presumed would be well under one hundred dollars for some sort of muffler repair ended up being just over $500. I was heartbroken. I bought this newer, more expensive car because I didn’t feel like dealing with the repairs I’d most likely have to do on something cheaper with more miles. Then BAM! I get hit with this bill. Adulthood, woooo!

After sulking, fighting back the tears, and even trying to convince myself I didn’t even really need a car I remembered how I had just been so excited about reaching $500 in my Digit account! While I still wasn’t stoked to have to pay that much, I mean who would be? I was super happy to be able to afford the repairs without digging into my savings or even touching my rent/grocery/bill money.

Digit sends you fun GIFs when you reach certain savings milestones!

So, what the heck is Digit? Digit is a money saving app. It’s very, very straight forward and takes no time at all to set up. You simply connect Digit to your bank account, it checks your spending habits and if you can afford it, takes a little bit out of your account to save. How often they save depends on your “unique financial situation” but the average is 2-3 times per week. The amount also varies. Their FAQ says the average is $10-30 which from my experience sounds about right.

There isn’t much to do or see in the app, other than how much you’ve saved but what else do you need? If you feel it’s taking too much money from your account you can type “save less” or if you’d like it to take more type “save more”. You never have to worry about Digit taking more than you can afford though. They even have a no-overdraft guarantee! I’ve definitely noticed that at the end of the month when I pay all my bills the amounts digit takes are much smaller. They’ve never transferred more than they should have from me. In the four and half months I’ve been using it I saved five hundred dollars that I know for a fact I wouldn’t have saved otherwise. It’s safe (FDIC insured!), it’s free, it’s easy, and in my opinion ITS THE BEE’S KNEES.

I’m decent with money. I don’t have any debt outside of my car payment but I know I could be better with savings. It’s like I’m greedy with myself. I never move all that much money to my savings account. Instead it stays in my checking where after all my bills are paid I end up treating it as bonus money (AKA money I’ll spend on dumb things I don’t need instead of saving it for the things I really want, like to travel!) Since signing up for Digit, I still transfer money to my bank savings account but Digit has become my second savings account that I don’t even
have to think about.

So yeah, maybe you’ll end up saving enough for a family vacation or maybe it’ll just be enough to buy that fancy overpriced candle you want, either way it’s savings without any effort! I’m super excited to start getting my account back to where it was. I can’t recommend Digit enough!
xoxo

Save

what I wore: overalls, again!

by Kaylah Stroup November 1, 2016

details

glasses – Bevy c/o Classic Specs

top – striped turtleneck via Macy’s

sweater – cardigan via JcPenney

pins – ghoul by Two Ghouls Press, black cat by Valley Cruise Press

overalls – Blue Spice overalls via JcPenney

boots – Palladium Boots

Recently I was contacted by Octer, a website that makes it super easy to find whatever you’re looking for while shopping online. They instantly compare thousands of items from a bunch of different websites so you don’t have to do a ton of legwork when it comes to finding say… the perfect overalls? Yep, when they reached out to ask if I’d like to try them, that’s exactly the direction I went! A Kaylah classic, you know, like I wore when I was the cover of Cleveland Magazine earlier this year. Still can’t believe that was real life!!! Except paired with a cozy oversized cardigan, and striped turtleneck, both found through Octer as well, which is perrrrfect for fall! I’ve actually been wearing this same outfit for most of the week. Don’t you dare judge me, it’s comfy!

On Octer you can browse through categories which they’ve conveniently broken down fairly specifically. For example different styles of dresses like mini, midi, maxi, work, party, beach and so on. I found it easiest just to use the search bar though. If I didn’t, I may have ended up browsing everything for hours and hours! I love window shopping! Its fun because you can compare between different stores of your choice if you already have favorites or just view products from all available stores. I even ended up stumbling upon a few new websites this way! I think my biggest tip is to make sure to utilize the “max price” filter after searching or else you run the risk of falling in love with things way outside your budget. Hello $274 bra.

If we’re being completely real here, I do think that some of the search results aren’t super great. Maybe some of my searches were a little too specific ahem, beetle dress but I’d rather see one result that is exactly what I was looking for than one hundred results with only one of them being relevant. Does that make sense? I guess I did find one whole perfect outfit in no time at all so I’ve got no room to complain!

I’d definitely recommend utilizing Octer next time you feel like treating yo self! You never know what you might find.

xoxo

Disclaimer – I received free product (overalls, top + sweater) for the purpose of this review. That said, strange style choices + opinions are my own!

my top ten cemeteries!

by Kaylah Stroup October 31, 2016

best cemeteries, favorite cemeteries, graveyard

In nearly every aspect of my life I think young Kaylah would approve of how adult Kaylah lives her life. I’ve got a handful of critters that I can’t imagine life without. (I used to wish for kittens while I blew on dandelions. Not that we ever had a shortage of pets!) My hair is always dyed a fun color, and my fashion sense is basically the same albeit a little bit cooler. Long live overalls! There is one thing area where I feel I’d be a let down – Halloween. For the last few years I haven’t even considered dressing up for Halloween. I guess I just don’t see the need. Halloween parties aren’t really my jam so spending the time and money to create something unique just isn’t a priority and I actually feel a little sad about it. I was disappointed to see that Halloween fell on a Monday this year and not the weekend… because that meant I’d have to post something on the big day. I’m sorry I don’t have any ~totally cute last minute costume ideas~ for you to add to your Pinterest board but I do have a list of my top ten cemeteries. Lets be real, that’s way cooler anyway, at least in my book!

I’ve visited numerous cemeteries over the years. I don’t think there has ever been one I didn’t like but some definitely stand out above others. These are in no particular order, except my number one which you will find listed last. A portion are located in Ohio, which should be no surprise since I live here, but the others are all across the US. Below each photo is the name of the cemetery which will link you to the original blog post for more photos!

Rehoboth Mission Cemetery
Rehoboth, New Mexico

Choosing a photo of this cemetery to include in this post was hard. Do I share the view that initially attracted me there? Or do I share one of the many unique memorials found inside? Rehoboth is still and will most likely remain for a very long time one of the most unique places I have ever been. I mean, how often do you see a grave surrounded in hot pink bricks?

Freed Cemetery

Big Springs, West Virginia

While not the most grand cemetery, it was easily one of the most interesting to get to. We had to park in a stranger’s driveway, cross a stream on foot, and then hike up a hill where a bunch of cows were grazing. This is my family cemetery, and looking back at the post I wrote on it I’m kicking myself for not taking more photos. Visiting with my mom and grandpa was a super special experience.

Mound View Cemetery

Mt Vernon, Ohio

Old headstones, tons of symbolism, and the grave of two famous sideshow performers – what more could you ask for?

Laurel Hill Cemetery

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I could spend days exploring Laurel Hill Cemetery and still feel like it wasn’t enough. 74 acres means there is lots to see. Unique headstones galore! I visited three years ago around this time and can’t express just how beautiful it was. Well worth the drive!

Old Bennington Cemetery

Bennington, Vermont

Fan of Robert Frost? Well this is where he’s buried! While that might be the selling point for most, I was more intrigued by the old stones with strange carvings. This place is packed with history and even has a beautiful old church on the property. Make sure to check out the Walloomsac Inn across the street if you visit!

Laurel Grove Cemetery

Savannah, Georgia

To be fair, I don’t actually recall whether the photo above is of Laurel Grove or Bonaventure. Anyone know? I visited both while in Savannah a few years ago, and didn’t keep my photos organized very well. There were a few others as well, and I loved all of them but I was a bit more taken by Laurel Grove. Spanish moss and cemeteries are a match made in heaven! I am dying to get back and see more. (Next month! Ah!)

Brown Pet Cemetery

Columbus, Ohio

Brown Pet Cemetery is the only cemetery that has ever made me cry. The relationships between people and their pets always gets me! Pictured above is my favorite headstone there. In a time when photography wasn’t as prevalent as it is now it’s amazing that someone loved their kitty so much they got glamour shots of her taken.

Monroe Street Cemetery

Cleveland, Ohio

Monroe Street Cemetery is my local cemetery. (Technically it’s not the closest one to my house but that one is all fenced off and trespassing seems out of the question since it’s in the middle of a residential area.) I’ve really come to love this place. I’ve spend countless hours wandering around, and taking photos yet I still manage to find something new each time I visit. If you happen to go, make sure to check out the tiny, old hidden headstones along the fence by the scrapyard. Those are some of my favorites. In the summer they’re nearly hidden by vines.

Workman Cemetery

Danville, Ohio

Workman Cemetery was a random find in the middle of nowhere that ended up being one of my absolute favorites. Old headstones, and overgrown patches – a place after my heart! I honestly still love looking through my photos from this location. The colors and depth of field make it seem like something from a dream world.

Mount Moriah Cemetery

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Mount Moriah is the cemetery of my dreams. Easily one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. I can only imagine how awesome it looks this time of the year will fall foliage. I honestly still can’t believe it was real and that within a few days of even knowing it existed that I got explore it. While I certainly hope conditions improve and the volunteers continue to help clean up, I’m super stoked to have been able to see it all overgrown.

So maybe I won’t be dressed up in a fun costume tonight but rest assured I am wearing my skeleton leggings and my dog is in his skeleton costume so maybe young Kaylah would think I was still cool. You know, that and the fact that I have a job where I can make a list of my ten favorite cemeteries!

Do you have a favorite cemetery? Any awesome cemeteries near you I should check out when I eventually make it out your way? I’ve got a running list, always looking to add more!
xoxo

Unity Brick Church Cemetery

by Kaylah Stroup October 27, 2016

For the longest time I’ve been saying “someone should make a cemetery finder app!” It sounds like a super niche product but I know I’m not the only person out there whose idea of a good time is wandering around an old cemetery. Google is obviously a great resource but it has its limits, plus it’s not convenient to use when you’re already out and about (…and don’t really even know where you are!) Recently I searched in the app store using the keyword “cemetery”, something I thought I had done before at least a handful of times, but something new popped up! Find A Grave has an app! I genuinely don’t understand how it eluded me for so long, especially since I’m frequently on their website. I’ve been using the app basically every time I leave the house. It’s amazing how many tiny, old cemeteries are around that I never knew about!

After visiting Achor Valley Cemetery I wasn’t ready to head home yet. I wanted to make the most of my day and the nearly two hour drive so I decided to check the app and see what else was around. There were lots of small cemeteries but I wanted something a little more substantial, somewhere worth the drive. I ended up choosing Unity Brick Church Cemetery.

It was a short drive from where I already was but upon pulling into the parking lot I thought maybe it wasn’t the place for me. From my car, to the right of the church, I could only see newer graves, many decorated with flowers. I figured I should hop out and get a better look before giving up. Behind the church I could see some older looking headstones in the distance so I grabbed my camera and started walking.

It wasn’t until I got close enough to read them that I realized just how old. Early 1800s! YES! There was a large chunk of these headstones back there with a few more hiding out in the woods. The cemetery was very well maintained (Aside from random headstones in the woods. Not sure why those weren’t taken care of…?) I definitely wasn’t expecting to find such interesting headstones in this tiny churchyard. I particularly enjoy finding ones in other languages. There really isn’t too much of that in Ohio, so it’s always new and exciting for me. I had never seen the phrase “zum andenken” before, it translates to “in memory”. Such a solid find!

headstone symbolism, cemetery, graveyard

Unity Brick Church cemetery certainly wasn’t the largest cemetery I’ve ever been to but it was definitely a great way to end my trip. This place on top of visiting another beautiful old cemetery with bonus abandoned church made this a pretty darn awesome day. You know, aside from the fact my car pooped out on me on the way home but more on that another day.

I always say I want to make little day drives like this something that happen more often but haven’t really gotten in the habit. I think the Find A Grave app might change that!
xoxo

my 8 favorite beauty products!

by Kaylah Stroup October 26, 2016

“Beauty blogging” is something I’m always dipping my toes in but can never seem to commit to. I’m a dabbler in make-up. I love to try new things but most doesn’t stick around for too long so I never get around to blogging about it. I’m not incredibly talented and could probably use a few pointers from friends but I do have a short list of beauty products I LOVE and purchase over and over again.

My 8 favorite beauty products!
▴ Hask Placenta. I think in all of my hair related posts I’ve made it abundantly clear how much I love Hask Placenta. It’s hair magic, you guys! That’s all I’ve got to say about that!

▴ Coconut oil. Hi! Welcome to the internet. Have you heard about our lord and savior, coconut oil? Seriously though, coconut oil is a must have and just about everyone ever has written a post about it. I use coconut oil for A LOT of different things. My top three uses – to shave with, make-up remover, and oil pulling. If you search on Google, there are literally lists upon lists of what you can do with it. Once you try shaving with coconut oil though, you’ll never want to use anything else again. Sooo smooooth. It’s also Professor ‘s favorite product. That little cat just hears me pick up the jar and comes running. It’s good for pet’s coats! I usually give him a small amount or else he just licks it off my legs.

▴ Argan oil. I only started using argan oil when I got my curling wand last month but I will never be without it again. It makes my hair so shiny, and so soft without making it greasy. It also makes my hands super soft in the process, and I love the way it smells! I feel like it makes my hair twice as pretty!

▴ St. Ives Timeless Skin Facial Moisturizer. I’m pretty forgetful when it comes to putting lotion on any part of my body other than my face (probably because I’m already so silky from coconut oil! Hah!) but I always use moisturizer after hopping out of the shower. I’ve tried a handful of others but always come back to St. Ives. This stuff leaves my face feeling soft and moisturized but never greasy.

▴ Seche Vite. You NEED this top coat. Seche Vite is the top coat of all top coats. It dries quickly and keeps my nails chip free for days. Since originally discovering it years ago I haven’t painted my nails once without finishing up with this stuff.

▴ Maybelline colorblur lip pencil. Despite having bought and tried LOTS of different lipsticks, I still feel fairly inexperienced in the whole world of lip color. I’ve found a handful things I love, a few that I hated, a couple that I don’t know how I existed without. My-My Magenta and I Like to Mauve It are two colors I own of this line and gah! they’re so good. They feel really nice on your lips, and the color lasts! I kind of want to buy a lifetime supply just in case they ever get discontinued.

▴ NYX Illuminating Stick. I bought this on a whim and was kind of shocked with how much I came to love this stuff! It comes in a variety of colors. I randomly chose “chardonnay shimmer” which was the perfect choice. One quick swipe in each spot I want to shimmer, a tiny bit of blending, and I have beautiful highlights!

▴ IT Cosmetics Celebration Foundations. I found this stuff through youtube one day. It was more than I ever wanted to spend on a single item of makeup but after watching the infomercial on QVC I couldn’t resist. I LOVE this stuff. Reading over the reviews I see that they’re actually pretty mixed right now but a lot of the complaints sound like what happens when you apply too much. A little bit goes a long way! This stuff is so easy to apply and gives me effortless full coverage in no time at all.

Notable mentions!
▴ Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Eyeliner. Probably the best eyeliner out there! Why is it only a notable mention? Because I don’t currently own any. I wanted this post to be things I genuinely always have on hand. Despite loving this eyeliner I often purchase different brands when I run out of it because I like to try new things. I always come back to it though!

▴ Jojoba Oil. Makes an excellent make-up remover (some people even claim it makes your eyelashes grow!) You can put it in your hair to make it smooth and shiny. Rub on your hands for beautiful cuticles. I even use it to shine my plugs! Why is it only a notable mention? Because since finding coconut oil I don’t use it as often. I felt the need to include it though since I know some people aren’t interested in using coconut oil.

▴ Tinted lip balms! Tinted lip balms are my go-to when I don’t want to commit to lipstick for the day. Why are they only a notable mention? I don’t have a favorite brand, and in all honesty, I’ve never tried one I didn’t like. My top three right now are Burt’s Bees in Rose, NYX butter lip balm in panna cotta, and Wet N’ Wild natural blend in spice.

What are some of your all time favorite beauty products?
xoxo

Cleveland Rocks!

by Kaylah Stroup October 25, 2016

Welp, that might be the cheesiest post title I’ve ever written (yeah, probably not…) but with the first game of the World Series tonight and our team playing I couldn’t not share something related to the city I love today. I’m not huge on sports but I will always root for Cleveland. I was downtown when the Cavs brought home the championship, and I’m looking forward to being there when Cleveland brings home another big, big win! I digress…

Last weekend was super busy. My nephew’s first birthday party, photoshoots for upcoming posts*, a long exhausting hike at Whipps Ledges, dinner with my brother, and geocaching. I’m certainly not complaining, I love weekends like this. Staying busy is essential this time of the year when the sun sets SO early. I know it’s still early in the season but I am already feeling the blues that come with cooler weather.

Sunday evening ended with a trip to the roof of one of Cleveland’s most popular abandoned buildings. This spot was one of the first Jeff took me when we started dating. It was actually the first place we held hands! Awww! So despite not really having too many new photo opportunities, it holds a special place in my heart. That and it has one of the absolute best skyline views!

sad ugly, sticker, graffiti, cleveland, rooftop

Sunsets never get old for me. I recently read about a scientific study that showed watching the sunset made people feel so full of awe that it slows down their perception of time. I’ve definitely experienced that time and time again. I love them so much, especially when I get to watch them with my friends in this city I love so deeply.
xoxo

*I love how much fancier that sounds than what it really was – Jeff and I struggling to get a nice family photo with all three pets in front of a huge black table cloth. Hilarity ensued, photos to come! 😉