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what I wore: stay cozy

by Kaylah Stroup December 8, 2014

details

hat + scarf – Kin Ship Goods (last year)

coat – c/o

sweater – c/o

necklace – c/o Black Crystals

jeans – TJ Maxx

socks – c/o

boots – c/o

backpack – c/o

patch – Maiden Voyage Clothing Co.

sunglasses – Tumbleweeds Handcraft

The only thing that could make this outfit better to me would be these boots. I currently own five pairs of Palladium Boots (sorry, I literally just told you that a few outfit posts back) but the thing is that they’re all black. Black matches everything, of course, but I’m aching for a brown pair. It took every ounce of my self control not to buy a few colorful pairs during their Black Friday sale.

Regardless, I’m loving this outfit as simple as it is. I will always have a wild streak in my style. I’m sure that some days, no matter how old I get or how “mature” my style gets, there will be days I just want to wear something completely wacky, and more than a little bit obnoxious. I know I’ve talked about it in the past how what I wear a certain day all depends on how I’m feeling. One day I can
be very into a 50’s housewife look, and the next I might be most comfortable in jeans and a sweater, and the next day something completely different. Jeans and sweaters have been what feels right most of the time lately. I’m a little bit jealous of people who have a super consistent style but I guess there’s nothing wrong with mixing it up… everyday!I was curious what I was wearing around this time in previous years and stumbled upon this outfit post in my archives. I think that will forever be one of my all time favorite posts on The Dainty Squid. I still have that dress, I’m thinking it needs to make a reappearance soon. You know what else needs to make a reappearance? Elycia and our “what we wore” posts, right?!

xoxo

giant roadside animals

by Kaylah Stroup December 3, 2014

I made it one of my new year’s goals to take a series of photos of some sort. I’ve had quite a few idea for a series spinning around in my head for a while now and oddly enough, the one I ended up doing isn’t any of them. Hah.

When I moved to Cleveland I put in a request for all my mail from my old home address, as well as my PO Box, to be forwarded to my new address. The mail from my PO Box never got forwarded though. I decided to stop in there and check since I thought it was a little strange that nothing addressed to that box was coming here. I discovered it was stuffed full of postcards and small packages. Inside on the of the packages was a pack of original Polaroid 600 film. (Thanks again, Chloe!!) This was right before June’s big trip out West, so it worked out perfectly. Had I received the film earlier I probably would have shot it on something else less exciting.*

Despite all the gorgeous scenery out West, I ended up shooting exclusively dinosaurs (with the exception of the giant beetle outside the May Museum) with the Polaroid film. I still had a few shots left when I got back so I decided to continue the theme and only shot giant animals. I ended up with seven dinosaur photos, one beetle, and a woolly mammoth. I really enjoy seeing all the photos together. The colors turned out beautifully. Nothing beats original Polaroid!

Taking a series of photos will definitely be on my goal list again next year since it’s something I want to do more of. Seeing these photos together is just what I needed to get started.
xoxo

*I mean, I don’t know about you but I think giant roadside animals are super exciting! Haha!

Thankful.

by Kaylah Stroup November 27, 2014

Ever since I started this blog I’ve done a Thanksgiving post where I post about what I’m thankful for…just like every other blogger. I skipped the post last year because I was at a really strange place in my life. That was actually the day I told my mom I wanted to move to Cleveland. It’s insane to me how different my life is now compared to this same day one year ago. I have SO MUCH to be thankful for. In no order at all, here’s a very short list of things that make me cry a little when I think about them too long…
(I’m so serious too, I’m a crier!)

My apartment in the most wonderful city. I’ve said it once, and I’m sure I’ll say it at least another hundred thousands times; I love this city. I’m so happy to have settled into so city life so quickly and easily. I belong here. Although I’m ready to start looking for a new place, I do love this apartment. It’s the perfect size for all my collections and I.

The best roommates. This year is actually the first time in my life I’ve lived alone. It wasn’t that strange at first, it felt normal. But a few months in, it hit me. I’m never going to come home to dinner cooking, or music on or anything in this apartment. I don’t miss a person in particular, I miss a feeling. I like having someone in another room doing their own thing while I do mine. Living alone can be super lonely for me at times but Klaus, Professor, and Squid are really great company. I seriously don’t know how anyone lives alone without pets. These three are lifesavers!

A tight knit group of incredible friends. I’ve never really had a lot of friends. In high school I had maybe two or three super close friends. I lost touch with them and then basically only concentrated on a relationship – that failed. When I moved to Cleveland I had one friend. Then I met Jeff and was instantly welcomed into his group of friends. I’ve never felt so comfortable so quickly around a group of people. Almost immediately I was being corrected by Jeff for saying “your friends” because they were (are) my friends too.

Jason, Brandon, Rachel, Garrett, Jake, and of course, Jeff – I LOVE YOU GUYS, and I’m so incredibly thankful to have you all in my life. I couldn’t ask for a more awesome group of pals!

It probably seems silly to most, but dude, this list isn’t complete without my bike! It’s insane to me how much something that I’ve known about my whole life could mean so much to be when I rediscovered it as an adult. My bike makes me feel confident, healthy, strong, sexy, and in control. I’m not sure there is any time that I’m happier than when I’m on my bike. I took to cycling like a fish to water.

Last but not least, all of you! I’m so fortunate to be able to blog for a living. I couldn’t do that without you guys. And even more than being able to blog for living, I love connecting with people through my blog. Over the past two years there have been lots of big changes in my life and obstacles that I’ve overcome but it makes it even more exciting to get an email or comment from someone doing the same thing. I connected with people from all across the world doing the same things I was doing – getting their license late in life, moving to a new city, getting on their own two feet, etc. Being able to share my experiences with so many people is a crazy good feeling. Thank you all so much for reading, commenting, emailing, liking, sharing, everything!

I hope you all have an incredible Thanksgiving.
xoxo

Lagoon Deer Park // Instax 210

by Kaylah Stroup November 26, 2014

I shared photos from my trip to Lagoon Deer Park back in October but while I was there I also shot with my instax 210. I hadn’t used it in a while, and honestly had forgotten how much I love the photos it produces. I used to spend a lot of time planning my photos with this camera and ultimately always ended up disappointed. I’ve recently taken to shooting quick, and thinking less about it. I love the results. They have a bit of a disposable camera vibe to them. Shots that would probably be discarded had they been shot with my digital camera always end up being my favorite on film.

It’s so hard to believe this was only just around a month ago. The weather here in Ohio changed SO quickly. It was 70 degrees one day, and then two days later we had a big snow storm. Since then the temperatures have been in the teens and when that wind is whipping it is BRUTAL outside. There was no smooth transition into winter so I’m kind of already feeling antsy about it ending. I would kill to be back in the pen with all these deer, sun shining, in less than the four layers that have become my uniform as of late. Spring can’t come soon enough.
xoxo

Monroe Street Cemetery

by Kaylah Stroup November 25, 2014

I love cemeteries but there is just something about cemeteries in the fall that makes them a thousand times more beautiful, and more peaceful. This cemetery is close to a few other places I frequent but somehow I’d never spent much time poking around in there. I finally got around to doing it last week and I couldn’t be more pleased with my photos. I actually spilled tea on my laptop just a few hours after I got done editing these and my first thought was “Nooooo! The cemetery photos!!!” After a few days in a bag of ride my laptop made a full recovery! Hooray! Although I am still finding pieces of rice everywhere…

It was a gorgeous day for checking out the cemetery, albeit pretty cold. The leaves were all different colors, and the sky was overcast which is my favorite to shoot it but for some reason all my shots looked uninspired. I just wasn’t able to capture what I was seeing in person. Right as I was about to leave a headstone off in the distance caught my eye. When I walked over to photograph it I realized there were all kind of tiny little headstones along the fence that had, for the most part, been neglected and forgotten. Ivy had begun to cover most and I even found a few that had been completely buried underneath growth. My fingers were so cold I felt like they might freeze but I had to keep looking for other little hidden treasures.

Monroe Street Cemetery is a historic cemetery on the West side of Cleveland, until the late 1890’s it was actually the only public cemetery on the West side. It is said that burials began in 1818 but the earliest headstone that can be found is 1827. There are currently over 31k people buried on the 13.63 acres, over 500 of which were soldiers. During the civil war, soldiers who died at Army camps near Cleveland were often buried here. There are also two mayors, as well as many notable folks who helped build Cleveland and Ohio City buried here.
xoxo

Bonus fun Monroe Street Cemetery fact : It was fenced during the 19th century to keep out wandering hogs.

what I wore : on the tracks

by Kaylah Stroup November 24, 2014

details

jacket – Vegan Leather Moto Jacket c/o Golden Tote

sweater – c/o Golden Tote

necklace – Hannah Zakari (a few years back)

jeans – TJ Maxx

camera bag – Lowepro

boots – Pallabrouse Baggy Ex c/o Palladium Boots

This feels like a very grown up outfit for me. There’s nothing really outrageous, other than my hair. For the most part, this is a pretty chill outfit and surprisingly enough I’m really into it. This sweater is definitely something I would pass right by in the store, never giving it a second look but I actually really love it. It was one of my surprise items in this month’s Golden Tote (more info on Golden Tote here!) As soon as I put it on I was smitten. It just fits really well, is cozy and looks great. I have a feeling it will be in heavy rotation this winter. It’s so great to find items that are simple, and easy to just throw on with anything without much thought. I’d like to fill my closet with those pieces.

I’ve been poking around the tracks a lot lately. I didn’t grow up around train tracks. I actually can’t think of any anywhere near my parent’s house but I always wished there were some close. I like that it’s a little escape from the city to be near the tracks. It’s quiet except for when there is actually a train, there’s usually no one else around, and on top of that, they’re a nice place to take pictures. I certainly wouldn’t mind living a bit closer.
xoxo

PS. Ya like that rock by my foot that I used as a marker for the spot that was in focus? Definitely meant to kick it out of frame. Hah!

Hidden Treasures

by Kaylah Stroup November 20, 2014

Moving to Lakewood was easily the best thing I’ve done for myself in…probably my whole life and that’s not even hyperbole. These past nine months have been amazing. Lakewood is an adorable little area. There are tons of beautiful homes, bars, restaurants, and it’s a very safe area. But the thing is, I feel like it’s kind of missing something. Rather, it’s not my perfect location. It was exactly what I needed as a country girl moving to the city, but I’m ready to move closer to the city now.*

When I first starting biking I did basically all my rides downtown, in Tremont, or in Ohio City. (I’m really sorry if you’re not local and me naming areas means nothing to you!) But since gaining the confidence to bike alone I’ve been cruising around Lakewood by myself. I don’t love it as much as biking in other Cleveland areas because we don’t have a lot of graffiti or murals over here. I’m sure if you’ve been reading my blog for any amount of time you’ve noticed I love taking photos of my bike in front of pretty walls. It combines a handful of things I love; graffiti, bikes, and photography, and it gives me an excuse to take a break. I have really poor endurance when I’m biking alone.

Anyway, last week, while I was out enjoying my very first ride in the snow I spotted this wall. I have no idea what it’s all about but I’m overjoyed to have found a little piece of art out in the wild here. The wall was covered in colorful blocks that had little collages of random items. I’m not sure what the significance of each item or collage was. I suppose I could have poked around the building a little more but hey, it was cold!

Here’s to finding more little treasures in my neighborhood!
xoxo

obligatory bike photo

*It’s actually kind of funny to say that. I’m only fifteen minutes away from downtown but I’m anxious to move a bit closer. My lease is up in February and I’m hoping to get within an easy biking distance to downtown.

MonkeyLectric bike lights review

by Kaylah Stroup November 19, 2014

It wasn’t too long after I bought my bike that I did my first Critical Mass. If you’re not familiar, Critical Mass is cycling event that happens on the last Friday of every month. It’s just a bunch of cyclist who get together to ride through the city and yell “Happy Friday!” at everyone. It’s probably the most fun thing in the whole wide world. Anyway, I went to my first one thinking “dude, I’m totally going to have the coolest looking bike”. I love my bike, I think it’s absolutely gorgeous (which I’m sure you already know if you follow me on instagram since I’m always posting photos it.) But after Critical Mass I realized my bike was missing something – lights!

It didn’t take long at all before I found the lights. MonkeyLectric makes a few different kinds of lights that absolutely blew me away. There was no way they could be as cool in person as they looked online (spoiler alert: they are!) I got the M210, which about 2.25 inches tall and has 20 different themes, for my rear wheel and the M232 for my front wheel which has 48 themes and is 6.5 inches tall. Essentially what that means is that my entire front wheel and around the rim on the rear are illuminated.

(the M232‘s 48 different patterns)

They’re super easy to install and run on 3 AA batteries. They’re waterproof, affordable, and best of all, they’re SUPER BRIGHT. I do most of my riding at night so I get a lot of use out of them. They look amazing but they also increase my visibility which obviously is very important. On my first ride with the lights, within minutes of turning them on, I had a car pull up and ask where they were from. They are showstoppers. People are always pointing, staring, and shouting how they love my bike. Getting attention from kids, who are almost always in awe, is probably my favorite thing about them!

One con is I can’t really control the lights. The packaging had extremely basic instructions on how to choose the pattern you’d like it to display. Jeff, and I are both very competent when it comes to electronics but for the life of us both we couldn’t set it to display the patterns we wanted. I’m not sure if it’s a glitch in the set I got, if we’re both completely missing something that’s actually really easy or it’s actually a design fault. Basically the issue is that I can’t seem to choose a specific one I want it to show, it always seems to display the one I want and then cycle to the next shortly after. Somehow I set it to display stars for a few weeks but how that happened is beyond me.

(the M210, obviously a little dirty from miles and miles of use)

It’s a very small flaw (that, like I said, could definitely be something that is our fault! Hard to tell when the directions are so limited though!) that is completely worth overlooking. These lights are incredible. I feel so much safer with them on my bike even though I definitely got them for vanity reasons.

They surprisingly have a really great battery life too. I’ve had my set for a few months, I ride a couple times a week for a few hours at a time, and just last week I had to finally change the batteries for the first time. I’d say that’s pretty impressive.

All in all, these lights are AMAZING. If you own a bike, I don’t know why you don’t already have these light on there!
xoxo

abandoned apartments

by Kaylah Stroup November 18, 2014

Last week Jeff, Brandon, and I met up early in the morning to do some exploring. I had scoped out a few abandoned buildings while cruising around the East side of Cleveland, things I wouldn’t necessarily snoop around by myself. That day we made our way into and around three abandoned apartment buildings. The first was actually the tallest abandoned structure I’ve ever been in, 10 stories tall! We, of course, hiked up the stairs and to the roof first. The view was incredible but I was more interested in what might be inside. As it turned out, there wasn’t much at all. Most of the apartments had been completely cleaned out. A few had a handful of items left, and then there was one that formerly housed a hoarder. (I’m sure it won’t be hard for you to figure out which photos those are!) Anyway, here’s a mix of photos from all three buildings…

As we were exiting the last building and approaching the car, a cop rolled up to us. Instead of feeling us out on what we were doing, as if it wasn’t painfully obvious, he said “Hope at least of you is packing!” On that note, we were outta there!
xoxo

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