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reviews

custom book embosser review

by Kaylah Stroup April 4, 2023

I recently thrifted a book that had a custom embossed design on one of the pages. Immediately after spotting it I KNEW I needed one of my own. I wasn’t sure if it would be something I’d have to save for or not. I just knew that I needed one.

I did a quick bit of research, realized they were totally affordable and filed the thought away as ‘Christmas gift idea for Jeff!’ I ended up buying him both a custom stamp* and a custom embosser because I couldn’t decide which I thought was more cute.

*The custom stamp was from RuskinSketch on etsy. Highly recommend them if you want to go the stamp route!

When the embosser arrived, I gave it a test run just to make sure it wasn’t a dud. I felt like for the price, it might very well be too good to be true. I ended up buying one for myself the same day though.

LOOK HOW CUTE!

I ordered my custom book embosser here from Pickled Stamps. They’re customizable. Don’t just look at the few pictures in the listing either. Once you hit “customize now” over where you’d press add to cart, you get the full run down on all your different options!

It’s super easy to use. Just pick a page, squeeze the embosser and gently smooth with your hand.

100+ books later and I’m still as charmed as I was by the first one. It just feels so fancy! If you’re a book lover or you know a book lover – this is a must have! xo

what I’ve been reading

by Kaylah Stroup March 30, 2023

What I’ve been reading…

The Trees Grew Because I Bled There by Eric LaRocca.

I only discovered Eric LaRocca a couple of months ago. I read their book We Can Never Leave This Place and was instantly hooked. I bought all of his book and when I saw he had some coming out, I pre-ordered those too!

This new collection of short stories is exactly what I’ve come to expect! These stories are unsettling, grotesque and just really really messed up. Please know that what I just wrote is a compliment. I think Eric LaRocca is an incredibly talented author who knows exactly how to make your stomach turn. I actually read this latest book after marathoning some sillier, more light-hearted horror and WOOF what a punch in the gut. Highly recommended for those who enjoy exploring the darker aspects of the human condition!

Hammers on Bone by Cassandra Khaw.

“John Persons is a private investigator with a distasteful job from an unlikely client. He’s been hired by a ten-year-old to kill the kid’s stepdad, McKinsey. The man in question is abusive, abrasive, and abominable.
He’s also a monster, which makes Persons the perfect thing to hunt him. Over the course of his ancient, arcane existence, he’s hunted gods and demons, and broken them in his teeth.”

This novella is a fast-paced and gripping read. Khaw’s writing style is evocative and atmospheric, with vivid descriptions that make you feel like you’re right in the story. I’ve never been super into noir or detective themes but wow, this makes me see the appeal! I think my biggest complaint is that it wasn’t longer (not because I didn’t feel the story was complete but simply because I wanted MORE!)

I loved Hammers on Bone and am definitely looking forward to picking up the second book in this series, A Song for Quiet.

How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix.

“When Louise finds out her parents have died, she dreads going home. She doesn’t want to leave her daughter with her ex and fly to Charleston. She doesn’t want to deal with her family home, stuffed to the rafters with the remnants of her father’s academic career and her mother’s lifelong obsession with puppets and dolls. She doesn’t want to learn how to live without the two people who knew and loved her best in the world.

Most of all, she doesn’t want to deal with her brother, Mark, who never left their hometown, gets fired from one job after another, and resents her success. Unfortunately, she’ll need his help to get the house ready for sale because it’ll take more than some new paint on the walls and clearing out a lifetime of memories to get this place on the market.

But some houses don’t want to be sold, and their home has other plans for both of them…”

I’m really enjoying Grady Hendrix at the moment. I dove straight into this after finishing up The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires. I will admit it took me a little bit of time to get into this one. The siblings in the story bicker quite a bit and honestly, I don’t care. It felt petty and draining BUT once the story really got going, I was IN.

While I do feel the beginning dragged a bit when I think about the book as a whole, I loved it! It was very entertaining. Oh, and I cried happy tears at the end.

My advice? Don’t futz around reading reviews on this book that might spoil what kind of horror it is or what/who is haunting the house.

My next three are part of a four part series (in which I will absolutely be buying #4 too!)

John Dies at the End, This Book is Full of Spiders, and What the Hell Did I Just Read? by Jason Pargin.

Oh goodness, these books are stupid. If you’ve read them, you know what I mean but in case you haven’t…

“John Dies at the End is a genre-bending, humorous account of two college drop-outs inadvertently charged with saving their small town–and the world–from a host of supernatural and paranormal invasions.”

John Dies at the End is horror written by someone with the sense of humor of a thirteen year old boy. What I’m saying is that it’s perfect for me. These three books are ludicrous.

Each one had me going “ahhh, maybe just one more chapter” over and over again. After the first book, you definitely have a feel for how absurd things can get but I feel like you can never truly be prepared for what might happen next. I can’t say that they’re perfect for everyone but I was certainly entertained. I think after spending so much time in this series, I’m going to be really sad to leave this very strange universe.

Peruse the ‘books‘ category here on the blog for similar posts. Keep an eye on my instagram stories if you’re looking for even more recommendations!

what I’ve been reading

by Kaylah Stroup March 15, 2023

It’s been about ten years since I consistently read and blogged about books. There were a couple of book posts here and there over the years but I was definitely on a bit of a bad reading streak. I just couldn’t concentrate on books. I’d pick something up I thought might interest me but just not be able to get past a chapter or two. I also spent a long time telling myself that if it wasn’t non-fiction, it wasn’t worth reading. What!?! I truly don’t know what that was about either.

Then, one day, my husband picked up Nothing But Blackened Teeth by Cassandra Khaw for himself while at the bookstore. On the way home, it started raining really really bad. I am a nervous nelly, especially in the passenger seat, so to distract myself I grabbed the book and started reading. I was hooked pretty quickly. It didn’t take long at all for me to remember just how good it feels to get lost in a book.

That was back in October. I’ve been engrossed in one book or another ever since.

So! Guess what though, baby!? I AM BACK, I am reading with a vengeance and I want to tell you allllll about it.

What I’ve been reading…

The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix. If somehow you’ve been living under a rock, like me, and have not already read this book – just buy it. Don’t look at what it’s about, the title tells you enough. Truly, I think the description of it on Amazon gives away too much. It’s a really fun, kind of stressful, lighthearted but still serious book that will make you want to pull your hair out at times but also warm your heart. It was a blast!

Grady Hendrix is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors! I just picked up his latest novel, How to Sell a Haunted House. Can’t wait to dive in.

The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix. “Lynnette Tarkington is a real-life final girl who survived a massacre. For more than a decade, she’s been meeting with five other final girls and their therapist in a support group for those who survived the unthinkable, working to put their lives back together. Then one woman misses a meeting, and their worst fears are realized—someone knows about the group and is determined to rip their lives apart again, piece by piece.”

I picked this book up at the bookstore a couple of times before I finally decided to buy it. If I’m being honest, slasher is my least favorite kind of horror so I felt like it might now be a good fit for me. I was wrong. I’m sure having a real interest in slasher films would make this book even more fun but even if those don’t float your boat, I can’t imagine you wouldn’t enjoy it! As mentioned above, Grady Hendrix is a wonderful author!

Anybody Home? by Michael J. Seidlinger. Home invasion but from the perspective of the invader! It’s a super dark book that is unlike anything I’ve ever read before. Leaves you feeling a bit icky, which I guess is a pretty solid compliment for a horror book!

Brother by Ania Ahlborn. “Deep in the heart of Appalachia stands a crooked farmhouse miles from any road. The Morrows keep to themselves, and it’s served them well so far. When girls go missing off the side of the highway, the cops don’t knock on their door. Which is a good thing, seeing as to what’s buried in the Morrows’ backyard.

But nineteen-year-old Michael Morrow isn’t like the rest of his family. He doesn’t take pleasure in the screams that echo through the trees. Michael pines for normalcy, and he’s sure that someday he’ll see the world beyond West Virginia. When he meets Alice, a pretty girl working at a record shop in the small nearby town of Dahlia, he’s immediately smitten. For a moment, he nearly forgets about the monster he’s become. But his brother, Rebel, is all too eager to remind Michael of his place…“

This was one I just kept getting recommended based on the other books I bought. After finishing it, I see why! This feels like essential horror reading. This definitely feels like top ten of the year material (and dude, we’re only three months in!)

The Book of the Most Precious Substance by Sara Gran. “After a tragedy too painful to bear, former novelist Lily Albrecht has resigned herself to a dull, sexless life as a rare book dealer. Until she gets a lead on a book that just might turn everything around. The Book of the Most Precious Substance is a 17th century manual on sex magic, rumored to be the most powerful occult book ever written–if it really exists at all. And some of the wealthiest people in the world are willing to pay Lily a fortune to find it-if she can. Her search for the book takes her from New York to New Orleans to Munich to Paris, searching the dark corners of power where the world’s wealthiest people use black magic to fulfill their desires. Will Lily fulfill her own desires, and join them? Or will she lose it all searching for a ghost? The Book of the Most Precious Substance is an addictive erotic thriller about the lengths we’ll go to get what we need-and what we want.”

I bought this book because I really LOVED one of the author’s other books, Come Closer. I guess I was hoping for something similar and this wasn’t quite it. Don’t get me wrong, it was an entertaining book that I read through quite quickly but it didn’t necessarily feel as stressful and exciting as Come Closer. I would absolutely recommend it for folks who maybe don’t like the grittier, ickier, bad-taste-in-your-mouth horror like I do though!

One random note though, the fact it’s touted as an ‘erotic thriller’ was a bit misleading. Like a book about sex magic should be a lot sexier??? Again though, could be just me.

Keep an eye on my instagram stories if you’re looking for more recommendations!

easy seed organization!

by Kaylah Stroup June 17, 2021

this post contains affiliate links.

how to organize seeds — *Teva flatorms for LIFE!*

If you’ve been following me for a while, my head-first dive into gardening this year probably isn’t much of a surprise. Now that I have a yard of my own, gardening basically consumes my every thought! I am HOOKED.

Early in the year, I started purchasing seeds to start indoors. (I bought this little greenhouse. HIGHLY recommended. Makes such a big difference when starting seeds indoors.) At first, just storing the individual seed packets inside a tote bag was fine. The more seeds I collected, the more I realized that organizing them would be essential if I didn’t want to waste fifteen minutes sorting through seed packets every single time I wanted to find one specific thing.

After a quick search, I ended up finding this photo organizer. Sixteen four by six containers that all fit neatly into one larger box. It is PERFECT for organizing my seeds. Half of the containers are for my flower seeds and the other half for my veggies. From there, I have them grouped by other categories such as perennials or tomatoes. (Gosh, I have so many tomato seeds! I can’t help it!)

Knowing exactly where each kind of seed is stored makes it so much easier to see what I have and make sure it gets in the ground at the right time. It helps prevent me from accidentally repurchasing things I own. (Do you know how many times I ordered radish seeds because I kept not being able to find them when I’d look? Too many.) It’s also super easy to store when I don’t need it and tote it out to the garden when I’m ready to plant! Honestly, can’t recommend it enough!

I feel like this organizer plus a couple packets of seeds would make the perfect gift for a budding gardener or new homeowner!

Perfect gardening shirt from RedBubble. Check out some of my faves here + don’t forget to use code ‘RBC-G21-thedaintysquid’ for 15% off.

Happy gardening! xoxo

things I loved in October

by Kaylah Stroup October 29, 2020

this post contains affiliate links.

▴ Skin therapy oil. It’s not even winter yet, but I already feel like I’m suffering from ~winter skin~. This stuff is the blast of moisture I needed. I massage it in after I wash my face. Oh my goodness, not only does it smell great but it makes my skin feel so silky and moisturized. It feels especially luxurious to apply right before bed! (Don’t let my use of the word ‘luxurious’ when talking about a face oil scare you away. It’s actually under ten bucks!)

▴ Dockers beanie. I have a big head… or so beanies have led me to believe. I cannot be the only person in the world that feels like beanies generally just fit their head waaay too tight. I found this hat in store maybe five years ago and I’ve worn it every cold season since. It just fits so well. I’ve tried buying a second but couldn’t seem to find the same one. Well, baby, I’ve found it! I am so excited to have two of my favorite hat. I might even buy a third, just to have. I love it that much. If you’ve ever seen a photo of me in a hat, this is the one.

▴ Oversized cardigan. A cold-weather necessity, plain and simple. It’s cozy, it’s warm and it can be dressed up or down. No complaints here, I mean, other than the fact I don’t own one in every color. Sizing note – I went one size down and it’s still oversized.

▴ Crocs lined clogs. My first pair of Crocs, definitely not my last. Formerly someone who’d make fun of Crocs, I was hunting for a solid pair of cozy slippers when I spotted these ones. I decided I could put aside how dumb-looking they were if they’d be comfy and keep my feet warm. YO! These bad boys are amazing. Seriously, toss your slippers and buy a pair of these instead.

The Crocs slippers are so darn comfortable that I’m actually already looking forward to getting a classic pair of Crocs for yard shoes next spring. Never thought I’d say it, but I am a fan!

pillow is from John Derian’s line at Target.

▴ Hand chair. I have wanted a hand-shaped chair for… well, forever. It’s just one of those things I’ve basically never had the room for / didn’t know a good source for. Shortly before buying our house, I happened upon these on Etsy and knew as soon as we got moved in, I’d treat myself to a chair.

It is everything I have ever dreamed it would be. Although, in all honestly, it’s not terribly comfortable. I probably wouldn’t want to sit in it to watch TV or anything, but that’s never been what it’s about. I actually already bought a second one so that I can have a matching set!

If a hand chair has something you’ve been wanting, definitely check out the shop I linked above. They’re a lot more affordable than I thought they’d be, and they’re made by a small business. (So many color options too!!!)

▴ Long sleeve button-down shirt dress. I’m going to be honest, I don’t do much dressing up these days. My outfits are pretty consistently paint-covered overalls. Hey, if you’re looking for an overalls recommendation, I have that too! I bought this dress at the beginning of the month, and I am dying to wear it on a date. Ya know, one to somewhere other than Home Depot.

It is seriously the perfect shirt dress. Long enough to cover the booty, short enough to be flirty. Lightweight and flowy! Plus, y’all know I can’t resist a good black and white pattern. This easily moved itself into my top three dresses!

▴ Star light fixture. I generally love decorating. Over the years, I’ve collected a ton of stuff I truly love, and that makes it kind of easy to put together spaces I find cozy. Do you know what I’ve never had to purchase before though? Light fixtures. You know there are a million of on the internet, and what’s hard to get a feel for without seeing in person? That’s right, light fixtures!

I ended up stumbling upon this one and immediately threw it in my cart. After helping my dad install it, I bought a second for another spot in the house because I love it that much. It’s small but still packs a punch of cuteness. I love the shadows it casts on the ceiling too!

Did you try/buy anything awesome this last month?
xoxo

things I loved in April

by Kaylah Stroup May 2, 2020

▴ Wire shelf for my memo board. Guys! Why, oh why, did I wait so long to buy any accessories for my grid memo board!? I realized the other day that I had zero plants in my office. The issue is that I don’t really have the space to put any since I need all of the surfaces to work on or store sewing supplies. Then it hit me that I could probably attach some sort of shelf or something to my grid for plants.

One quick search later and I had this cute little thing! It’s perfect. It fits my grid so nicely and will hold so many little plants!

I also put a grow light in the lamp beside it that points up toward the plants. Obviously that will be nice for the plants but holy cow, having the bright light in there is doing wonders for me too. I didn’t realize how much light it was putting off until I walked in to my living room and it was like… pitch black in comparison. It definitely helps keep me motivated having a really cute and well lit work space.

▴ Proud plant mom socks. I love cute socks & I love plants. It’s just that simple.

▴ Socially distanced hug postcard. I have sent out SO much more snail mail in the past month than I have in a really really long time. It feels good. I missed it a lot.

One of my favorite stationery purchases was a handful of these socially distanced hug postcards from E. Frances Paper. They’re super affordable and come with stamps on them already! It couldn’t be any easier to send a little love to your pals.

▴ Glass dome. I wanted a little something to bump up the humidity for one of my favorite plants. This baby has been doing the trick! Here is a photo of the same plant from April 10th and the above photo was taken on the 30th. I’m not sure how obvious it is in the two photos but yo, this thing took OFF! It grew so many new leaves. I am so happy!

I was pretty nervous about buying something so delicate online but it arrived in perfect condition. I don’t need another… but I’m tempted!

▴ Earthworm castings. Yep. I am over a month into quarantine and I’m buying worm crap on the internet. I mean, I totally would have bought this anyway but it is kind of funny to be buying poop on the internet when you know everything is so weird in the world.

ANYWAY. I bought worm castings after bingeing Planterina’s videos on YouTube. They’re supposed to be a great natural fertilzer for your plants. You just mix a bit in to the top bit of your soil and water through. Obviously it hasn’t been long enough to say that it’s making a major difference but I’m very curious to see if I can notice improvements in the coming months.

▴ Coir pole. This is my first pole for a climbing plant and I am very very happy with my purchase. I spent an excruciating amount of time reading reviews before deciding on this one.

I really like the trellis I bought for my swiss cheese plant (check that out here) but I just kept reading about how great moss or coir poles were for plants like this. Not only does it provide support but the roots but gives something for aerial roots to grow into. Better support and healthier roots means bigger leaves!

Also, can we talk about this plant?! Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma! I bought it from Urban Planting Cleveland (who are delivering right now while everything is closed! Hallelujah!) It’s so pretty. I just love those leaves. I can’t wait to watch it grow. It’s already working on popping out two new leaves since I got it a couple weeks back.

▴ Calming oil + No.1 Face Serum from Little Roamer. Missy just launched her shop on May 1st. Everything is super small batch and made from natural ingredients. She sent me her face serum and calming roller to try out early. I am in loooove.

The calming roller smells so lovely. I have it sitting on my desk. I find myself using it every time I start to stare off into space as a way to bring me back and ground me. The face serum is super moisturizing. It takes a second to really sink in but once it does it feels so nice. Definitely a nice little treat for my skin!

Also, y’all need to follow Missy on instagram. Her photos make my heart ache for the open road!

Did you try anything cool in April? Tell me all about it!

xoxo

how to drill holes in planters

by Kaylah Stroup March 4, 2020

this post contains affiliate links

face planter

I will only plant things in containers with holes in the bottom. Period. No exceptions. You can try to tell me that rocks in the bottom provide proper drainage but I’m not buying it. A way for excess water to escape is the only way to go. Otherwise, even with rocks in the bottom, if you’re thoroughly watering your roots will eventually be sitting in water which can lead to root rot.

For the longest time, I avoided pots without holes because I didn’t realize how easy it was to drill my own. Years and years ago, I had asked my dad to drill a hole for me but he refused after I tried to make him promise wouldn’t break my pot. I felt like if my dad couldn’t do it, it can’t be done buuut that thinking is clearly flawed because I’ve started drilling my own holes and knock on wood I’ve had zero breaks!

Doing this is literally so easy you probably don’t even need a post to tell you how but I wish I had found a post like this years and years ago just to give me the confidence to try it out for myself. I think once you’ve done it once or twice you really get the feel for it and will start to even hunt down pots without holes – I have!

Supplies needed –

a drill
glass + tile bit (I’m using 5/16 inch)
ceramic pot that needs a hole
rag to catch dust
occasionally, a water bottle.

All you do is turn the pot upside down and start drilling. The key is to take it easy though. Apply pressure but not too much. I’ve found that some are super easy and go through like butter and others take a bit more elbow work.

On tougher pots, the bit might start to get a bit hot in which case I like to spritz a bit of water on it. That keeps your bit from prematurely wearing out, it also keeps the dust down. Spritzing every pot isn’t a necessity though. I’ve also found that coming in at a bit of an angle after already getting the hole started helps open it up more quickly.

That’s all! Super easy. All it takes is the correct drill bit and a bit of patience. For your first one, practice on a pot you wouldn’t be totally upset if it broke and that should give you all the confidence you need to go through and make holes in your whole collection!

hand planter

dog planter / for planters with uneven tops like this one I hold them between my legs while I drill. (be careful, please.)

Seriously, this is stupid easy. Buy this drill bit, charge up that drill and get to making holes. Your plants will thank you!

things I loved in February

by Kaylah Stroup February 26, 2020

This post contains affiliate links. Check out our disclosure policy for more details.

▴ Patterned sheer socks. I don’t know what it is about this style of sock but I am obsessed. Over the years I’ve owned a couple of the polka-dotted pairs but when I saw this set of five I had to order them. They are SO cute in person. I love the way they look, fit and feel.

For reference, I wear a size 8 shoe & the socks fit like a glove. If you have really tiny or really large fit these might not be for you since they don’t have much stretch.

▴ Rit Dye (purple). This was my first time dyeing an item of clothing and holy cow, I may have found a new obsession!

I had this white shirt from my favorite band, Man Man, that I had to have because I loved the silly design but when it comes right down to it – I hate white shirts. They don’t look good with my skin tone. I inevitably stain them. Also, I don’t own a white bra to wear with them. Needless to say, this shirt wasn’t getting much wear time.

I made a spur of the moment decision to toss it in some dye and wowowow it’s perfect. It took basically no time at all too. I can’t wait to find something else to dye.

PS. I posted a quick video of the process here.

▴ Dog planter. I just couldn’t resist. In order to give all my plants a more cohesive look in my home, I only use black, white or black and white planters. This fits the bill! So happy I happened to stumble across it.

It should be noted that I did have to drill a hole in the bottom of the pot which is no big deal. I use this drill bit (and totally plan on writing a post about it soon!) but if you’re not comfortable doing that and want drainage, you might wanna pass on this little cutie.

▴ Backlit mechanical keyboard. I posted about this in my Friday Favorites a little while back but I am still not over it. Jeff originally bought a similar one for himself. While he was at work it arrived, he said that I could try it out on my computer aaaand I was hooked instantly. I didn’t want to give it back.

He ended up buying me this one because I wouldn’t stop talking about his. It is PERFECT. First of all, mechanical keyboards are so much more fun to type on. Secondly, the colors! It’s so vibrant. It even has 18 different modes. My favorite is the one in the GIF above where it just kind of cycles through the colors.

I can’t tell you how much I love typing on this thing. Replacing boring things with fun ones especially ones that light up! is the best.

▴ Goodthreads High Rise Skinny Jeans. I’ve actually had these jeans for a couple of months now but gosh, I’m obsessed. They fit SO nicely. I love a good pair of skinny jeans but most of them that I already own are a thin, stretchier material. These are a bit heavier (not super hot or anything though) and just feel so much more substantial. I also feel like they make my butt look awesom – obviously a plus!

I want to grab a pair in each color, especially the ‘authentic blue‘!

A couple of other things;

▴ Cleveland related – I tried The Vegan Doughnut Company for the first time the weekend before last. Literal best doughnut I have ever eaten. We went back last weekend and bought a dozen for just the two of us. I highly highly recommend the lemon lavender. Go! Go! Go!

▴ I’ve been using Duolingo to learn Spanish and I’m hooked. With the leaderboard, there’s a bit of a competitive element to it – at least for me – which is super motivating. I’m obviously not fluent and not sure I’ll ever be but I do feel good spending my free time learning something new instead of just scrolling social media.

▴ New favorite pen. I tried these out at a craft store, bought one, then had to hop on the internet the next day and buy a whole pack of them. I just love the way these make my handwriting look. I feel like I need to write a love letter with one. (Seriously, try one! You’ll understand!)

I just love this little pup so much!

What have you discovered and been loving in February? xoxo

The Darkroom film developing review

by Kaylah Stroup January 13, 2020

Film and I have an on and off relationship. It’s been this way for years. I obsessively shoot film for months and then completely forget about it for an even longer period of time.

We’re back on now, as you probably gathered from my recent review of Psych Blue film but in the time that we were off my local film developing hook up went under. By ‘hook up’ I mean Discount Drug Mart. They were never all that knowledgeable to begin with and taking film to someone who really doesn’t know what they’re doing and doesn’t get too much practice is risky. They finally started shipping film off to be developed elsewhere instead of developing on-site and that was my cue to look for something better.

I researched for hours. Where in the world is there to get affordable film developing these days? I had a hard time choosing which mail-in service to use. It seemed like every site had at least a handful of negative reviews. People unhappy with price, scan quality, timing, etc. I finally committed to The Darkroom.

Taken with this disposable camera and then dipped into Lake Erie.

The Darkroom has a couple of different routes you can go. They offer the option to pay online or by mail and you can request a mailer if you don’t already have something to ship in on hand. They even give you a label to print out to slap on your package so you never have to step foot in a post office.

I chose to pay online because it seemed like it’d be the fastest route. I paid for my six rolls, printed the receipt & shipping label and sent it off the next morning.

My Darkroom film developing timeline looked like this –

December 16th – checkout & pay for developing online
December 17th – shipped my film
December 19th – received an email stating my film had arrived
December 21st – film was developed, scanned & uploaded for me to view in albums
December 24th – received my negatives & a disk with the images on it in the mail

BAM! So speedy!

The only two negatives I can think of are price and scan quality.

So, price… what are you gonna do you about it? The Darkroom has competitive pricing. Their prices are basically the going price for mail in film developing services. Film, whether standard or instant, isn’t cheap. Its always going to be more expensive than digital.

As for scan quality, they offer three different options. I chose ‘standard scans’. I hate to gripe about it because I honestly don’t have a need for high-quality scans. The ones included are good enough for social media and the blog but if I were planning on getting prints made at a larger size, I’d definitely want a better resolution.

If you need better scans, you definitely have options though. You can pay for one of their two better options or you can scan them yourself. The Darkroom offers a ‘developing only’ option at a cheaper price for those wanting to scan themselves.

I would absolutely use The Darkroom again. The ease of use and speedy turnaround time has thrown me into a full on film obsession. The update emails throughout the process (when the film was received, scan, shipped) made me feel like my precious photos were safe and in good hands. I can’t recommend them enough!

Photos taken with a variety of different cameras & films. Some way out of date single-use cameras found at the thrift store, as well as shot on Fuji Superia X-TRA 400 with my favorite film camera, the Pentax K1000.

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