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reviews

that time I bought an Xbox One on a whim…

by Kaylah Stroup August 28, 2018

Back in July, on Prime Day, Jeff and I made the split second decision to buy an Xbox One. Okay, so, it wasn’t that split second of a decision. We’d been talking about buying a new gaming system for a while. We both own a Wii (not like we needed separate ones, they’re from before we moved in together) but as big of a Nintendo fan as I am, I’ll be the first to admit their game selection is kind of weak. I basically only stuck with them for so long because I’m obsessed with the Zelda franchise. I also was under the assumption that other platforms only offered things for people who like first person shooter games. I love playing video games but I wasn’t sure there was a place for me in that world. Nothing I was able to see on the surface was really that appealing.

So, we’d been tossing around the idea of buying a new system for a while but couldn’t really decide on which one to go with. The idea of playing video games together is fun, and it’s something nice to do while we escape the heat in the only air conditioned room of our apartment, the bedroom. We’d looked briefly into the different platforms we could go with but could only come up with a few games from each one to play and that just didn’t seem worth it. We’d talk about it, get excited, and then realize it was probably a waste of money.

On Prime Day we got to talking about it again. I was browsing Amazon and spotted that they had the Xbox One as one of the deals. It was marked down significantly and we had a pretty big gift card left over from Christmas. The starter package we were looking at came with 3 months of Xbox game pass and a download of Rare Replay. It felt like a no brainer! We pulled the trigger and two days later we were setting up our new gaming system!

BTW this striped sweatshirt is TOO comfortable.

A little over a month later, I’m still feeling like this was a good purchase. Maybe even a better one than I was expecting! Having a free trial to Xbox game pass is awesome. As someone completely new to a platform, it’s invaluable. It’s essentially Netflix but for games. We can download anything on there and play it for free as much as we’d like. It’s the perfect way to test out a bunch of games and get a better idea of what you actually like. I quickly realized there’s a whole big world of video games out there that appealed to me.

Two games have really stuck out to me so far…

Human: Fall Flat

Hilarious, infuriating, and stupid are all some words that come to mind when I think of Human: Fall Flat. Described as ‘an open-ended physics based puzzle game’, this game is all about pushing stuff, pulling stuff, and climbing stuff all to make it from point A to point B. The levels are fairly quick… as long as you don’t keep making the same mistake over and over again. The character is hilariously hard to control. He’s basically a drunk baby which is annoying and at the same time, exactly what makes it so fun. It’s the most fun when playing with someone else but can definitely be played alone. I love playing it with Jeff because we just spend most of the time laughing at each other’s character and how stupid they’re moving. It’s a blast!

Check out the gameplay trailer. Available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and PS4, as well as Mac, Windows, and Linux.

The Flame in the Flood

The Flame in the Flood is a survival adventure game. You raft from island to island with your dog foraging, crafting and evading predators. It’s a challenging game that took me quite a while to get the hang of. If you’re not careful, it’s easy to make one wrong move that will end up killing you. Once I finally fully understood the game I was hooked. I like it so much that immeidately after beating it the first time, I started a new game. It’s so much fun, and the graphics are just beautiful.

Check out the trailer. Available on PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Mac and Windows.

Do you have an Xbox One? Tell me about some of your favorite games! As the weather continues to get cooler and cooler, I know I’ll be playing more!
xoxo

Ooma Butterfleye review + giveaway

by Kaylah Stroup August 27, 2018

Thank you Ooma Butterfleye for sponsoring this post.

I don’t know about you but the words “I wonder what the animals do while we’re gone” has come out of my mouth more than a few times. Probably like 500 times, at least. Professor is an absolute nut. He runs back and forth across the house constantly. Squid, on the other hand, is a bit more secretive. She has a funny little habit of quitting and acting casual if you catch her playing. She’s very coy! And Klaus, who knows what the dweeb is up to while I’m not around for him to squeak a ball at. Jeff has mentioned quite a few times how fun it’d be to have a camera so we could see what they’re up to at all times but the idea of looking into it and finding the best one never really topped my to-do list.

Then came the Ooma Butterfleye, a sleek little camera that you can live stream from your smartphone! It has facial recognition, automatic arm and disarm based on your GPS location, and you can even talk through the camera at whoever might be in your home (a feature very confusing to my poor dog!) With the help of built-in storage and battery backup, it works during power and internet outages. It’s motion activated so it only starts recording when something moves at which point you’ll get an alert on your phone ‘motion was detected’ All of that topped with a nice clear image makes it basically everything you could ever want in a home security camera. Sounds awesome, right?

Jeff and I both really love traveling but the one thing we hate is not being able to see the kitties. We get photos of Klaus from my mom but the cats hide from our pals who keep an eye on them so we never get pictures of them while we’re gone. Obviously, using the camera to see that our home is safe and sound is wonderful but I truly do love being able to check in on the cats.

We’ve had the Ooma butterfleye for just under a month now. I’m enjoying it more and more every day. It was super easy to set up after the battery charged for a bit. The app walks you through the short process and within minutes it’s up and running!

The camera actually showed up right before we left on our New England road trip. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect. We’d barely been gone an hour before I was checking on the cats. I was immediately super impressed with how nice the image was. It was so comforting to see that they were enjoying some alone time, napping in the sunshine. Nearly every time we stopped for food or coffee we spent at least a little bit of time watching them nap or aimlessly walk around the living room. We even got to watch our friends look for Squid and Professor under the couch when they came over to feed them. Sadly, we hadn’t figured out how to talk through the camera yet at that point. I didn’t realize you just had to turn your phone sideways to get the full-screen image and mic button.

Even when we won’t be gone for long periods of time, being able to check on the house and my pets is awesome and such a nice peace of mind. Jeff and I have already been chatting about how nice it’d be to get another camera or two to set up in some other rooms in our home. I’m hooked!

If you’d like to try the Ooma Butterfleye out for yourself here’s your opportunity…

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!
xoxo

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Polaroid Originals OneStep 2 review

by Kaylah Stroup August 23, 2018

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

Polaroid Originals OneStep 2 review

Back in June I got my hands on the Polaroid Originals OneStep 2. I’m no stranger to instant photography, and film photography in general but I was kind of shocked how much I liked this bad boy! It quickly became one of my favorite cameras. So, if you don’t feel like reading anymore and were just looking for the go-ahead to buy a new camera – here it is! Do it, you won’t regret it. If you still need convincing, read on…

I’m going to assume you’re familiar with the original Polaroid cameras of yesteryear. This camera looks the same, and can even shoot the same film but it’s the modern version! I know a lot of people got turned off by the first 600 instant film that started being made after Polaroid ceased production. It was expensive, took ages to develop, and wasn’t super reliable. Without hesitation, I’ll say that it’s improved by leaps and bounds! Even the 600 film that is being made now is so much better than it was just a couple years ago.

I digress. The Polaroid OneStep 2! Let’s talk details. High-quality lens (2ft to infinity!), powerful flash, rechargeable battery, self-timer function, and a tripod mount on the base. The camera is simple to use – just turn it on and hit the shutter button. It has the standard exposure compensation switch (minus, natural & plus) but to be fair, I never really touch that unless I’m shooting in a much darker location. It also has a flash suppression button you need to hold down while you shoot if you’d like the flash to not fire. Another thing I never use. I’ve found that with instant film, in general, flash on is always a good idea. There’s a small LED indicator on the top that lets you know if you how your battery is doing (green = charged, orange = only a few shots left before the battery dies) and how many frames are left in the pack. It even comes equipped with the ‘frog tongue’ so your film is shielded from light when ejected from the camera.

The settings may seem limited to some but I truly enjoy how straight to the point they are. There’s no fiddling around, just shoot and capture the moment. It’s exactly what I think instant photography should be.

Polaroid Originals review

One of the major highlights is that this camera can shoot original 600 film as well as the relatively new i-Type film Polaroid Originals is making. Since the battery is in the camera instead of the film cartridge, they’re able to sell it at a cheaper price point. Approximately $2 per frame, as opposed to $2.37 per frame. It’s not a huge difference but it definitely starts to add up if you’re shooting a lot. It’s still not cheap but to me, nothing beats the tangibility of instant film, and I really am a sucker for that square frame.

Right before getting this camera I had spent a lot of time shooting with my old Polaroid so I was very familiar with what to expect. In my opinion, the photos taken with the i-Type film and the new camera are so much better! The colors are more vibrant and the tones are prettier. I hadn’t even gotten through the first pack before I was hooked and knew that my old Polaroid camera would be retired.

Polaroid albums – not super cheap but if you’re gonna spend the money on film, you might as well take care of it and show it off.

My one complaint is battery life. I’ve found that I can get through one and a half, maybe two, packs of film before it dies. Luckily the cord is just a Micro-USB so you can charge it in your car or with a power bank, if you’re not at home. The thing is, I don’t feel like I should have to worry about it even that often. You have to be super diligent in remembering to turn the camera off after each use. (Although, you’ll probably make the mistake of leaving it on a few times before you really learn your lesson!) Definitely not a deal breaker but I do wish I could worry about it less.

Instant photography will most likely never be cheap. If you love to shoot lots of photos all willy-nilly, your best bet is sticking with a digital camera or your phone. Same things applies if you’re a sucker for perfection. The joy of instant film is the unpredictability. While shooting with this camera, I’ve never wasted any film. Surprisingly, everything has at least developed! The Polaroid Originals OneStep 2 is certainly the closest I’ve ever gotten to perfection with instant film though!

All in all, the Polaroid OneStep 2 is definitely a great choice if you’re in the market for an instant camera. I can’t sing it’s praises high enough. Polaroid Originals’ film is only getting better and better. Give it a shot!
xoxo

The OneStep 2 comes in a few different colors currently including mint, white, and graphite.

If you’d like to check out even more instant film options – I made a list just for you. Check it out, ‘in an instant’.

7 things I tried in July

by Kaylah Stroup July 31, 2018

① Alba Botanica Pure Lavender Sunscreen. I go through a lot of sunscreen. Well, everyone should but I’m very visibly tattooed and try super hard to keep them protected from the sun all the time. I was standing in line at TJ Maxx when I spotted this sunscreen. I already have three or four random bottles of sunscreen around the house so normally this wouldn’t have caught my attention except the bottle was purple. Something about the shade of it, my brain knew before I even read it that it would be lavender. I love lavender! Needless to say, I bought it.

I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’m more of a spray on sunscreen type of gal but I LOVE this stuff. It spreads easily and doesn’t leave a white coating on your skin. It basically just feels and applies like lotion. Obviously, smelling like lavender instead of regular old sunscreen scent is a highlight for me as well. I’m hooked.

② Face pot. This was an impulse buy that ended up being a really good purchase. I love planters with faces. Honestly, I just love any inanimate object with a face. It’s a fair price. Cheaper than I’d expect for what it is and where it’s from, honestly. That’s probably what really inspired the purchase. It was like ‘ahh, I can’t resist!’ Happy to report it’s just as cute in person as it is online.

③ IMAK Compression Pain Relief Mask. I frequently get headaches, and occasionally get migraines as well. I’ve owned a few eyes masks that were supposed to help but nothing that I ever used more than once. I started to think that, even though I really enjoy having something over my eyes when I have a headache, masks just weren’t my thing. Jeff bought me this one and I now realize I was just using the wrong masks.

It has a little bit of weight too it but not too much that it’s uncomfortable. Like many other eye masks marketed toward folks with headaches, you can pop it in the freezer. It doesn’t get intolerably cold or stiff, unlike others I’ve tired. I’ve used it a handful of times since I got it and each time it’s been a huge relief. It’s certainly not a miracle worker, it doesn’t get rid of migraines but it helps them be a bit easier to deal with.

A lot of times when I have a migraine or even a really bad headache, I have trouble falling asleep. I just toss and turn. Using this mask helped me do less of that. The weight on my face was comforting and completely blocking out light (something that I’m super sensitive to when my head hurts) was awesome. I highly recommend grabbing one!

④ Migrastil Migraine Stick. Another purchase by my thoughtful husband! It was a bad month for me and my head. I feel like I had a headache more days than I didn’t this month. This roll-on ‘migraine stick’ is just essential oils (peppermint, spearmint & lavender) that you’re supposed to rub on your temples, forehead, and the back of your neck. Once again, not a miracle worker but certainly something that helped! I especially enjoyed putting it on my temples and then putting on my face mask. It smells very relaxing and helped lull me to sleep more than once.

⑤ Ombre keyboard cover. Since discovering many years ago that I could put stickers or a cover on my keyboard to make it cute I have not had a blank keyboard for more than a week at a time. I mean, if you have the option to make something cute, why not?! For my birthday (and because I really needed one!) I bought a new iMac. I obviously needed a cover for my keyboard. I didn’t find any super colorful ones that I liked so I picked out this gray and black one. I love it way more than I thought I would. It fits perfectly, keeps my keys clean, and feels really nice to type on. Definitely recommend picking one up!

⑥ 10 pack of crystal ball pendants. To be fair, this isn’t a new purchase. I already owned two of them. When I saw this ten pack for essentially the same price I bought a set of two for, I had to grab them. I have a couple sitting in each window now. We have SO many rainbows! It’s the best. Such a mood booster!

For more pictures of the rainbows these produce, check out this post.

⑦ Kueshi Double Effect Make Up Remover. I received this makeup remover in my July Glossybox. I wasn’t sure what to expect. I don’t have a solid makeup removal technique. Sometimes I use water and a washcloth, other times just a face wipe but to be honest, I hate both of those methods. This came to me at a perfect time. I put a tiny amount on a cotton pad and it removes everything with a quick swipe. It’s not greasy and it doesn’t smell like anything. I dig it!

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

The sweetest little rainbow covered kitten.

Check out previous month’s product roundups here – March + April + May + June!

five tips for buying clothes on Amazon

by Kaylah Stroup July 16, 2018

This post contains affiliate links. For more information on what that means, read here.

bug shirt

I don’t think it comes as any surprise that I’m a huge fan of Amazon. I buy just about everything except groceries on there (and that’s only because I enjoy going to the grocery store!) In the last year or two I’ve become a really big fan of shopping for clothes on Amazon too. They have a ton of brands I already know and love, new ones to discover, and even some prime exclusive brands. Basically, they have something for EVERYONE no matter your style!

A few months ago I was posting a lot of outfit photos featuring great amazon finds on my Instagram page. That led to a handful of questions about how I find such rad clothing on such a massive site. I’m finally here to share some of my best tips for buying clothes on Amazon.

dress / shoes

Check out curated lists.

Amazon is REALLY good at recommending products. I first figured this out when they’d suggest books to me that were related to other books I happened to be looking at. More often than not, their recommendations would be spot on. They’re just as good in other categories too!

I suggest checking out their fashion page to start with, from there you can view their current lists. They have ones based around styles like boho, casual, classic, etc. They have even more lists showcasing trends like vintage dresses, statement bags, colorful denim, and more! It’s super helpful and can be a great jumping point to finding things you’ll love!

I’d say more often than not my Amazon finds happen from just clicking around rather than directly searching for a specific product. When I’m looking at something I even remotely like I always make sure to check out their recommended products at the bottom of the page.

Lots of bloggers have lists of their favorite products too if you’d rather go that route. I recently created a clothing based one, ‘dainty squid style‘, that features some of my favorite purchases as well as other clothing items I’m crushing on.

tassel slip ons

Read reviews.

This is so obvious, right? Actually take the time to read them though! I’ve found things that ended up working really well for me that actually had low star ratings. Sometimes people complain about things that might not matter to you (like fabric preference or if an item needs ironed before wearing) and it’d stink if you missed out because you didn’t give it a shot. You don’t have to read every word of every review but skimming a handful for information that is important to you (for me – dress length & roomy chest!) makes a huge difference.

Also, be wary of too many 5 star reviews. Nothing is perfect to everyone. Too many totally positive reviews may mean they’ve been paid to write a review.

On a related topic, make sure to leave reviews once you get your order! Write what you liked and didn’t like about a product specifically, instead of just writing things like ‘didn’t fit” or ‘i don’t like it’ Reviews help everyone and reviews with pictures are even better. You don’t have to be a fashion blogger, simple mirror shots are great and get the job done.

alien sweatshirt

alien sweatshirt

Check size charts.

If you’re unfamiliar with a brand, check the size chart! You should know already that a size medium isn’t the same in every single brand. This is especially relevant when buying online from a brand you don’t regularly wear. A quick check will ensure the best fit and that you’re not stuck with something that will barely fit a toddler.

Don’t be afraid to purchase + return.

A lot of items on Amazon are available for free returns when you have prime! (Seriously, get prime! So worth it!) Any reason at all, you get a full refund with no shipping charges, as long as it’s in new and unused condition. Just double check beside the price before you add an item to your cart, it should say ‘free returns’. I honestly really hate returning things but Amazon makes it so easy to do which in turn makes it easy to try things out I might otherwise pass on from other sites.

polka dot dress / striped dress

Utilize prime wardrobe!

Have you heard about prime wardrobe yet? You can pick three or more items across clothing, shoes, and accessories. They ship them to you, you have seven days to try them on, and then you send them back with the provided return label. You’re only charged for the items you decide to keep. It’s a super easy way to try things on without ever leaving the house. I think it’s especially awesome because trying on things at home gives you the opportunity to test out items with pieces you may already own.

dress / shoes (similar)

What’s your favorite item of clothing you’ve found on Amazon? I’m nuts about these leggings. They look like simple black leggings but they’re nice enough that I feel comfortable wearing them instead of jeans.
xoxo

PS. You can sign up for a 30 day free trial of Prime here. Highly, highly recommended. Makes getting things in the mail super quick and returning super easy plus you get the added bonus of watching all the weird documentaries they have streaming.

tips for buying clothes on Amazon

cardigan & shirt / black skater skirt

our custom enamel pins!

by Kaylah Stroup July 5, 2018

custom enamel pins for wedding!

I am so excited to finally share one of my favorite details from our wedding! I’ve been itching to spill the beans since the moment I realized it was a reality. We got custom enamel pins made!!

If you’ve been following me for a while or have even seen a few of my what I wore posts, you probably know that I’m way into pins. I love that there is a basically a pin for any interest you may have, no matter how obscure. I’m usually wearing at least one pin every single day, even more if I’m wearing a jacket. So heck yes, getting custom ones made for the most momentous day of my life was a priority!

Our pins were made by a local company, Valley Cruise Press. Previous to getting these made, I actually already owned a ton of their pins so they had my complete trust in creating something that was absolutely adorable. We gave them a few key details to go off, and a rough sketch that Jeff drew up then they perfected it! Our initials, a saguaro since we love the desert, and two arrows to represent Twin Arrows; one of our favorite spots in the desert which is just one exit away from where we got married.

We handed the pins out to our guests as we met up with them in Arizona. It was so fun to see everyone wearing one in their own way each day. Just a little something to tie us all together.

Funny story actually: Jeff and I both wore the pins every day too. Before picking up my flowers the day before the wedding we grabbed coffee and some delicious pastries at Single Speed Coffee. Later that my sister-in-law ended up going to the same coffee shop where the barista said ‘I really like your pin! I feel like I saw someone wearing the same one earlier…’

The remainder of the pins were set out at our reception for guests to grab. Once again, it was super satisfying to see them being worn. I can’t think of a more perfect item to hand out. It’s small, easy to save, and has so much more character than your typical wedding favor.

Valley Cruise Press are the sweetest folks out there. I highly recommend checking them out if you’re interested in custom pins for any occasion at all. They even have a site specifically for that has tons of info and a contact form to make it make super easy to get in touch.
xoxo

On a related note, in case you missed them before, our wedding photos are the dreamiest.

5 things I tried in June

by Kaylah Stroup June 29, 2018

▴ Karl Lagerfeld Highlighter. I received this in glossybox’s Karl Lagerfeld + Model Co limited edition box. To tell you how I feel about it in the shortest way possible, I wasn’t a highlighter person but now I am! This stuff is GORGEOUS. It adds the perfect amount of shine and looks fabulous all day long. It immediately became one of my daily use products!

▴ Polaroid One Step 2 + I-Type film. I am SO excited to add this camera to my collection. Polaroid Originals recently released the OneStep 2, inspired by Polaroid’s original OneStep. The big difference here is that instead of the battery being contained in the film pack, the camera itself has the battery (and it’s rechargeable!) Since the battery pack isn’t in the film they’re able to offer it at a cheaper price than the other 600 films on the market. Depending on how often you shoot, upgrading from whatever old Polaroid 600 camera you already had may not seem worth it but I absolutely think it is.

As you may recall, I shot a ton of Polaroid Original film on our wedding trip. (Check them out here!) Then over the weekend, I shot through four packs of the i-Type film. (See those ones here.) I feel like the ones taken with the i-Type film and the new camera are so much better. The colors are more vibrant and the tones are prettier. Obviously, the price of film makes it a more attractive camera to shoot with than my old Polaroid but honestly, I think the photos come out nicer too!

I’m definitely looking forward to shooting more instant film now that I have this bad boy and film is cheaper.

▴ Show Riche Grooming Balm. Another glossybox score. June’s box was actually full of great finds. Other than the eyelash curler, I loved everything in the box. This ‘grooming balm’ took the cake though. It smells wonderful, is easy to apply and doesn’t leave my hair feeling weighed down or greasy. I really enjoy how smooth and shiny it helps the ends of my hair look. Plus, seriously, anything that smells this good is a-okay in my book.

▴ Come Over All The Time!! A Creative Guest Book. This is easily the cutest guest book you will ever find. One hundred pages, twenty different designs that are repeated five times. The prompts are really adorable and definitely inspire creativity. We will actually be using this for our wedding reception this coming weekend. My mom kept bugging me to get a guest book but obviously, I didn’t want something boring. This guest book is the perfect choice for us. I like the idea of our guests having interesting prompts that aren’t necessarily wedding related. I can’t wait to see what everyone writes and draws!

▴ Paula’s Choice Resist Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum. Absolutely in love with this stuff! The serum is said to visibly improve the appearance of wrinkles, uneven skin tone, dryness, and vibrancy. It ‘fights multiple signs of aging’. I can’t speak to that but I will say my skin looks AMAZING. I am seriously glowing (and it’s not just my new highlighter!) If you have greasy skin, you might want to skip this serum but if you’re like me and neeeeed that extra moisture you’ll love it! This is another product that I’m now using daily. I truly enjoy putting it on every morning.

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

Check out previous month’s product roundups here – March + April + May!

5 rad things I bought in May

by Kaylah Stroup May 31, 2018

This month’s ‘things’ post is a little bit different than the previous months. Instead of beauty products I tried out this month (which other than a new moisturizer/sunscreen there weren’t any) I’m here sharing five things I bought this month. None of the items are related or go together in any way. I just feel like I acquired some really nifty stuff this month so here we go…

▴ Erlenmeyer flask set. A while back I bought a small chemistry flask at an estate sale. It just took that one and I was hooked. I needed more. I spotted this set, and the price was too good to resist. They’re the perfect size to put random leaves in for water propagation. They also make a really great vase for all the random flowers I like to pick. I had a few cute vases previous to this but nothing that fit my style so perfectly!

▴ 4-inch disco ball. Earlier this year I bought a large disco ball and discovered just how magical it was to set it in the sunlight. It doesn’t fit my decor style… at all but it honestly brings so much joy that I don’t even care. I had been wanting to pick up a second one for a while, one a little more inconspicuous. I finally decided on a 4-inch one. It’s not the highest quality but it certainly gets the job done when the sun hits it! I highly recommend grabbing one of these if you’ve been thinking about getting a disco ball but don’t want to commit to a larger size. I seriously think everyone needs one!!

Check out some photos featuring the magical lighting my disco ball throws here.

▴ Blink Socks. EYE am obsessed with these socks. That is all.

▴ Glide Gear OH50 tripod arm. This is something I had been wanting for YEARS but honestly had no idea how to find it, or it even existed. This arm attaches to your tripod and allows your camera to be horizontally positioned for overhead photos. It’s perfect for flat lays or anything else like that where you want the camera to be pointed straight down. I had such a hard time figuring out if this would work with the equipment I already have based on the information I could find online. Thankfully, it does, and holy cow, what did I do before this thing? It was super easy to set up + does exactly what I needed! This is 100% what my photography set up was missing!

Blogging about photography equipment isn’t really something I do all that often here on The Dainty Squid BUT since this is something that I had such a hard time researching/ think lots of bloggers would love I’ll gladly write a post dedicated to it, how it works, how it’d benefit you if that interests y’all! Lemme know!

▴ Gold Duck Feet Frame. Holds a 4x6in photo but it comes in 4x4in as well! Pretty sure I legit squealed when I spotted this frame. It matches my bird leg side table!! (Check out a picture of the table in my apartment here!) I mean, why does it even exist?! It’s so dumb, and it could not be more perfect for my apartment. Obviously, it’ll get a wedding photo in it as soon as we get those back!

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

Check out previous month’s product roundups here – March + April

Babbleboxx unboxing – Bridal Bliss

by Kaylah Stroup May 19, 2018

This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx.com.

Y’all, I am getting married in less than 25 days! Almost everything is taken care of, and it’s kind of just time to wait. (…Or ya know, nervously pack and repack my luggage thirty-three times. Same thing!) All my thoughts revolve around this massive upcoming event. So when Babbleboxx recently reached out to see if I’d be interested in receiving their Bridal Bliss box full of goodies ‘every bride needs for her big day and beyond’ I couldn’t say yes quick enough.

Inside my BabbleBox was…

▴ . Mixbook sent a sampler of their wedding stationery options. You can order a free sample kit from their site too! You can create beautiful, one-of-a-kind wedding cards, photo books, and home decor. Make your own from scratch or if you’re not great at designing things yourself, you can use one of their gorgeous pre-designed templates. Seriously, they make it so easy even if you’re not computer savvy.

The ones with gold foil were my favorites, it’s just such a pretty touch. It’s a little bit late for me to get wedding invitations at this point but I will definitely be keeping them in mind for my ‘thank you’ cards! I really look forward to getting our photos printed in every way possible!

Code BABBLE50 will get you 50% off all wedding stationery! Expires 12/31/2018

▴ Zoya Nail Polish. I was super jazzed to see these in the box. I LOVE Zoya nail polish! I’ve been a fan for a very long time. If you’re not familiar, Zoya is free of the 10 worst chemicals found in nail polish. On top of that, they’re just great polishes that last a while without chipping.

The trio I received included Jordan, a gorgeous creamy pink, Leia, a sheer opalescent white with flecks of fuchsia, green and gold, and Abby, a pastel purple. Jordan was easily my favorite of the bunch. I actually wore it to my bridal shower, it matched my shoes perfectly. It’s even one of the two colors I’m considering doing my nails for the wedding!

Zoya Jordan

▴ . It smooths, tucks, supports, and is honestly, super comfortable. I’m not really all that into shapewear – mostly because it’s just another layer of clothing and I don’t like being too warm but I’m surprisingly into this body briefer. Not so much because of how it makes me look but because of how it makes me feel. Wearing any out of the ordinary underthings, even a pretty slip or fancy matching pieces, always makes me feel fierce. It’s also soft and breathable!

▴ . This is a product I was thinking I wanted before I even knew it existed! RingHero is a wristband you put your rings in to keep them safe while you workout, garden, clean, etc! I am always getting myself into situations where there is the potential to damage my ring. Even with beach combing I worry that I might lose it in the sand. I love the RingHero because it gives me somewhere to put my ring that’s safe and I know exactly where it is. I used to just pop my ring in my camera bag but the idea of it falling out when I opened the bag to grab something else always made me nervous.

Use code BBRingHero for 10% off. Valid May 1st through June 30th, 2018

▴ . Yep, 100% swooning over these bad boys. I think it’s well established I like really funky earrings but that doesn’t mean something simple and sparkly wasn’t on my wishlist are gorgeous! Even Professor liked them!

Moissanite is one of the rarest minerals found in nature. Due to its scarcity, Charles & Colvard have recreated moissanite in a lab so they’re able to deliver an artfully crafted and eternally brilliant gemstone that is socially responsible too. Charles & Colvard’s moissanite is extremely hard, durable, and resistant to scratching. On top of that, every one of their ‘Forever One’ gems is guaranteed to stay as beautiful as the day you bought it! They come with a limited lifetime warranty that protects against damage to the stone and any changes in color, clarity or brilliance which is really awesome!

Use Code BRIDALBLISS15 for 15% off* purchases on www.charlesandcolvard.com from 5/1/2018 through 11:59 pm PT 06/30/2018 (*Discount not valid on loose gemstones, green moissanite, prior purchases or with any other offers. Offer expires 11:59 pm PT 06/30/2018.)

xoxo

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