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reviews

Lomo’Instant review

by Kaylah Stroup June 9, 2016

lomography, instant photo, instant photography

My passion for instant photography runs deeeeep. I can’t emphasize enough how much I love it! There really is nothing that beats the thrill of an immediate physical photo you can pass around to all your friends. So when Lomography reached out to ask if I’d like to review their Lomo’Instant Honolulu Edition, a camera I had been admiring for a while, I was more than excited. On top of that, they offered to host a giveaway for y’all but more on that in a bit. First, lets talk about this nifty camera!

What is it? The Lomo’Instant was designed by the fine folks over at Lomography and brought to life by kickstarter backers in 2014. They wanted to build the ultimate instant camera! The Lomo’Instant uses Fujifilm Instax Mini film, which is readily available not only online but in lots of stores, including Target! With this camera you can shoot long exposures, unlimited multiple exposures, or add color gels to the flash. There is even a front mirror for selfies! Basically, the possibilities for what you can do with the Lomo’Instant are endless!

There are three extra lenses available for this beauty including fisheye, portrait, and close-up. The kit includes directions for not only the camera but each of the three lens, as well as sample photos. The sample photos are true to the size your actual photos will be. On the back of each photo there are some tips on how to replicate a similar shot as well as the settings used. I found this to be super handy, especially considering the fact this camera has a bit of a learning curve.

The bottom of the camera even has what each symbol on the camera means and when you should use that setting! It’s incredibly useful when you’re on the go and seem to have forgotten everything you just read up on in the instruction booklet. *Ahem*

So far I’ve shot through two packs of film with my Lomo’Instant. I’ve found the camera to be a bit of a challenge – a fun challenge though! You definitely have to plan your shot (against the rules of Lomography!) Even then, despite all the different controls, the photos do remain fairly unpredictable. I don’t think I would recommend this camera for people who are impatient, who aren’t interested in experimenting or who expect to get the perfect shot every single time. You definitely need a bit of patience here.

If you’re open to playing around, and possibly shooting some things that aren’t exactly what you imagined when you composed the shot then by all means, get yourself a Lomo’Instant! While not everything that I shot turned out very nicely, the ones that did came out even better than expected. You can’t use this camera expecting to take photos that will rival your DSLR, or even your iPhone for that matter. What you can expect are lots of happy accidents! The bottom line is that it’s a super cute camera that is a blast to experiment with.

Below are some examples of what I shot. The one of Klaus (my puppy dog, if you’re new here) and the abandoned building ended up being my absolute favorite despite the fact I did not even plan that shot. Just turned the camera on and released the shutter without looking through the viewfinder.

lomography, lomo instant, instax mini film

lomography, photography, camera review, instant photo

xoxo

the cult of Fitbit – one month later

by Kaylah Stroup April 12, 2016

Fitbit Alta

A little over a month ago I made a really awesome spur of the moment purchase, a fitbit. You can read my original post here. It took all of about fifteen minutes for me to become completely enthralled with this thing. I was a little worried my enthusiasm for it would quickly dwindle but it hasn’t at all!

I originally purchased the Charge HR in teal… and almost immediately regretted that decision. I went into that thinking that you could change the band like you can with the Flex but you can’t. That was my first qualm with it. The second thing, which was the real deal breaker, was that it was just too bulky for me. It’s honestly not that large at all but for someone who can barely stand to wear a bracelet for a full day it just wasn’t going to work no matter how much I liked it. Don’t even get me started on sleeping with it on. It literally would wake me up at night because I would be like “what’s on my wriiiiist?!” Don’t mind things on your wrist or sleep on your hands? The Charge HR is awesome!

Luckily Fitbit was releasing a new smaller model, the Alta, right around the same time I made my initial purchase. I stalked the internet trying to figure out when I could buy it but for some reason they kept the release date on the hush hush. Toward the end of March I finally found a WalMart a half hour away that had the one I wanted in stock. As soon as I put it on I knew that switching was exactly what I needed to do.

I bought the Alta in black, instead of one of the other more fun colors. It’s so much slimmer than the Charge HR and looks a lot more like an accessory than some sort of fitness gadget. Best of all, you can buy different bands for the Alta so you aren’t stuck wearing the same thing with every single outfit. I figured black was a good starting point and sometime in the future I’ll start building a collection of bands for it.

When I originally bought my Fitbit I thought it would just be fun but I think it’s safe to say this thing has kiiiiind of changed my life. I feel SO much healthier than I did one month ago! I didn’t realize how much walking just a liiiittle bit more each day would effect me. I have so much more energy. Klaus gets to go on more/longer walks which makes us both happier. Jeff and I are enjoying night walks around the neighborhood. I basically look for any reason to get up and move now!

I’m still working a day or two a week at the flower shop. I used to take the train but since getting a Fitbit I’ve been walking the three miles from my house to downtown. Every time I do it it’s an easier walk. It’s such a wonderful start to the day too. I feel so much more connected to the city. I enjoy it so much that I even walked in the rain to work last week which is kind of a huge deal considering I hate being damp. Funny enough, it ended up being one of my favorite trips thus far.

Since starting this journey, I’ve been walking 5.5 miles a day on average. I guess it really doesn’t sound like that much but its absolutely an improvement for me. I didn’t realize how little I actually walked until I saw how much effort I had to put into getting the recommended 10,000 steps each day. The best thing is every week since I’ve started tracking I’ve walked further than the last. I could go on and on about how much I love being able to see all my statistics but I’ll refrain since it’s probably not all that interesting to anyone but me! It’s super satisfying though.

I seriously cannot recommend getting a Fitbit enough. It’s not magic but the fact that it’s got me walking (and LOVING those walks) certainly seems like magic.

xoxo

The Wander Society review + giveaway

by Kaylah Stroup March 30, 2016

A few weeks back I received an email asking if I’d like to receive an advanced copy of Keri Smith’s newest book, The Wander Society. I was interested just based on the fact it was by Keri Smith. She’s the author of many awesome books including wildly popular Wreck This Journal which I most definitely had and LOVED when it first came out.

The story is that Keri Smith was browsing her local bookstore when she stumbled upon strange notes in a worn copy of Leaves of Grass by Walk Whitman: “WW will show you the way,” “Solivitur ambulando,” and then “The Wander Society” accompanied by a small thunderbolt symbol. Intrigued, she followed the clues and discovered pamphlets, more hidden messages, and a like-minded professor to help her in her search. Keri then complied her findings into this book, aptly titled The Wander Society. The book is a manifesto of a secretive group that extols the notion that in order to find your way and live deliberately, soulfully, you must wander.

Intrigued yet? Yeah, it’s just as awesome as it sounds! As someone who has been becoming more and more disenchanted with technology and how social media seems to rule everything around us, this book couldn’t have come at a more perfect time.

The book includes prompts and calls-to-action, as well as how-tos and practical tips and strategies for wandering fieldwork. I found it to be incredibly inspiring. It was honestly hard to sit down to try and read it because I would read a couple pages and immediately feel like “maybe I should be outside instead…?” When I did sit down to read, I found myself bookmarking lots of passages. There were so many I wanted to share in this post. The one I chose was a photo Keri had taken. Her notes under it say “found this written on a wall”

“The beauty of happenstance. Of looking for one thing and finding something else. Of stumbling onto something when you were least expecting it. The book on the shelf next to the one you wanted. Overhearing an interesting conversation. Finding a special sitting spot. In just the right place. Seeing an amazing sunset. Stumbling onto the perfect passage in a book. Discovering a place you want to go for tea. Taking a detour and seeing a different view. A combination of ‘happen’ and ‘circumstance’. To find or come across by chance. Can only happen if we provide the opportunity for them to appear.”

I’m excited to exercise my wandering legs. The Wander Society really, really struck a chord with me. It reinforced some thoughts I had already been having and was exactly the encouragement I needed to get out and do more of what I really love. One chapter, titled “leave behinds”, talks about how it’s nice to plant things for other to find in hopes that will encourage them to wander too. It gives some ideas of things to leave behind. One of the suggestions was stone piles and arrangements which immediately made me think of all my beach adventures – like my driftwood fort!

The publishing company was sweet enough to offer one lucky wanderer their own copy of Keri Smith’s newest book The Wander Society. US entries only, please.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I LOVED this book. Like I said before, it just came at a time when it was exactly what I needed to read. I’m really excited for y’all to check out this book too!
xoxo

Photojojo Iris Lens Series Review

by Kaylah Stroup January 19, 2016

phone case from Moorea Seal

I’m sure by now y’all know about iPhone lenses. You can usually buy them for dirt cheap on eBay… and they’re not actually all that impressive. recently released some but they’re way, way more awesome than anything I’ve ever seen before. They were kind enough to send over a set for me to review and I am super excited to share with you a little bit about them!

First a little run down on the …
▴ They are compatible with the iPhone 6/6s, 6/6s plus, as well as the Samsung S5 and S6.
▴ There are three different lenses. 10x macro for all your close up needs, 100 degree wide for groupshots, awesome landscapes, and interiors, and 180 degree fisheye for unique portraits.
▴ You can use them with or without a case on your phone.
▴ The three lens set (macro, wide, and fisheye) is $99 currently or you can purchase individual lenses for $69.

It’s super easy to assemble, if “assemble” is even the correct word for this scenario. The kit comes with very simple directions and if you’re still having trouble Photojojo has videos on how to put everything together that you can find . If you have a case, which I always do, it’ll attach to the small peg shown below. It’s a thin piece of plastic that fits under your case and can be left in at all times. Then the lens mount is secured by a bungee thing-a-majig that’s basically just like a heavy duty hair tie. Now you’re ready to shoot. Easy peasy!

My first impression getting the lenses out of the box was that they’re heavy! I mean they’re not going to weigh you down or anything but I was surprised how much weight they have to them. Unlike cheaper alternatives these lenses aren’t made from plastic. The glass inside is synthesized by the same factory as Leica, Canon, and Nikon. If there’s one thing I’ve learned buying lenses for my DSLR it’s that good glass is heavy.

Below I have a photo example from each of the lenses. I took each photo from the same spot, just with and without the Iris lens attached. If you’re looking for more photo examples Photojojo has a for the lenses with a handful of examples.

with Iris fisheye – without

with Iris macro – without

with Iris wide – without

After a month of use, color me impressed! All three lens performed beyond my expectations. Although it’s probably the one I’ll use the least – that macro kicks some serious butt. It’s not that easy to see from the small photo shared above but it’s shaaaaarp (and not just because it’s a cactus. Ha!)

There were only two small things I found frustrating with these lenses. One – The lens can be kind of tricky to switch while the mount is attached to your camera, especially if you put them in wrong. I know you’re thinking “well, obviously Kaylah…” What I mean is that both the mount and the lens are circles but have a flat portion, and that’s where you’re supposed to line them up. The thing is that it’s easy to forget to do that because the lens still fits even if you don’t line up the flat spots. Even when you do have it in correctly it’s a little bit difficult and I have yet do it super easily. It’s always kind of a struggle.

Number two – finger prints and smudges! It’s basically impossible to not touch the glass while switching lens or attaching the mount. It’s not a huge deal but you have to be aware of it. Having smudge free glass makes all the difference between a good photo and a bad photo! I’ve been carrying around a lens cleaning cloth with me.

Professor approved!

I’m honestly not all that huge on taking photos with my phone. A recent example of this would be Anji asking me to take a photo of a bouquet for her. I’m sitting there playing on my phone but my first response was “With what? I don’t have my camera today.” I feel like these tiny little lenses are kind of going to change everything for me though. I’ve already found them making me want to use my phone for photos more often. I think the wide lens and I are going to be real good friends! I give these lenses two thumbs way up!

If you have any questions about the feel free to leave a comment, read the Iris FAQ, or reach out to someone over at (they’re the nicest people, I swear!)
xoxo

Full disclosure: Photojojo provided me the kit free of charge in return for an honest review, and that’s just what you’re reading!

my 6 favorite bath products

by Kaylah Stroup December 17, 2015

This post might seem totally random but winter is bath season for me. As soon as the weather starts to cool the bathtub suddenly becomes one of my favorite spots in the whole apartment. Sometimes I take one first thing in the morning to wake up, other times I take one right before bed. Doesn’t matter what time of the day, nothing is more relaxing to me than sipping tea, reading a book, and soaking my stress away. It’s my favorite way to warm up if I have a chill… which is basically always. I consider myself fairly well-versed in bath products so I thought it’d be fun to share some of my favorite things that make baths even more relaxing.

1. Village Naturals Therapy Foaming Bath Oil. This, surprisingly, is one of my favorite bath products. It contains menthol so it’s the perfect thing to clear out your sinuses (because winter means I inevitably get sick at least once!) It also comes in a bath soak. Using both the oil and the soak at the same time is heaven. The foaming bath oil is also a great multi-use product because not only can you take a bubble bath in it, it lathers really nicely if you’d like to use it as a shower gel. The smell is super energizing, and perfect for those early morning baths or showers.

2. Lush bath bombs are obviously going to be on this list. I’m pretty cheap so I totally understand not wanting to spend $6+ per bath product but they are absolutely worth the splurge. I don’t use them every single bath but they are an amazing pick my up when I’m feeling blue. If you haven’t tried Lush yet, quit stalling and go buy a sex bomb. I swear, there is nothing better!

3. A bath pillow. Do I have to explain why having a bath pillow rules? I don’t think so but I’ll tell you one thing, it’s so much cozier than laying your head on the tub or just putting a towel behind your head. It also makes it easy to keep my hair dry!

4. Overflow drain cover. Having one of these is a must if you’re over a certain height. Bathtubs that are long enough that I don’t have to decide which part of my body – feet, knees or boobs – has to be cold are few and far between. While having an overflow drain cover doesn’t completely solve the problem it gives you a few extra inches of water. Once you have one you’ll wonder
how you went without it all these years! I feel like a dork for not having mine pictured in this post but after a few years and a lot of different hair colors, it’s not very pretty. Trust me, you don’t want to see it.

5. Candles, candles, and more candles. I am a verified candle addict. They make relaxing in the tub so much nicer. Recently I got a few from P.F. Candle Co. from Moorea Seal and holy smokes, they’re amazing! They smell wonderful, and last for quite a while. My current favorite is Gardenia & Coconut. If you’d rather purchase candles in person, I recommend hitting up TJ Maxx or Marshall’s. They always seem to have an awesome selection. I could spend forever just sniffing candles there.

6. Herbivore’s Coconut Milk Bath Soak. This stuff had been on my radar for quite sometime. I finally got my paws on it and let me just say – I was missing out! The other day Jeff came out of my bathroom and exclaimed “Wow, that coconut stuff smells amazing!” Not only does it smell great, it leaves you so so so soft.

Also, if you need a new tea for bath time… or all the time – try Bigelow’s Salted Caramel. It’s easy to accidentally over-steep but when you time it just right it tastes like candy! It’s my current favorite. I haven’t had it for all that long at all and I’ve devoured almost a full box.

Are you a fan of bubble baths? What are your favorite bath products? Any recommendations for something that produces lots of bubbles?!
xoxo

Liquid Palisade Review

by Kaylah Stroup December 1, 2015

Recently I was offered a sample of Liquid Palisade, a product I had never heard of before but I was instantly intrigued and I think you might be too! Put simply it is an easy-peel nail polish barrier. It comes in a small tube with brush, something very similar to what liquid eyeliner might come in. You paint it on before using nail polish, let it dry, use your nail polish as you normally would, and then peel off Liquid Palisade along with any mess you may have made. Clean cuticles every time! Genius, right?!

I’m not a messy nail painter. I owe that to spending a few nights a week painting and re-painting my nails for basically as long as I can remember. What really sparked my interest was the idea of using the product to create interesting designs. Liquid Palisade comes in two different styles, one with a thick brush for easy coverage of your cuticles, and one with a skinny brush meant for masking off parts of your nail for easy multi-color designs.

Skinny brush on the left is “Liquid Palisade French Manicure Easy-Peel Polish Barrier“
Thick brush on the right is “Liquid Palisade Easy-Peel Polish Barrier“

Like I said, I was really excited to use it for making designs. I figured it had to be easier than using the stickers I use currently. I painted my nails, let them dry, then began applying Liquid Palisade where I didn’t want the next color to be. Similar to the way that oil and water never really mix, the line of Liquid Palisade I painted on just rolled away. I tried applying the product thicker but no matter what it would never stay exactly where I put it.

The directions say “Apply a thick layer below tip. Allow to dry, and shape with orange stick.” I didn’t experiment too much with the orange stick because I found that touching the dried product made it roll up and become unstuck from my nail. I guess if you spent enough time “shaping” the product maybe you’d have some luck. My complaint is that it’s just not precise. Getting a line that is perfectly straight is nearly impossible. It seems like a waste of time and money to fool around with it when you can easily get crisp, clean lines by using super cheap stickers.

The bottle with the larger brush was something I could actually see being practical though. Above is an example of what it looks like applied, and with nail polish messily painted on. As you can see on the right side, it peeled right off. It’s pretty impressive… and if you love peeling things off you will love this! I can see this product being useful for children who are just learning to paint their nails, people who no matter what still can’t seem to keep the polish only on their nails, and designs that involve a mess like water marbling or splatter techniques.

The bottle is very small but I would assume that just like liquid eyeliner in an equally small tube this is going to last a loooong time. I painted all of my nails multiple times with the french manicure one, which has the smaller brush, and didn’t even make a dent.

Drying time obviously depends on how thick you lay the stuff on but in general I found it dries in no time at all. By the time I did my whole hand the nail I started on was dry and ready to paint.

I’m pretty torn on what my end feelings on Liquid Palisade are. Is it something I will repurchase? Probably not. I normally don’t post reviews on things I’m not 100% sold on but like I mentioned above, I do definitely think it could be super useful to the right person. I know there are tons of people out there that no matter how much practice still aren’t able to paint their nails without getting some on their cuticles. This product could save you tons of clean up time and q-tips!

Have you ever tried Liquid Palisade or any similar products? I actually saw that some people use regular old Elmer’s Glue for the same purpose albeit it takes a lot longer to dry!
xoxo

ONA Camps Bay Review

by Kaylah Stroup October 5, 2015

I’ve been a big fan of ONA for a while now. If you haven’t heard of them before, ONA makes insanely beautiful, high quality camera bags. This whole love affair of mine started back in 2012 when I first spotted their bag, Brooklyn. I eventually got my hands on one which I subsequently blogged about often. here, here + here. That bag and I have been through thick and thin together, and it’s still holding up beautifully. I know their bags are of great quality so I was more than excited when they reached out to see if I’d like to give one of their newest bags a spin.

A few weeks back, ONA released their new Black Collection, three beautiful designs featuring premium nylon, Italian leather accents, and gunmetal hardware. I chose the Camps Bay backpack. I actually really liked Brixton but I have a tendency to carry way more equipment than I need and my shoulders can’t handle that anymore. Anyway now that I’ve had a little while to tote this backpack around I wanted to share a little review.

First things first, this is a solid bag. Not so much in terms of weight, I’m talking about how safe I feel my equipment is inside. When I think backpack I think something soft, malleable, made from a light fabric, etc. This bag, on the other hand, essentially has a shell. The material is stiff but still manages to be comfortable to wear. I’m sure given some more time it will begin to break-in and not be so stiff but I rather enjoy the feel of the bag now.

ONA claims this bag will hold your camera with lens attached as well as seven (!!!) extra lenses. I unfortunately don’t own seven lenses to test that but I’m sure it would. This baby can hold A LOT. I’ve found that by rearranging the dividers I am very comfortably able to hold everything I use regularly, including a polaroid camera which is something I’m never quite sure how to bring along. I love that anything I could want to bring along I can most likely find a way to safely pack it in this bag since all of the interior dividers are removable and adjustable.

Under the flap, and above the main camera area, there is another zipper compartment that I’ve found to be the perfect size for a light lunch or snacks. Along the backside of that compartment is an area for your laptop. The camera bag also has two side pockets. They are a little bit tight but I’m still able fit a water bottle inside. They’re a great size for my shutter release! Basically just about anything you could want to bring along this bag has room for it.

One main downfall I find with this bag is that to get anything out you need to take the bag off, set it down, unbuckle it, and unzip. It’s a bit of a process and there are certain situations where that just doesn’t cut it for me. I might need to get my camera out or switch lenses quickly sometimes and this bag would hinder that. There are other times though when I feel like that this bag is exactly what I want, specifically when I’m on my bike. I don’t need my camera right away and I enjoy the added security this bag provides.

A second setback is the price, currently $409. The bag is obviously beautiful. ONA’s craftsmanship is impeccable. It’s certainly an investment. Out of all the camera bags I own I feel that my equipment is the most safe in this bag. Is it necessary to spend that much to get an awesome camera bag? No but I’m doubting you’ll find something as nice as this one. Ultimately it’s up to you to decide if it’s worth it.

All in all, color me impressed by the Camps Bay. It’s beautiful, it’s comfortable, and it can hold a heck of a lot of equipment, which for an over-packer extraordinaire is the best!
xoxo

Thanks to ONA for providing me with the camera bag! All opinions are my own.

PS. I own a handful of other camera bags. If you’d like to see reviews on some of the others in my collection let me know!

my camera equipment

by Kaylah Stroup August 5, 2015

Photography has always been something I loved but for the longest time I never really saw any reason to upgrade my equipment. I stand by the notion that a good photographer can take a great photo no matter the equipment but y’all having awesome equipment sure does help!

The very first non-kit lens I bought many moons ago was the Canon 50mm f/1.8 II which I had actually read about on someone’s blog. I liked their pictures, and their FAQ included a link to that lens along with a few sentences about how much they loved it. I bought it same day. The internet is full of recommendations on camera equipment – and just about everything else but hearing that someone I know, whether that be online or in person, loves something and reading what the practical application for me is is what is most important to me when choosing what to spend my money on.

It’s been a while since I updated my equipment list here on the blog and since my last update I’ve found a handful of new things that I just can’t imagine myself not shooting with!

1. This shutter release is seriously one of the best things I’ve ever bought. You can either push+hold the button to take a single picture or set the timer to for it to shoot a few seconds (or minutes) later. If you put your camera in sports/ high speed continuous mode, and set the timer for a few seconds long it will take a series of photos for you. It’s a thousand times better than just a remote and an absolute must have if you take outfit pictures! It also makes taking long exposures easier since using the shutter release minimizes the possibility of camera shake.

2. The Canon 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 was something that as soon as I got it I wondered how I had shot all these years without it. I just never realized how often I could benefit from having a wide angle lens. I find it most useful when shooting photos of abandoned building, landscapes, rooms in my home, etc. The whole room photos in my apartment tour are a great example of what this lens can capture.

3. Canon 100mm f/2.8, my macro lens! Perfect for shooting insects, and close ups of plants. It might be one of my least used lenses but when I do find a use for it I am so happy to have it. Here are two posts featuring examples of what the lens can do – 1 + 2. The photos of elephant seals I shot along the coast were taken with this lens as well.

If you’re not one hundred perfect sold on putting out the money for a macro lens I recommend macro filters. For under fifteen bucks you can take some pretty awesome close up shots!

4. Canon 35mm f/1.4L. So it’s technically not my lens, it’s Jeffs, but this was the lens that made me realize L-series lenses were no joke. This was one of the first outfit photo set I shot with that lens and I just remember being blown away. Before purchasing the 50mm 1.2, this was basically my every day lens. It just takes some seriously gorgeous photos! Good glass is worth the money.

5. I recently upgraded to the Canon 70D. I did a ton of research before pulling the trigger just to make sure it was the right camera for me – I’m pumped! It was important to me to buy another camera with a flip out screen since a lot of the photos I take for the blog involve me shooting photos of myself. It’s an excellent way to make sure I’m in the frame. It’s also useful for shooting things low to the ground while not getting your knees dirty.

6. The 50mm 1.2, ooooh boy. This lens is what dreams are made of. I splurged and bought this puppy for my birthday and haven’t looked back since. It rarely leaves my camera now. The plant photos in this post were taken with this lens. I’m sure after having it for a little while longer I’ll have more articulate things to say about it but right now I’m just feeling very “wooooow” about it.

My top two film cameras are the Pentax K1000 and the Canon T2. I love them both equally but have figured out which works best for me in certain situations. The Pentax K1000 is a manual camera, you have to focus and adjust the settings properly yourself. It’s an excellent camera to learn to shoot film on. I use it most for landscapes, and subjects that don’t move too quickly. The Canon T2, on the other hand, does have auto focus. It’s my camera of choice when I know I’ll be shooting animals (like at the deer park) and children since I’m still not that quick at focusing on my own.

As far as 35mm film goes, I’m not that picky. I will shoot with anything I can get my hands on. I tend to most frequently purchase Fuji 35mm Superia X-TRA 400 because Amazon has it for a decent price.

My pride and joy, the land camera. This is my absolute FAVORITE camera. I bought mine from Film Photography Project on ebay a few years ago or so when they were having a sale. They do currently have a few in their webstore. They’re slightly pricey compared to what you’d find at a thrift store or estate sale but they have been tested and come with batteries. Plus they have really great service that I can attest to! When I first got the camera I had no idea what to do with but it actually came with an instructional DVD to help you out.

Film for land cameras can be found on amazon, black and white or color. The black and white film was recently discontinued, hence the major price difference, so if you’d like some I’d stock up while you still can.

I own a handful of camera bags, it’s kind of my thing. Some people collect shoes or purses, I have camera bags. I very rarely leave my house without a camera so it’s important to me to have something safe to tote them around in. My current favorites are the Bellbrook Backpack and a cross body leather bag called Siena, both of which are from Jo Totes. I own more of her bags than any other brand. They’re stylish, and functional! You can find lots of photos of my camera bags, and how they look on by browsing through my What I Wore archives.

Those are my favorite, and most commonly used photography related things. I also have a list of just for fun cameras that I love, you can read more here! Or if you’re interested in instant photography (with easily accessible film!) you can read more here.
xoxo

Blue Apron review

by Kaylah Stroup July 27, 2015

You guys, I made food! Like really really tasty food!

Due to the fact that I formerly held the title of world’s pickiest eater I never learned to love cooking. I can probably count the actual full meals I’ve made on one hand. While I was drafting up this post about how I’ve been a lot more open to trying new foods and am realizing that I’m not actually a picky eater at all I was contacted by Blue Apron. The timing could not have been more perfect!

Blue Apron is a company that delivers farm-fresh ingredients to you along with a super easy to follow recipe card (that has pictures!) so you can create delicious meals at home without ever even having to go to the grocery store. You get exactly the right proportions so there’s no waste or question of what to do with the rest of your ingredients. They offer two types of plans, the 2-person plan ($9.99 per person per meal) and the Family Plan (feeds four + costs $8.74 per person per meal). They can accommodate a variety of dietary preferences and personalize your meals each week based on your preferences. There’s no commitment, you can skip or cancel at anytime, and shipping is always free.

Basically it’s the coolest idea ever, and more than perfect for where I’m at right now in my relationship with food. I love eating but my creativity does not expand into the kitchen and I really do hate buying too much of an ingredient I’m only going to need a little bit of.

So last week while Jeff was editing wedding photos I went over to his house to make us lunch – by myself. Ahhh! He has much better lighting in his kitchen, and unlike me, he actually has kitchen supplies. With the two person plan you receive three meals. All three of our meals sounded delicious but I chose to make the seared pork chops with roasted sweet potato salad.

I was a little bit nervous to be cooking to be honest. Can I tell you guys a secret? Outside of bacon, I’ve never actually cooked meat before. Well… nuggets – but I’m going to say that definitely doesn’t count.
I was a vegetarian for around six years, and after that it just wasn’t
something I made for myself. Jeff is definitely the cook in this
relationship. As soon as I plopped the pork chops down on the pan I shouted to Jeff “I’m cooking meat!!” Haha.

I can say without a doubt this was the tastiest meal I have ever made. Seriously. That was a dang good pork chop, and hey, guess what! I like sweet potatoes! Blue Apron meals are not only incredibly convenient, and delicious but gave me an opportunity to try things I probably wouldn’t chose on my own. I knew I liked pork chops, but I’ve actually never had them with this. The sauce on them was seriously just amazing.

All of the recipes Blue Apron has can be prepared in 40 minutes or less. This meal was surprisingly easy and quick make. Like I said, I don’t make meals by myself but Blue Apron makes it so simple. This is making me feel like cooking might actually be fun! (Who am I?!) They actually have an online cookbook with all of their current recipes available. Their rice and beef-stuffed poblano peppers look amaaaaazing.

Best of all? Blue Apron is offering the first 20 Dainty Squid readers their first two meals free! I am truly impressed with them, and I think you will be too!
xoxo

This is a sponsored post but you
best believe I am alllll about Blue Apron! Thanks for supporting the
companies who support The Dainty Squid.

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