outfit details – sunglasses, jacket, sweatshirt, jeans, rain boots & camera bag.
Just a couple of photos from the beach late last month. Right now, more than ever, I’m especially thankful to live so
Lake Erie, I love you!
A few related posts – camera bag review, my favorite spots to
Long time, no see, eh?
I have really missed taking outfit photos! Now that the weather is starting to get a bit more agreeable here in Ohio, it feels like a good time to get back into the groove of it.
Jeff shot these for me early Saturday morning before our weekly coffee date. We’ve been talking a lot about moving lately. Where is kind of up in the
All that to say, I’m making sure to treasure every second in the city these days, especially our coffee dates. I didn’t grow up in walking distance of anything so I’m still quite chuffed to live so close to so many things. Our apartment is just around the block from what has become our favorite weekend morning hangout spot. I love waking up and walking to get coffee with my husband. (All parts of that sentence seem unthinkable to teenage Kaylah.) It’s my favorite thing right now. The weekends that we don’t make it happen feel like something is missing, like we didn’t quite celebrate the weekend correctly.
outfit details – beret, sunglasses, coat, dress, tights, shoes (c/o Modcloth)
xoxo
details
hat – Moorea Seal – no longer available (similar)
glasses – Louise wide via Warby Parker
sweater – striped sweater via Joules (beyond cozy!!!)
overalls – black overalls via Amazon
socks – Happy Socks – no longer available (similar)
shoes – Reebok Cotton & Corn c/o Zappos
Teenage Kaylah definitely would have scoffed at my short pants. Admittedly, they’re a little short, at least for this time of the year, but I LOVE these overalls. These are my seventh or eighth pair so I guess you could say I’m a bit of an overall aficionado. I’ve learned things I really like and dislike in a pair of overalls and these have all the things I like and none of my dislikes. In case you’re curious, my number one dislike in a pair of overalls is when the straps in the back go all the way down to the waist instead of connecting to a larger piece midback. The straps fall down constantly! I probably won’t get too much more wear from these outside of the house until the warmer weather makes a return though. I’m looking forward to wearing these, cuffed a bit shorter, all spring and summer long paired with my favorite sandals. It’s a perfect look. I was already trying on summer outfit ideas in the mirror because I am soooo ready.
The sizing options on these overalls nearly scared me away since they come in small, medium, large or extra large and for a pair of pants, I feel like that’s super vague. I suppose I buy pjs in sizes like that but I’m a heck of a lot more picky about how jeans fit than jammies. Since Amazon has super easy & free returns I just went for it. I really wanted a second pair of black overalls, okay? I chose large. I’m very happy with how they fit. If I were going for a tighter fit, I definitely could have pulled off a medium but I actually was looking for a pair with a more relaxed fit. They’re roomy throughout the legs without looking oversized. The waist even has enough room to fit a bulky sweater without looking stuffed. I’m around five foot seven inches with a long torso and these fit perfectly lengthwise in my torso. Always an issue with overalls!!! The only real questionable thing is the length, which I already mentioned makes them a bit more suited for warm weather. Based on review photos though, if you’re shorter they’ll most likely be perfect on ya!
Not so fun little tidbit about these photos, I re-twisted my ankle while taking them hence why there are so many of me sitting (which actually became my favorite shots!) I briefly mentioned it previously but I sprained my ankle back in the middle of October. It swelled up to the size of softball almost immediately and gave me the gnarliest bruise I’ve ever had. It wasn’t getting better quick enough for me so I ended up going to urgent care where I got X-rays and was told it was just a sprain, no big deal. What I didn’t realize about sprained ankles is that they apparently take five hundred years to heal and my ankle would be as fragile as glass even when it felt okay.
The day I went out to take these photos I was being careful. I knew I had to watch my step. Shortly after getting to the beach though, I put my foot down wrong when stepping off of a piece of driftwood and in slow motion, I felt it roll. Gosh, it was such an awful feeling, even worse than the original injury. I stayed long enough to get the rest of my photos and immediately went home where I spent the rest of my day on the couch with an ice pack.
It’s been a real rollercoaster healing this dang thing. Some days I definitely feel like I’m on the mend and then two days later it’ll be causing me lots of pain. Fingers crossed it starts to make progress quickly. I really want to get at least one last bike ride in before the end of the year.
xoxo
It’s been a busy few days with Thanksgiving last week. Jeff had off Thursday, Friday, and of course, the weekend so we essentially had a four day weekend. Lots of food, and time spent with family and friends. It was lovely. I also managed to convince him to go to the beach with me twice(!!) – which makes it sound like he doesn’t have any fun but I think he might even enjoy looking for treasure more than I do. When I asked him to take a few photos of me he kept getting distracted by fresh finds the lake was washing in. At least I can pull myself away for a few seconds…
Beachcombing is one of my absolute favorite hobbies. I’m so happy my husband seems to be really getting into it as well. It’s a blast to share that with someone, especially someone who is just as hyped about the cool things I find as I am. It definitely takes a special kind of person to agree that finding a tiny shard of pottery with only the teensiest bit of color on it is cool.
After we throughly comb the sand, our routine has been to come home and spread out our finds on the kitchen table. It’s the best. I treasure our treasure hunting time together. I’m quite sad that we’ve fallen into this little pattern just as the weather is starting to change though. While you can definitely hunt for beach treasures all year long – I’ve certainly found great glass in the dead of winter – it’s a heck of a lot less enjoyable in the cold. Hopefully the coming year will hold lots of nice weather, treasure hunts… maybe even a metal detector and youtube channel? Who knows!
details
coat – c/o Modcloth
sweater – c/o Modcloth
jeans – c/o Modcloth
camera bag – pink backpack via Amazon
boots – no longer available but here’s a light silver glitter pair!
PS. Modcloth is having a huge Cyber Monday sale! 40% off EVERYTHING. Includes already marked down items too!
A few recent favorite finds. The green piece above is probably my all time best find. It’s such an incredible piece of beach glass. Perfectly worn down, big, and that color!?! Gah! So good. And below, my very first piece of jewelry found on the beach. Nothing special but there is definitely a thrill to sifting through the pebbles and seeing a ring hiding out.
details
glasses – Bonlook
hat – TJ Maxx
earrings – Target
dress – TJ Maxx
boots – Golden Ponies
Today I am twenty-eight years old. It’s… whatever. I don’t know. I’m trying not to stress about ‘getting old’, and I think I’m doing a decent job. I’m happy to be in good health. (I mean, I could do with fewer headaches…) Happy to be recently married, to be comfortable in my own skin, to have the cutest lil apartment in my favorite neighborhood, to have lots of travel plans coming up, et cetera. I’m also pretty darn jazzed to have an excuse to bug my friends to go on bike rides, and eat ice cream with me. Not that I ever need an excuse…
Just like last year, I’ll be doing my best to stay busy on my birthday. I used to like to lay around and just relax on my birthday but the older I get, the more I realize how much happier I am when I’m moving about. Hopefully by the time this post goes live I’ll have already grabbed coffee, hit the beach, and come home to get cleaned up. I spotted some estate sales that look ripe for the pickin’. Cross your fingers I find all the best treasures today.
Fun little side note about this dress, when I was checking out the cashier, a woman of similar age but of very different style, was like “Oh my gosh, I can just see you in this. You’re gonna look amazing!” It was basically the best thing ever. I’m pretty sure I left the store glowing. I really do love this dress and feel like it’s very flattering but honestly, no idea how much of it is just because she hyped me up so much. Either way, I love it – both the dress, and women building up other women! Can you do me a birthday favor? Give someone you see a genuine compliment.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
details
hat – thrifted
earrings – Target (similar pair)
cardigan – Charter School Cardigan via Modcloth
pins – girls support girls via Daisy Natives, look on the bright side via Rifle Paper Co
dress – Dalmatian Dress via Target
shoes – ballerina flats via Amazon (under $20 + they match everything!!)
I’ve always loved Target but y’all, they have been KILLING it lately. So many good earrings! I want all the housewares! And the clothes! Goodness gracious, the clothes! I don’t know when it started but basically every time I’ve been in there lately I find an item of clothing I really like. Most recently – this dress from the clearance section! I hadn’t seen in before and I apparently found the only one on clearance. (Most likely a return since it was marked ‘as-is’ and I still can’t find anything visibly wrong with it?) It’s not even my normal size but I tried it on anyway because the pattern was just too good to pass up. As luck would have it, the dress runs large and a small fits perfectly. Basically, it was there just waiting for me. You already know I have it in my suitcase for the wedding trip!
Hope you’re having an awesome week (+ that you find some hidden gems in the clearance section!)
xoxo
glasses – Skunkboy in Panda Pearl via BonLook
earrings – Sass, Queen Hoops c/o Modcloth
cardigan – Charter School Cardigan via Modcloth
dress – It’s an Inspired Taste Dress c/o Modcloth
shoes – Color Me Casual Sandal c/o Modcloth
Earlier this month I got a message on Instagram from Modcloth (!!!) asking if I’d like to join #ModclothSquad. The purpose of the ModCloth Squad is to show a diverse range of personal style and creativity in outfitting while promoting the cultural values of inclusivity, female empowerment, and body positivity. Obviously my answer was a big fat yes! The hashtag, #ModclothSquad, is filled with tons of rad babes in rockin’ clothes. It’s one of the very few hashtags I actually follow. I’m super jazzed to be apart of such an awesome partnership!
This was also an excellent push to get back into the swing of outfit photos. I don’t know why it’s so easy to fall out of the habit. (Yes, I do. Winter is hard. Looking cute in the winter is still something I have yet to master!) I enjoy taking these photos so much. Even more than that I love looking back on them. When I look through my blog it bums me out so much that there are huge gaps in outfit photo posts. I truly enjoy them.
Anyway – This dress! I love the way it fits and feels. It’s structured but still very comfortable. Plus (and probably most importantly) it has pockets! I loved it from the second I put it on. I liked it even more after Jeff’s reaction to it. He said “Ohh! That’s going on our wedding trip, right?” Now it definitely will be!
Obviously, I chose the shoes knowing they’d look real rad in one of my found on the beach photos. The morning after I got them I made a point to go to the beach right after I woke up. I LOVE how it turned out. That probably won’t be the last time you see me doing it either! I mean, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it – right?
Hope you’re having an excellent week! (Here’s a photo of Professor that should help if you’re not! You’re welcome.)
xoxo
I haven’t been that great at blogging about wedding related stuff. It’s nearly completely consuming my life but at the same time, it’s almost like there isn’t a whole lot to share, at least not that I’m willing to share just yet! What can I say? I like to keep secrets! The biggest thing I want to talk about is my dress but I’m absolutely not spilling the beans until the big day! No one other than my mom has seen it, and she hasn’t even seen it on me. I will absolutely share with you some photos of what I’ll be wearing to my bridal shower brunch though!
I teamed up with David’s Bridal to showcase one of their little white dresses. I wasn’t aware they had so many cute casual options! I also recently discovered the joy of bell sleeves so this little number couldn’t be more perfect. I had planned to pair the dress with some bright color tights but apparently I got rid of all mine at some point. As luck would have it, I did discover these heart knee tights in the bottom of my drawer. No idea where they came from but they’re definitely super appropriate.
Ya girl is ready for brunch and to get married!!!
details
lace dress with bell sleeves c/o David’s Bridal
flower headband c/o David’s Bridal
fringe booties by Alpine Swiss
