THE DAINTY SQUID
  • blog
    • all the posts!
    • stroup mansion
    • some of my favorite posts
    • plants + gardening
    • beauty, fashion + hair
    • reviews
    • window shopping
    • explore everywhere
  • about me
  • contact
  • shop

2 tips for switching hair color easily

THE best overalls // duluth heirloom gardening overalls review

The Darkroom film developing review

7 tips for maintaining bright hair color

Skull Cleaning 101

remaindered books?! // Book Outlet review

Mill Fork Cemetery

three best spots for beachcombing in Cleveland

State of Ohio Asylum for the Insane Cemetery

    portrai.me review

    by Kaylah Stroup April 18, 2023
    portrai me custom portrait review

    Have you ever heard of Portrai Me?

    Portrai Me is a visual art project that creates ‘portraits’ of people’s personalities through the various motifs in their lives. 

    Each piece is created in collaboration with the client who orders the Portrai Me. After ordering, you receive a form to customize the artwork. You can then provide a list of words and attach images you would like to be represented on the piece. After you submit your info, they create a custom drawings entirely based on the submitted lists and images.

    They’re available in black and white or color, as well as a variety of different sizes.

    portrai me custom portrait review

    I think if you know anything about me at this point, you know that I’m obsessed with my house… so, of course, my Portrai Me piece is all about the house.

    My list included my office fireplace, a metal detector, daffodils, the wallpaper with the hidden writing underneath, a black snake (because of this incident!), the clawfoot tub, the art we found buried in the woods, tomatoes, a toad, black berries, the gorgeous hardware I restored & of course, the pets.

    For full transparency, I provided photos and posted about it on my instagram in return for my own custom portrait. That was over a year ago at this point. I’m under no obligation to write this post or share anything else about it. I just wanted to post about it here too because I’M OBSESSED with it.

    portrai me custom portrait review

    The first year and a half of living here was such a blur. It just felt like going from zero to a hundred in a millisecond. Everything was new and exciting. I love this portrait because it really sums up some of my favorite things that happened during that period. I feel like if I were to get another one now, the same items probably wouldn’t be included and that’s what makes this so special. It’s a snapshot into our first year as homeowners.

    I also have to note that just a few weeks after originally getting this piece our dog Klaus passed away so I’m so happy to have him included in this. It makes it even more special. He may not be with us anymore but he was a huge piece of our lives here. One of my biggest goals in life was to buy that pup a yard of his own and by golly, we did it! Now I’m sobbing.

    All of that to say, this piece is very sentimental.

    portrai me custom portrait review

    shown above : the original wallpaper from our home that inspired the piece in the art.

    A custom piece from Portrai Me is an absolutely killer idea for a new homeowner or anyone just going through a new phase in life! It’s also the sweetest thing you could get a loved one (think little pictures of shared memories or inside jokes!) I love my picture and highly highly recommend snagging one for yourself! xo

    6 FacebookTwitterPinterestTumblrRedditThreadsBlueskyEmail
  • my ‘new’ very old curiosity cabinet

    by Kaylah Stroup April 17, 2023

    I scored my dream curiosity cabinet. I do not use Facebook marketplace regularly. I mean, I browse it A LOT but I’m not huge on meeting up with strangers. Buuuut when I find a dream piece I make exceptions. By “exceptions” I mean that I nicely ask my husband to pretty please call them and …

    Read more
  • fire pit makeover

    by Kaylah Stroup April 16, 2023

    I wish I could start this post with a really great before photo but what’s above is as good as it’s going to get. Our fire pit area has never been cute. Believe me, it’s a lot cuter than when we bought. Even though we improved on it, by making the pit smaller, building benches, …

    Read more
  • one of the best things about spring…

    by Kaylah Stroup April 14, 2023

    Spring peppers! Pseudacris crucifer. Without a doubt, one of my favorites sounds ever is the spring peeper. Their chirping call marks the beginning of spring. This is what home sounds like to me. Spring peepers breed in early spring, typically March and April here in Ohio. Males call from the water and surrounding vegetation to …

    Read more
  • book review // the mud ballad

    by Kaylah Stroup April 12, 2023

    It’s been a very long time since I wrote a post specifically about one single book. I still plan to do my round-ups of all recently read books but sometimes one will stick out that I just need to talk about. That’s where we’re at today. The Mud Ballad by Jo Quenell! Although it’s been …

    Read more
Newer Posts
Older Posts

About Me

About Me

Hello!

I'm Kaylah! Renovating a 150-year-old home in Northeast Ohio. Likely found in my garden.

Categories

  • all the posts!
  • animals + nature
  • beauty, fashion + hair
  • explore everywhere
    • abandoned
    • cemeteries
  • plants + gardening
  • reviews
    • books
  • some of my favorite posts
  • stroup mansion
  • window shopping

recent reads

disclosure

click to drop down
The Dainty Squid is a for profit blog. and we participate in a number of affiliate programs meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you choose to make a purchase through one of those links. For more details click here

copyright 2025 the dainty squid / kaylah stroup. please contact me about photo usage.


Back To Top
THE DAINTY SQUID
  • blog
    • all the posts!
    • stroup mansion
    • some of my favorite posts
    • plants + gardening
    • beauty, fashion + hair
    • reviews
    • window shopping
    • explore everywhere
  • about me
  • contact
  • shop