Our welcoming night at the location of the amazing Artprize winner from last year. “Intersections” by Anila Quayyum Agha.

 We started our first morning with a dash of creativity by arranging room vignettes at Hunt & Gather, one of my favorite places to find vintage home goods! We also spent some time with Escape Artists Color – her adult coloring books and postcards are simply perfect.

 A tour of the local art museum, the GRAM, and some of my favorite Artprize 2015 pieces – especially that incredible Dahlia! Everyone say “hi” to a couple of the blogger boys, Rob from Dressed to Ill and Denny Balmaceda. They are standing in front of a finger painting – yes, a finger painting.

psssst! My sweater is by Trina Turk, denim by Madewell, and boots by Cat Footwear (a Michigan made company!)

 Can you believe these are all full of beer? The Founders Brewing Co. tour was one of the highlights of the trip for me. I have been there countless times, but never had the opportunity to see the entire brewery. If you’re a beer drinker, I strongly recommend you find a store in your area that carries their product. It won’t disappoint!

 A huge thanks to local lash and brow bar, Siren & Proper, for freshening up my makeup after the Founder’s tour. I loved it so much I had to take a car (van) selfie!

 Lunch at one of the best taqueria’s in existence (no exaggeration), Taqueria San José. Even in LA, a city with taco trucks on every corner, I still dream about their food! Chorizo, cactus, and lengua for me, please.

 We wrapped up our first afternoon with a place I had never been before, Le Bon Macaron. This adorable sweets shop popped up this past year in one of my favorite neighborhoods, Cherry Hill. I have to admit, I’ve always been a bit of a macaron cynic until I tasted these … after one bite, it’s safe to say I am a reformed woman.

 After an evening of dancing a local venue, I did hair for a wedding and had to opt out of a mouth-watering brunch at Terra, a locally-sourced farm to table restaurant. But Middle West made sure I still started Saturday off right with coffee and snacks at Cakabakery. We had a demonstration of new coffee brewing products by Kitchen Aid (made in Michigan!) that allow you to make the perfect cup of joe in your own home. One of the best parts was sampling beans from Direct Trade Coffee Club, yet another Michigan company, and learning why temperature, grind, and brew time is so crucial to the taste of your coffee … and what goes better with the perfect brew than a strawberry champagne cupcake from Cakabakery? Absolutely nothing.

 *drool* For dinner we snacked on appetizers and sipped craft cocktails by The Starving Artist at Grand Rapids Downtown Market, which not only hosts tons of incredible local vendors, it is also an event space. Can you tell that food is something Grand Rapids does really, really well?

 That night we closed down the Michigan House with a bang. This space was full to the brim with events during Artprize, including yoga classes, musicians, and talk series, but the final event included covering the space with chalk drawings and messages. This was my favorite – gets right to the point!

 It wouldn’t be a true Grand Rapids tour if we didn’t start our Sunday off with more coffee! This time at one of the best local shops, Rowster Coffee. I can’t go into town without stopping by and getting an almond milk latte. They make their own almond milk and it’s absolutely delicious.

 Coffee followed by cider … a true “Pure Michigan” fall day, and the end of our time together. We couldn’t have gotten more lucky with the weather, and we all had the best time stomping around the property at Farmhaus Cider Co. They just opened their tasting room (we were the first visitors!), and I’m already so excited to go back. Those of you living in Michigan have to go check this spot out! It’s the quintessential autumn day activity!

 A nostalgic shot from the day after including some goodie bag gifts! Mug from local salon, The Cheeky Strut. Napkin by local event paper products company, Centennial Avenue, name card by event planner, Kenley Event Design, photobooth images from the final night, sponsored by the MI box.

As a Grand Rapids native, I have to give a big shout out to the team at Middle West for their incredible tour itinerary. It completely encompassed the city and everything we did was a blast! Another shout out to all the local businesses involved: Thank you so much for welcoming us, and to the absolutely beautiful JW Marriott for hosting us.

Be sure to check out the trip from the other influencers’ points of view! Many photos can be found on their Instagrams, and stay tuned for full blog posts!

Annie from The Midwestival : Blog : Instagram

Robert and Christina from New Darlings : Blog : Instagram

Candy Heilman-Agosto : Instagram

Rob from Dressed to Ill : Blog : Instagram

Shawn Jordan : Instagram

Denny from Denny Balmaceda : Blog : Instagram

And even more from the Middle West (dream) team:

Jamie : Instagram

Ted : Instagram

Peter : Instagram

Bethany : Instagram

Middle West : Instagram

Michigan House : Instagram

The post Middle West and Michigan House: A Recap appeared first on That's Your Gold.

Perhaps this is why I always feel compelled to write when I come back from a trip. There is a clear “end”. It’s as if I can effectively look back on a specific time knowing it’s over, giving the next phase of life permission to begin. I’ve read countless quotes about “starting each day fresh!” or “Every morning you have a chance to begin again!”. But I’m realizing how few of us actually live this way. What would it actually look like to live each 24 hours anew? Would letting go of yesterday’s baggage, failures, mistakes also mean letting go of its triumphs and lessons? I think it might. Perhaps rather than starting each day as a blank slate, it would be better to begin with a slate of “good job!” stickers, and a list of things you did the day, week, month prior that you did right. Why not wake up with a mental (or literal) note of the experiences you’ve had with positive outcomes – the ones that made you feel good afterwards? I’m starting to believe that a complete awareness of the effect your actions have on your well-being is the key to establishing a healthy, constructive routine … and routines don’t come from starting over each day. Each day is a necessary building block.

If you follow me on Instagram, you may have noticed that I’ve been traveling the past couple of weeks. I went from New York, to Denver, to my hometown, and now I’m back in my own living room with the happiest pup sitting by my feet. Between the multiple changes in time zone, long nights, and busy days, I feel like I can finally think clearly again. This last adventure had many defining moments for me, but most of all was my time spent in Grand Rapids (somehow all visits to my hometown leave a lasting impression). Since my parents’ move, I had hoped that future visits to Michigan would feel fresh … not like I was jumping back in to where I came from, but constantly journeying forward, making my hometown whatever I want it to be, not jumping back in to the same patterns. That is exactly what this past week looked like. My time spent there was split between my parents, who know me better than anyone, and with a group of influencers from all over the country, who didn’t know me at all… between a new town where I was being shown around, and an old city where I was showing everyone else around. I got to be the tourist in Greenville, eating gooey doughnuts at a cherished local orchard, indulging in buy-one-get-one burritos at a tiny pub where everyone seems to know everyone else, and making two huge pots of salsa out of ingredients purchased from a farm down the street. In Grand Rapids I was a tour guide, showing off the highlights of the thriving area I grew up in, sipping the craft beers from an award-winning brewery, leading the way to a venue showcasing art from all over the world, and proudly discussing the local restaurants, bars, and shops.

Grand Rapids is an inspiring city. Seeing it through the eyes of visitors completely restored my appreciation for how far it has come since my childhood, and documenting the highlights throughout my time spent there was a joy for me. While it may no longer be my home or my family’s home, it will now be a place I look forward to visiting, and I want to thank the team, Middle West and Michigan House, who made that possible. A long weekend spent indulging in all the incredible things Grand Rapids has to offer has made it a destination, rather than an obligation … proving that while it may not be possible to start fresh, it is always possible to start positively.

Stay tuned for a recap of my weekend spent in Grand Rapids, but be sure to eat first. Lots of mouth-watering images coming your way! In the meantime, here’s one my mom took of me in front of the wood pile on their new property.

The post Starting Positively. appeared first on That's Your Gold.

The route I took out of town brought me through my old stomping grounds and on the expressway that traces the edges of downtown Grand Rapids. This route somehow seems to mimic the progression of my life. Spending 27 years in that city has filled every main drag and alleyway with nostalgia. It seems every corner has a ghost of memories haunting it, and it’s practically impossible not to bump into past versions of myself everywhere I go. Elementary Kayley is pushing a stroller down Cascade road with toddler-sized Layne struggling to keep up. Tween Kayley is sitting outside the local 7-11 with a rainbow colored slurpee – one layer of each flavor. It will soon melt and turn into a murky brown, but trust me, it tastes better than it looks. That beautiful, tree-canopied backroad is the one high school Kayley used to drive down when she would “borrow” her parents car before she had her driver’s license. And the record store on Division is where summer-before-college Kayley she would go while dreaming of the turntable she would receive the following Christmas.

My parents are moving. The next time I visit, I will be going to a new home which is 40 minutes outside of Grand Rapids, secluded, and removed from unwanted memories. As I drove out of town and looked over the uneven skyline of buildings just off the freeway, I realized that I never have to go back there again. I can fly into the airport and immediately head out to the new lakehouse, never having to worry about walking around a street corner, wondering who will be standing on the other side. I don’t have to watch the door while I sit in my favorite local restaurant, make awkward small talk as I wash my hands in the bathroom, or repeatedly have the internal and exhausting “should I say ‘hi?'” debate. From now on, every time I head back to my parent’s place, I don’t have to pass by the house that represents the life I turned my back on over two years ago (depending on my mood, sometimes it’s worth taking the long way).

In some ways, Grand Rapids is my history. I’ve tasted the entire city, and I feel like a child audibly sucking on a straw to get the last drops of something that was once sugary and delicious, but now it’s just melted ice. The suburbs are my childhood, the city is what changed me. My father has given me nearly every reason to move back – endless security, the nearness of family, and the simple fact that I wouldn’t have to watch him try to hide his tears when I hug him goodbye (it gets harder every time). I’ve heard my parents talking in the other room when the time has come for me to return to California, and my mom’s response to my dad’s grasping for reasons that I should stay is always the same, “Charley, she can’t come back here. She just can’t.” She’s right. And I might never have to again.

The post Leaving Home. appeared first on That's Your Gold.

It’s been a slow morning at the house, and I’m alone. While sitting at a countertop in my older brother’s favorite stool (it’s the only one he will sit in), I just had one of those moments when everything comes rushing in at once. Sometimes when I think of the past, it feels like remembering a movie I saw once a long, long time ago. It’s as though those faces, conversations, and experiences weren’t actually a part of my own life, but something I saw once as an observer. In the excitement of spending time with my family, I often forget that being here makes everything feel real again. I wonder if this is some sort of coping mechanism, and really the only way to truly move forward – a certain amount of healthy distancing and emotional detachment.

About four months ago I adopted a dog. She is named after Holly Golightly of Breakfast at Tiffany’s, one of my favorite female characters ever written. (Sidenote: if you haven’t read the book, do yourself a favor and get on that asap.) Holly, the dog, is a rescue. I’m her fourth owner, and it shows sometimes. She’s anxious, afraid of abandonment, and, most of the time, prefers the company of women. It’s clear she has been affected by the people who have given up on her and possibly mistreated her. I don’t know exactly what her story is, but I do know that whatever she has gone through hasn’t made her less loving, less hopeful, or less adoring. Holly has not lost the desire for affection, and she will sacrifice her own self-care to get it. Her intense attachment to me means that I sometimes have to stand by her food bowl in order for her to eat or be home with her so she can relax. This behavior has presented challenges for sure, though this response to her experiences has inspired me. Rather than rejecting humans, she loves more fiercely, which actually does not mirror her namesake at all. I named her after an erratic, distant, falsely brave woman, who I have always felt an odd kinship with, and my Holly ended up being one of the most deeply loving and adoring creatures I’ve ever come across.

I think when any living thing goes through painful circumstances they can respond in two general ways. They can shut themselves off, creating a callused shell around them as a form of protection… or they can regard their experiences as a product of circumstance, choosing not to fold, but rather remain open and affected with a new sense of wisdom and intention. I’m trying my hardest to make my story read more like the later. While I willingly admit that I often fall into cynicism, fear, and pessimism, I also know I am not solely the sum of my experiences. I’m a bundle of 28.5 years of life, this present day, and what is excitingly still to come.

Hope has nothing to do with the past and can exist without reason or justification. It just is.

The post Being Home. appeared first on That's Your Gold.

Last night, I was out to dinner with a good friend who has lived alone off and on since graduating from college, and has currently lived in her own place for two years. The advice she gave me was to expect a “transition”. I can’t help but feel like I’m on the brink of a new phase in my life. I’m moving a minor ten minutes away but my place is fairly secluded, in a quiet part of town at the base of the mountains, and I’ll occupy my own four walls. This cute, little bungalow met nearly all the points on my wish-list, and miraculously came in under budget. I imagine I will be in this home for awhile.

Life is opening up to me in unimaginable ways. With the combination of being self-employed, having complete privacy, and very few obligations, I’m days away from a scary freedom I’ve never experienced before. And while I do know that it’ll be an adjustment not having someone to chat with at the end of the night, or make coffee with first thing in the morning, this is the next necessary step. Having others to turn to and rely on is invaluable but not when it becomes a dependency and compromises your own sense of self. I’ve questioned my judgement and desires more times that I can count, but I learned to listen to my own advice … and now I’m here. To me, this transition is symbolic of the end of the past two and a half years of upheaval. It’s the final stretch. I’m putting roots down again.

If I met this version of myself five years ago, I wouldn’t have recognized the woman I saw in front of me and, to be honest, I probably wouldn’t have liked her. I would have disagreed with her decisions, beliefs, opinions, goals, and resented her for her confidence, attitude, and independence. I would have chosen something completely different for myself, but the beauty of life is that we don’t always have that option. Looking forward, I would have wanted another way. Looking back, I’m so thankful I’m here. I guess that’s a lesson in itself about being open-minded not only to others, but also to yourself. Allow space to grow, encourage a spacious mind for new perspective, and maintain a sense of wonder about the future. You don’t have it all figured out, I promise.

Outfit Breakdown:
Cardigan: Nasty Gal (Save. Spend. Splurge.)
Sweater: Madewell via Shopbop (Same. Save. Spend. Splurge.)
Necklace: Estate Sale (Similar.)
Jeans: Gap (Save. Spend. Splurge.)
Boots: Sam Edelman via Shopbop (Same. Save. Spend. Splurge.)

Sidenote: After my move I won’t have someone to ask, “Do you like this outfit?” whenever I need a second opinion. This combination was created by accident. I was cold one night so I threw on the long sweater to wear around the house, and Fairfax said she liked it thinking I had been wearing it all day. So I wore it again and Bryan took these pictures.

The post A Transition appeared first on That's Your Gold.

So for those of you who are in suddenly Don Draper withdrawls (I mean, who can blame you), I have a new hair tutorial to brighten your day! This look is inspired by Megan Draper – primarily Season 5 Megan Draper. I’ve watched countless fancy dinner parties where she wore the most incredible clothing and paired it with a voluminous half-up hairstyle so I wanted to give it a try for myself!

Have fun with this one, ladies! And if you want tutorial updates as soon as they are released, be sure to subscribe to my YouTube Channel. You can also find more hair related content on my Hair by Kayley Instagram. Thanks for watching! 

The post Megan Draper 60s Inspired Style appeared first on That's Your Gold.

After a battle with updating the operating system on my laptop all morning and early afternoon, I had reached the point of giving up, and returned home to continue working in grumpiness and solitude. But the universe had different plans. Upon arriving at my front door, I realized I left my apartment key at a friend’s, and he wasn’t available for several hours (really, today of all days??). So I turned myself around and headed out to a coffee shop … whose Yelp page falsely advertised free wifi … went to a different coffee shop … same problem. Third time’s the charm, right? Wrong. Coffee shop #3 had wifi, so I bought a kombucha, only to overhear the barista tell another customer the internet had been out all day.

So while I sat staring at that dreaded exclamation mark over empty wifi bars, I decided all that was left to do was read. I pulled out “The Desire Map” (yes, still slowly nibbling my way through it), and started reading about expectations. Suddenly the space I embodied, which just moment prior felt like a vortex of unproductivity, shifted into an opportunity. It had been days since I felt comfortable setting work aside in favor of feeding my own needs, and now it felt like my only option. Despite the fact that I’ve allowed self-care to become a last resort, I am thankful of the reminder I was given yesterday.

I began my day with expectations, and I allowed my happiness to hinge on those expectations. We can’t control everything, and if we allow our satisfaction to depend on things going entirely to plan, we are going to be incredibly disappointed. I’m slowly learning to approach goal-making in a way that won’t set me up for a huge let-down at the end. I loved this portion of the chapter I read yesterday:

“Lay down expectations, take up sincerity. I was still focused on my desires, but I released my grip on the future, and I felt incredibly present.

Intentions? Of course. I love my intentions. Goals? Make them if you need to. Expectations? Ease up on them. Expectations shrink your shine and weigh you down with worry and equations.

Expectation liberation is the new black. Style up.“

Outfit Breakdown:
Jacket: White Crow
Tee: River Island (Same.)
Necklace: Katie Dean Jewelry (Same.)
Jeans: Gap (Save. Save. Spend. Splurge.)
Boots: Sam Edelman via Shopbop (Same. Save. Spend. Splurge.)

So I guess the moral of this post is: Wear black and let go of expectations. That’s not exactly what Danielle LaPorte was getting at, but it means something to me so I’m running with it.

The post The Unexpected New Black appeared first on That's Your Gold.

Growing up, I had friends tell me that my relationship with my mom was a little different. The topics we’ve felt comfortable talking about, the things we tell each other, and the way we interact with each other does not reflect the typical mother/daughter relationship, and I’m so thankful for that. The past several years have been huge for both of us and for our relationship with each other, and now, more than ever, I can absolutely say my mom is my best friend. One of the biggest things that has changed over the years is that when I was younger, I used to resent my mom for telling me what to do, and now I constantly ask her to. (Seriously, this woman gives SOLID advice.)

This year for Mother’s Day I knew I had to do something extra special. After all, I probably wouldn’t have been brave or confident enough to move across the country in the first place if it wasn’t for her faith in me. My mom has never been huge on gifts, but she does love surprises. So when I decided to team up with Shari’s Berries and send my mom two days worth of Mother’s Day treats, I chose to keep it a surprise!

Top: Gentle Fawn (Same) | Cuff: Saressa Designs (Same)

Day One:

On the first day, my mom received a bouquet of tulips. These are some of her favorite flowers, and are incredibly popular this time of year in Michigan, so I knew she would appreciate them. I woke up on the morning of Day One and my mom had already received the tulips and posted on Facebook about it. (I promise I don’t sleep in that late, it’s a three hour time difference!) She also followed up with a text saying, “They are so beautiful! I love them!!! I truly do love tulips so much.” Little did she know there was another day in store …

Day Two:

I woke up the morning of Day Two and, again, my mom had already received her gift. A dozen chocolate covered strawberries arrived on her doorstep in Michigan before I even got out of bed in California! Like the first day, she posted on Facebook and texted right away. “I received another package today! That was the best chocolate covered strawberry I’ve ever eaten and I have 11 more! You are unbelievable…I am not that good of a mom to deserve all this! <3″

p.s. Mom, you are a good enough mom to worry about my finances when you have flowers on the counter and delicious strawberries in the fridge.

(Sidenote to potential landlords doing a really in depth background check: I do pay my rent. Promise. She was being funny.)

I feel incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to show my mom how much she means to me from all the way across the country with the help of Shari’s Berries. I hope I show her this every day through phone calls and text messages, but she definitely deserved some extra spoiling for all she’s done as a mother – including raising me to be a strong and independent woman, supporting me during tough times, standing behind my (sometimes questionable) decisions, and encouraging me to follow my dreams, even if it meant moving all the way across the country.

Thank you for everything, Mom. I love you endlessly!

The post Celebrating Mother’s Day Cross Country appeared first on That's Your Gold.

While I am still intending to include this blog in my priority list, I have to be honest with you guys. My goals to post on a regular schedule have been very hard to meet. I am seeking to keep my blog as a source of enjoyment, and stressing about goals, numbers, and consistent content has proven to the take the joy out of it for me. This is a hobby for me.

So, here’s my point. I hope you bear with me during the stages of staleness, those times when you go to visit and it’s that same ol’ blog post at the top that you viewed several days ago. I’m recharging, not giving up. I want to update with something good, something thoughtful, something more than just basic photos and clothing sources. It what makes me happy and feeds me creatively, and hopefully it is what inspires you to keep coming back.

On that note, if you are seeking regular content from me (outfits, thoughts, etc.) feel free to follow me on my social media outlets. They are updated much more regularly and on the fly … which is sometimes very unfiltered and very scary. Don’t say you weren’t warned.

TWITTER

thoughts, quick outfit selfies, day to day activities

INSTAGRAM

higher quality outfit photos, what I’m eating, my dog, adventures

FACEBOOK

blog post announcements, short updates

TUMBLR

lovely images, quotes, music, things I love

SHAPCHAT – @kayleyfancyanne

the really un-glamorous videos and photos (mostly my dog, selfies, music … and shenanigans)

And one last thing: if you haven’t checked out my portfolio website, you can do that here!

See you on nearly every corner of the internet! Thanks for being here, there, and everywhere.

The post File This Post Under “Honesty” and “Self Promotion” appeared first on That's Your Gold.

So, on that note, I hope that you are okay with seeing less variety in my personal style as I seek to dress in a way that I feel best suits me. My goal is to inspire you to do the same, but in a way that you feel the most comfortable!

What is your approach when it comes to your closet? Do you love having clothing in a variety of colors and styles or do you feel more comfortable with fewer options? In what way do you monitor the inventory of your own personal wardrobe to stay true to yourself and your own style?

Outfit Breakdown:
Top: Unknown (Save. Spend. Splurge.)
Shorts: Forever 21 (Save. Spend. Splurge.)
Boots: Urban Outfitters (Save. Spend. Splurge.)
Earrings: Laguna Pearl (Same.)

Photos by Bryan.

The post Finding Joy In Simplicity. appeared first on That's Your Gold.