Well hello there! Long time no see!
I'm so excited to be back to blogging and creating all sorts of content for you all! It's been a busy year and some things have had to take a back seat for me to maintain my wellbeing and health. Unfortunately, many aspects of SBK - including this blog - were part of them. Though I've still been posting on Instagram and TikTok and the occasional YouTube video or T. Swift Podcast episode, it's been pretty quiet around here. I had a realization about a month ago that though not posting as frequently freed up some time in my life, it was taking a toll on my mental health. StyledByKaylaXO has always been my biggest creative outlet and not having that consistently was causing me stress and that was not good. I love my work, but it is only part of who I am. It's time to get back to being my whole self.
But Kayla, you couldn't possibly have only been at work for the past 13 months, could you? Of course not! I have been up to all sorts of fun adventures and I thought today I would share those with you! Here are 13 epic (and not so epic) things I have done since the last time I blogged.
#1 I directed 10 musicals!
Obviously my day job did not go away over the past 13 months, and that has meant a LOT of directing has been going on! I've directed 10 shows since the last post and it is a pretty epic list that includes The Little Mermaid, The Rainbow Fish Musical, The Lion King KIDS and JR, AND Legally Blonde JR! Next up? This summer I get to direct yet another dream show - The Lightning Thief Musical! That's right, a freaking Percy Jackson musical! I'm so dang excited!
#2 I took two huge falls in one day...
Klutzy Kayla came back in a huge way during summer camp 2022... I spent most of the summer with a bandaged up foot and leg, and a bruised up face... Not my proudest moment, but you know... it happens...
#3 I took over Las Vegas with my Jonas Brothers girlies!
Before the aforementioned fall of falls, I went on an EPIC adventure! In June we finally got to go to Las Vegas for the Jonas Brothers residency that had been postponed because of COVID! It was essentially a Jonas Convention and it was so much fun! I got to see so many of my friends that I hadn't seen since tour and we just partied it up for a long weekend. Three shows, lots of dancing in the pit, lots of fun, sun and Villa One!
#4 I got COVID on said Jonas Brothers Vegas adventure...
But all good things must come to an end... and that end ended with about 20 of us coming home from that trip with COVID... It was not a fun reason to take two and a half weeks straight off work (including the trip). I got really sick and spent the better part of a week in bed before finally feeling well enough to move to the couch and get my own food. It was not a good time, and forever now lives in our memories as the JO-VID-19 pandemic... stupid cute Jonas Brothers.
#5 I got to help my friend grow her music career!
If you've been following my Reels and TikTok vlogs, you may have noticed that one artist pops up just about every month in the music for them, and that is Ceili Caruso! My work bestie dropped her first single back in October and it has been so much fun getting to watch her succeed and get to help out a little behind the scenes! She's pretty great and you should definitely be streaming her newest song "You and I"!
#6 I went to a Book Ball!
Yes those are real and yes I went to one! Oh my god it was the coolest thing ever! Back in September I took a little road trip down to Portland for Books, Gowns and Crowns first ever convention and ball. It was a two day event with a small expo, a scavenger hunt around the city, and of course, a beautiful book ball! It was so fun getting to spend the morning wandering around the expo, meeting authors and shopping with some new bookish friends and then get to go back to the hotel and get all glammed up for a BEAUTIFUL ball! I vlogged the whole experience, so if you want to see more of the gorgeous event space, check that out here. It was so much fun and has definitely reinforced my love of the bookish community even if my activity on my bookstagram doesn't show it...
#7 I made a chaotic group of bookish besties!
I went to Books, Gowns and Crowns alone. Solo travel and going to events alone has always been something I've loved. It may seem daunting at first, but it gives you an opportunity to really step out of your shell and grow your confidence. Before I had even checked into my hotel I had already met my first new friend and made breakfast plans before the expo. From there we made more friends waiting in line to get in and then later even more friends at the ball. By the scavenger hunt on day two we were a group of 7 and spent that whole second day together! My "Book Ball Bitches" girlies have become some of the people I talk to most and we have already booked a reunion trip in September! These ladies rock!
#8 I gained a puppy niece!
You've seen her on instagram, but please enjoy these photos of my sister's adorable dog, Bia, or Bi-elzebub as I call her!
#9 I became a red head again!
After joking about it for at least a year, I finally convinced Charli (and myself) that I needed to be a red head again! Enjoy it while it lasts, I'm getting the itch to be blonde again so we'll see how long it lasts!
#10 I went to Disneyland with my Mom!
As many of you probably remember, the day before my 27th birthday in 2021, my grandmother passed away. So obviously, the one year anniversary crept up on us as my 28th birthday did as well. My mom and I decided we needed a little getaway and Disneyland sounded like the best idea! Now, planning a Disney trip in two weeks is a little chaotic and expensive, but it was a blast! I hadn't been to Disneyland since I was in Kindergarten, so I had been wanting to go on a trip down as an adult for awhile and my mom was one of the best travel partner I could think of! We had the best time and powered through both parks for three days. I was pleasantly surprised by the fact that I could ride most rides (Indiana Jones was the only one we attempted that I couldn't) and it was super fun to recreate some photos from our trip 22 years ago! We vlogged the whole weekend so check that out here!
#11 I gained a bit of weight back...
It happens. As you can imagine, stress and being busy didn't just impact SBK. It impacted a lot of areas in my life. My health was a big one, but I am slowly getting back on track with my health goals. Giving myself some grace has been a big help in not slipping back into some dangerous mental health places. I'm only human, and humans aren't perfect.
#12 I got 2 new tattoos!
When I was in Vegas, I had to swing into Koolsville and get some $10 flash tattoos! Kamryn, Maria and I went on our last day and I got two little additions to my left arm - an airplane and lightning bolt!
#13 I celebrated 10 years of StyledByKaylaXO!
Can you believe it? I started StyledByKaylaXO in September of 2012, so this last September marked TEN WHOLE YEARS of creating content for y'all. I cannot believe that I have been doing this for so long. In so many ways it feels like it was just yesterday. 17 year old Kayla would not believe that I am still doing this, or how much it has grown. Back then it was just the YouTube channel and a little bit of Instagram. I couldn't've dreamed up the blog or the podcast then, but I am so glad I eventually did. I love this work so much, and don't plan on stopping any time soon!
So here I am! You probably have seen content start to pick up lately, but get ready, it's about to get a whole lot busier!
xo,
Kayla