writing with kayla

healing through rhyme & verse

  • Inspirational aesthetic #4: Romantasy warrior!!

    Happy Tuesday Lovelies!!

    I hope your week hasn’t been too stressful! I’ve been feeling a bit frustrated with everything going on in life. I just want life to CHANGE FASTER (sorry for the caps, I am really feeling it today!!) and I want everything to be different right now!! How many days do we have to grind before life starts to look a little different? How many steps do we have to do until we are finally on the other side?

    I don’t mind working hard and paying my dues, it’s just that life feels a bit like endless cost without any external progress. The end doesn’t have to be right now, it would just be amazing to see a difference in every day life. It would be so meaningful to know that all my daily tasks amount to something. For now, all I can do is wait to see if anything changes.

    A sense of daily grind is what attracts me to this Romantasy Warrior Aesthetic. The warrior is the perfect metaphor for battling one challenging situation after another. I love the long coats and badass boots – the long silhouettes are badass, powerful.

    This would be an easy capsule wardrobe to begin a journey of elegance – dark jeans and a turtleneck are approachable. I love the layering of the brass pendants and the scarfs are perfect for windy days. The wine colored camisole dress with ankle boots is a fun take for an edgy, feminine vibe.

    Please see below for the capsule wardrobe:

    Enjoy!

  • original poem – my foundation (updated!)

    the howl of broken promises
    a dying dream scream 
    endlessly imagining
    these vicious moments away   

    back at base in a blur 
    flickering into fade
    while the wind roars 
    and the summit shades 

    small steps over and over 
    yet there is nowhere to climb 
    every turn twists further
    tumbling into night 

    underneath matte moonlight— 
    my tears are the only shimmer
    while a shiver seeps deeper
    rattling bone and soul

    into one thing more 
    clumps of haze 
    colliding and scattering 
    against my fists of rage


    original version:
    the howl of broken promises
    a dying dream scream 
    endlessly imagining 
    all moments away 

    in a burn 
    finding myself back at base 
    the wind my only roar
    the warm summit
    flickering into fade

    there is nowhere to climb 
    only small steps over and over
    a rich chill 
    disturbs every slumber

    my tears are the only shimmer
    underneath matte moonlight
    a shiver creeps deeper
    rattling bone and soul 

     into one thing more
    clumps of haze 
    colliding and scattering
    tumbling into storms and rage 

    #Poetry #CreativeLife #PersonalGrowth #WritingCommunity #HealingJourney #Relationships #SpokenWordPoetry #Poetryslam #Healing #Thoughts 

     

    https://www.youtube.com/shorts/6la2920Flng

     

    https://youtube.com/shorts/GQWHXo6We6I?is=jUZzYg_BD8EWe0KH

  • original poem – A hungry heart

    i always thought:
    what i give i will surely get back
    that nourished heart
    will crave my unending love

    but that wasn’t quite right
    for they only wanted more
    salivating for thick blood
    and deep joy

    i gave it all and somehow, more 
    i fed for so long
    starving on my own bones
    watching this monstrous miracle
    and the 51
    squandered over and over

    once should have been my message
    but my screams of loneliness
    truly destroyed my ear drums
    and i was deaf all along

  • Inspirational aesthetic #3: y2k anime!!

    Happy Sunday Lovelies!!

    I hope that you’ve been able to enjoy your Sunday!! I’ve been avoiding the blistering heat by binging scary movies as I clean, organize, purge and try to reset for the week. I’m struggling to stay focused because the weekends often feel like the only time I’ve got to catch up on EVERYTHING and I really try to take advantage of whatever time off I have.

    I always think back to the time when a weekend could just be a day or two to completely forget about obligations and responsibilities and just enjoy the time. Reflecting on the past made it easy to fall in love with this capsule wardrobe I created called “Y2k Anime.” It reminds me of long Saturdays with an endless queue of anime shows to watch, creating my own magical girl wands, and reading the latest manga volumes “straight from Japan” XD.

    I find it awesome that Y2K is still popular and I love seeing the flip phone charms, plastic chokers, and chunky keychains still sold!! Of all the capsule wardrobes I’ve made, this is the one that I actually want to ditch my yoga pants for XD.

    I LOVE the giant pockets on these pants (have they straight up STOPPED putting pockets in women’s pants??) and love the heels on those chunky sneakers *____*

    Please see below for the capsule wardrobe:

    Enjoy!

  • original poem – a “friendly” reminder

    there are no chances
    but we allow you only one singular, slight 
    you better get it right
    because we are going to hold you to it
    for fucking life

    don’t expect us to understand
    because, you should already know
    what is requested of you!
    it’s been explained before
    how can you not already recall?
    (it’s quite thoughtless how often you think of you)

    it’s not my job but here i stand
    all that i do and all that i am
    more than a friend and more than enough
    for what has anyone done for me?

  • Inspirational aesthetic #2: Romantasy Tavern Girl

    Good Morning Lovelies!!

    I hope your week isn’t too hectic! I’ve been a bit stressed with many meetings/deadlines/remember this/do that/go here.

    My overthinking mind is quick to replay every possible outcome and its tough to remain focused on what I have to do when all I can obsess over is how little time there seems to be. I love listening to a good romantasy duing stressful times (I’m currently listening to A Soul of Ash and Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout – I just disappear into those books!!).

    I came up with a fun but approachable aesthetic: “Romantasy Tavern Girl.” All of these pieces can brought a regular store and are romantic pieces that just bring a bit of excitement and magic to the every day. I’m obsessed with the color palette – a deep, warm, dark academia-inspired pieces. I love the flow of the skirts, everything has movement without being frumpy, weighed down.

    Please see below for the capsule wardrobe:

    I think my favoite look is #4 – the open blouse with brown trousers – I love the shape of the blouse!

    Enjoy!

  • original poem – the approaching hour

    bursts of false memories

    find my early night

    swirling within

    stilling and heightening,

    reminding before

    striking 

    nothing entirely

    unfrightening, 

    no way

    out of this mess

    trapped for certain

    endless opportunities

    of absolutely nothing 

    just another

    7 to 8 hours 

    entangled, all around

    the binding pressing

    and crushing 

    just as much 

    collapsing 

    while spiraling

    into mindless 

    hectics

  • Inspirational Aesthetic: Lanternheart Bohemia

    Good afternoon lovelies!!

    I wanted to share a fun aesthetic I created called “Lanternheart Bohemia” – it’s meant to be a fun, whimsical aesthetic that reminds me of sleepy days at a snowy cafe. That perfect rare day with nothing to figure out and no battles to fight, the type of day that we all way to last.

    Below is the capsule wardrobe filled with soft layers and antique details.

    Enjoy!!

  • 5 Reasons to Start

    I completely understand how stressful it is to start your next project – I suffer from extreme anxiety and often have to encourage myself for days, weeks, months and more to try.

    I believe it stems from a fear of failure – which is ridiculous because I only know failure! But it’s like I keep hoping that each time will be better, and it isn’t…which makes we worried that it will always be this way. It’s odd, because you can grasp a sliver of success through continuous failure.

    For the past several months I have been doing nothing but planning and wishing. Despite all of my best efforts those plans have yielded absolutely nothing.

    I keep thinking that I need more time but then time just slips away faster and faster.

    Time is the largest instigator for me right now. I was scrolling online after a particularly stressful day, and I saw a picture that said, “Less than 6 months until 2024” and I just about suffered a panic attack. My chest began to tighten, and a sense of nausea washed over me.

    What bothered me the most is that I had tried so hard (from my perspective – I get that planning means nothing) and what I thought was one or two months amounted to over six months. I reflected back to December and how motivated I was to do things “differently” this year and the year is already half gone and I’m just getting older…anxiety.

    So, I started a few days ago…I just started everything – my resolutions, my writing, my art, house projects. Everything that needs to get done I just picked it up.

    Time will never freeze.

    Below are 5 reasons to hopefully help inspire you to begin any new or existing projects:

    1. Action eases anxiety. I don’t know if there is a cure for anxiety but if there is, I believe it comes from a combination of solutions. One really positive approach comes from taking action. So instead of thinking about how much there is to do and how stressful it will be – think about how many opportunities there are to lower stress.
    2. It often requires less time/effort. While there doesn’t seem to be any decrease in the number of tasks that sail my way – what I often forget is how little time many of them require. Just this week, I was dreading a bit of research. When I finally started it – I was pleasantly surprised that it took a fraction of what I expected, and I spent much more time worrying about having to do it. What a waste.
    3. Starting keeps you out of your head. I am one of those people that can’t be left to her own thoughts – nothing good seems to come from a decent moment to ponder. What I often forget is how good it feels to be working with my hands (even if it’s to type on a keyboard) and just avoid any toxic thoughts.
    4. You might be holding onto something you don’t like. What I mean by this is when you hold off starting a project, you hold off starting something that you might end up hating. This comes from my book club where we have actively read a few books this year. Most books I have wanted to read for years. Yet some of these reads have been incredible disappointments – that I never knew I was going to dislike. I literally looked forward to something for years that I ended up hating and that really hits.
    5. You never know who is watching. Your new beginning might end up being a really positive motivator for someone in your life. You just never know who can learn and be inspired.

    I hope that this is your week to begin. It doesn’t take as much as you think to get rolling.

  • Nature walk in the not so brown desert

    When most folks think of the desert – they typically imagine a sea of sand dunes or a brown patch of dust. There can’t be that much to a place that hardly rains, right?

    I love dispelling this conception – the desert can actually be full of color, beauty and diverse plants and animals. There is so much inspiration and calmness that you can find just a short walk from civilization.

    Nature is ready to heal us – it only takes a few minutes to joyfully abandon human existence and find some nourishment in the silence and life. There is nothing for you to buy, there is nothing to get or take (aside from pictures).

    I met up with a friend and took a hike at a nearby trail. It was about 20 minutes from my place (very much in civilization) and yet the hum and honks of town quickly fell away.

    Come along for a walk with me…

    This almost reminds me of a forest with the slumped branch. There are cactus around but there are so many other plants.

    You find a lot of black trees and cactus, often a lone black slump. I’m not so sure if its lightening, aliens, or people that are burning these plants (and how come nothing else burns?).

    Thankfully, it was cool enough to keep the water droplets from quickly evaporating (60°F). The chunky clouds coated the sky and blocked the sun. Usually, it would be much too warm to hike this late in the morning (around 10am) but we were able to thanks to the cloudy day. I’m just fascinated by the way the drops plump and hold onto the leaves.

    I’m not sure if those are Joshua Trees but it reminds me of fuzzy coral. I love the different shades of green that you find in these pictures.

    There were a few cactus carcasses along the way.

    Thankfully, the only wildlife we saw were jackrabbits and horses (participating in a race).

    I’m often in awe of the way that nature knows how to choose and blend the most beautiful assortment of color combinations. She makes it look effortless and enjoyable!