My Social Distanced Daiquiri Party!

The coronavirus pandemic has shifted all of our lives drastically, especially the social aspect. Being the social being that I am, I have had to find new and different ways to interact with others and have my social fix. The other day, two of my good friends and I had strawberry daiquiris on her screened porch with Taco Bell/Chick Fil-a takeout. That way, we could all get together while still maintaining our social distance! The moral of the story is that you can still have a BALL while being safe, especially as a college student in her early 20’s.

Long story short: wear a mask, maintain a 6 foot distance, and make smart decisions. You CAN still have fun while social distancing – it simply takes a lot of creativity and care! Cheers!!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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The Easiest Roasted Broccoli Recipe

I have always been a lover of cooking, especially recipes that are easy to make yet still taste AMAZING! Ever since I got my college apartment last year, I began to want to try many new recipes. One of my favorites of them all has been my Roasted Broccoli – something that has now become a staple in my kitchen. Today, I will be sharing how YOU can can a try to making your own version of my long and behold Roasted Broccoli in your own kitchen!

Easy Roasted Broccoli

  • Ingredients:
    • Broccoli florets/broccoli bunch (chopped into florets)
    • Olive oil
    • Sea salt
    • Cooking spray
    • Any other spices/seasonings to your liking
  • Directions:
    • Preheat oven to 450 degrees
    • Spray pan with cooking spray
    • Wash broccoli & place it on the pan
    • Drizzle broccoli with olive oil and sprinkle sea salt and any other spices/seasonings to your liking
    • Place pan in the oven for 25 minutes
    • Enjoy!

The best part of my Roasted Broccoli recipe?! You can make it uniquely your own by adding the spices/seasonings that you LOVE! Here’s to many enjoyable times in the kitchen with a healthy and delicious recipe!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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8/24-8/28 Weekly Menu Round-Up

The other day when I was planning out this week’s menu, I shared that I think planning it has been the highlight of 2020. Ever since I was younger, I have become such a planner. That being said, I LOVE planning Weekly Menu’s and am really excited for this week’s. Just like last week’s, I have TONS of one pan/Crockpot recipes, as attending my Senior year mostly from Zoom is pretty hectic. Here’s to another crazy yet exciting *mainly virtual* week of Senior year!

Monday: Manicotti

Love me some Manicotti!!! Manicotti has been one of my favorite pasta dishes since I was younger. Last summer, I made a Crockpot Manicotti recipe that was AMAZING, however, it took two hours just to prep. That being said, I found this recipe from allrecipes that takes a lot less time to prep yet still has the same results! Similar to last week’s ravioli, I will be serving my Manicotti with some Caesar salad and Texas toast.

Tuesday: Slow Cooker Maple Salmon

Once I got to Meredith, my mom and I hit up a local Costco for some salmon, shrimp, and tilapia as we are fish lovers. As I have a ton of salmon in my freezer, I figured I would put it to some good use and try a super delicious looking Slow Cooker Maple Salmon from Get Crocked. I will be serving it with my favorite Thanksgiving dish that I make ALL the time – green bean casserole – along with some roasted broccoli.

Wednesday: Old Bay Shrimp

Ever since I was younger, I was OBSESSED with Old Bay Shrimp as well as *of course* all things Old Bay! I mean, I did grow up going to see my family in Annapolis, Maryland and visit the beaches in Delaware where my family has a beach house, which is where Old Bay seasoning flourishes. To complement the Old Bay Shrimp, I will be serving it with a baked potato and a Garlicky and Cheesy Cauliflower Broccoli Bake which looks AMAZING from Diethood.

Thursday: Popcorn Shrimp

Similarly to the Old Bay Shrimp, I have also always been obsessed with popcorn shrimp as I grew up eating it from the local Dairy Queen! Instead of making popcorn shrimp from scratch, I usually purchase it pre-made from Seapak. It definitely tastes similar to my favorite childhood dish from Dairy Queen. To serve alongside my popcorn shrimp, I will be having yet another baked potato as well as roasted carrots.

Friday: Crockpot Shrimp & Grits

Like salmon, I also have A TON of shrimp, so why not put it to some good use?! That being said, I will be testing out an easy Crockpot Shrimp & Grits recipe from Tammilee Tips. I will be serving it with roasted cherry tomatoes to celebrate the end of another long week!

I am MOST definitely excited for this week’s menu round-up, and I hope y’all are too! One of the biggest incentives for myself throughout crazy long weeks is to have an AMAZING dinner at the end of the day. It *for sure* keeps me going through it all, especially during these oh so crazy times.

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I Lived in Belize for 3 Weeks

I cannot BELIZE it!!! As highly requested on my Instagram story survey a few weeks ago, many of y’all wanted to hear my experiences studying abroad. I have been lucky enough to study abroad in 3 different cities in 3 different countries: Sansepolcro, Italy (a small town in Tuscany), London, England, United Kingdom, and San Ignacio, Belize (a town in the rainforest region of Belize). Over the next few weeks, I will be sharing my experiences studying abroad in each country, along with some advice that is specific to each place. It is important to note that each of these study abroad programs were done through my school – Meredith College. Today, I will be sharing my study abroad experiences in the town of San Ignacio, Belize located in the rainforest region of Cayo not far from Guatemala.

My Home: The Cahal Pech Resort

When thinking about a study abroad experience, you may be thinking that a resort will provide anything but an authentic Belizean experience. On the contrary, I found my experience staying at the Canal Pech Resort to be exactly the opposite. The Canal Pech Resort is located on a hilltop right by the town of San Ignacio. It is conveniently less than a half a mile away from one of Belize’s notable Mayan ruins sites known as Cahal Pech. The major reason why my group and I stayed there was due to safety, since Belize is still a developing nation. Personally, I found my experiences staying at the Canal Pech Resort to be extremely rewarding to the entirety of my study abroad experience.

The Canal Pech Resort’s staff is mostly filled with people who are local to the country of Belize. Everyone in my group and I truly got to know and bond with the resort’s staff over the course of our three weeks staying there. I found this to be an extremely special part of my study abroad experience, as it made it so intimate and ten thousand times more meaningful than simply staying at a resort.

Each night, my group and I would have dinner at the resort, where we got to know the staff and talk about our days and/or excursions/trips. The same went for our times before and after dinner at two of the resort’s pools to cool down. My professor Dr. Roberts who came with us truly took on a mom role for us all while we were studying abroad. She has taken students to study abroad in Belize on multiple occasions, so it was real special to get to know her as well as some of my classmates. One of my favorite parts about going to the pool was getting to see and know a bunch of local’s as well as tourists in the area. The Canal Pech Resort’s pools were open to locals who had a pass to come in along with guests. I have ALWAYS been one to love to get to know others, and to be able to do it on a global front was such a cool and rewarding experience.

The Benefit of San Ignacio

When most people picture Belize, they picture beaches for never-ending miles. Besides, its beaches, Belize has a TON to offer. San Ignacio is located at anywhere but the beaches in the rural rainforest region of Cayo. Cayo’s location also borders Guatemala, which I could see a few times on some of my excursions. Staying in San Ignacio allowed me to truly learn more about the authenticity of Belizean life and culture beyond its beaches.

The Canal Pech Resort is located on a hilltop overlooking the town of San Ignacio. The resort’s convenient location to the downtown meant that there was a ton to do outside of it. On many occasions, my group and I would check out the local restaurants to get milkshakes or chicken and rice (a Belizean delicacy). Unlike many United States cities and towns, San Ignacio’s downtown was super bright and vibrant with so many colors painted on buildings and walls. San Ignacio definitely made for a sweet second home while in Belize!

Courses I Took

One of the most important things about studying abroad is that you are there to STUDY. Meredith’s Office of International Programs staff member Liz ALWAYS emphasizes how study abroad is NOT a trip or vacation as you are there to study. Liz’s emphasis on study abroad as a time to study and learn and grow as an individual in a brand-new culture is extremely important to myself as well. Study abroad is a time for nothing other than self growth while having an educational experience in a brand-new country and culture. Personally, I find this very important to remember. While study abroad is exciting and may feel like a trip/vacation, it is anything BUT that.

I took two courses in Belize with the first of the two being my Belizean Service and Life & Culture course. In this course, my group and I volunteer at a local school in San Ignacio. While there, we read books to the children and simply hang out with them. My professor Dr. Roberts has had ties with this school for a number of years now and it has become a special part of her and her family’s (who she takes with her on her study abroad adventures) lives too. Dr. Roberts’ openness of how extraordinary the school is that we volunteer at and its community truly made me feel at home and welcome there too. The school that we volunteered at definitely became a vital part of my experience and outlook in life as well – it’s the pure joy that brings the most to us all in the long run! If I had not volunteered at that local school, then I never would have learned how valuable some of the simplest things are in life.

The second of those two courses was my independent research project. I collaborated with three different Meredith professors including Dr. Roberts to conduct a qualitative research study on special education in the region of Cayo. While conducting research, I interviewed seven different teachers at three different schools in San Ignacio and the nearby town of Santa Elena. Through doing my independent research, I learned two things: one that Belize unfortunately does not have nearly as many special education resources as the United States which most definitely needs to change and two that conducting special education research was not my true life’s calling for my career. Although I really enjoyed making a positive impact on teachers in Belize, I knew that I did not want to do it forever like I had considered using my Math major for beforehand. Moreover, I realized that my true passions are in data, fashion, and marketing. Getting to conduct independent research in Belize that made an impact on others was such a rewarding experience for myself, and I know that I would LOVE to do something else with data analytics that helps others in the future. My independent research made me realize that I have a passion for speaking up for and helping others – something that I strive to do each and everyday.

Life in San Ignacio

Life in San Ignacio varied each day, however, on most days it remained somewhat consistent. On a day-to-day basis, my group and I would have breakfast at the resort which was an AMAZING Belizean style breakfast, go to the school to volunteer, have lunch typically in the town of San Ignacio, and then go back to the resort to do the remainder of our coursework. After a full day of coursework, we would spend our evenings at the pool before having a group dinner. If it was not an ordinary day in San Ignacio, then my group and I were probably on one of our many excursions in Belize which were some of my favorite parts of my experience!

Excursions

While studying abroad in Belize, I was very fortunate to be able to explore many parts of this tiny yet extraordinary country! In the three weeks that I was there, I went to the Canal Pech Mayan Ruins Site, the Lamanai Mayan Ruins Site, the Xunantunich Mayan Ruins Site, the Belize Iguana Project, the Barton Creek Cave, and a Butterfly Sanctuary. Each of these excursions were super cool yet unique in their own way. In fact, I truly gained a passion for touring Mayan Ruin Sites while in Belize, and I cannot wait to tour many more across Central America once it’s safe to do so!

The Cahal Pech Mayan Ruins Site is located less than a mile from the Canal Pech Resort that I stayed at. It was even walking distance from there! Cahal Pech was my first-ever Mayan Ruins Site that I had ever been to, and it was a really awesome experience! There, my group and I had climbed several of the temples (which is allowed for tourists to do!) and explored all that the site has to offer. In fact, Cahal Pech is a site that is known to have great significance in Mayan history which made it even more of an awesome experience to be able to visit it!

Lamanai was by far my favorite of the Mayan Ruins Sites that I visited! Upon arrival, my group and I had to board a motor boat that was about an hour long ride away to the actual site. Since it is SO hot and humid in Belize, causing on a motor boat was one of the best feelings in the world. Not to mention, I LOVE riding on boats in general, so it was definitely a highlight of the experience for me. Fortunately for us all, we had arrived before many of the tourists did which meant that we got to explore Lamanai without many others there. Before leaving, our tour guide and his super sweet mother had prepared us a lunch of Belizean chicken and rice which was AMAZING! The lunch was definitely the icing on an extraordinary cake called my experience at the Lamanai Mayan Ruins site!

The final of the three Mayan Ruins sites that we visited was Xunantunich. When Belize was a British territory, Queen Elizabeth went to visit Xunantunich and more recently Prince Harry had visited it. As a British Royals fanatic, I got really excited about visiting Xunantunich just knowing that some of my favorite British Royals had also been there too! Xunantunich is home to the second-largest Mayan temple in Belize, which we got to climb while there. I had been nervous about climbing to the top of a temple, but decided to simply go for it, and it was SO WORTH IT!!! Most definitely a rewarding experience overlooking the hill country off Belize and Guatemala – that actually looks a bit like the Tuscany hill country!

As an animal lover, I most definitely HAD to visit both the Belize Iguana Project and a nearby Butterfly Garden! The Belize Iguana Project is actually located right by the Cahal Pech Resort just like the Cahal Pech Mayan Ruins site. During my time at the Belize Iguana Project, I got to hold and play with several iguanas. Before going, I was literally TERRIFIED of reptiles, so this was a huge breakthrough for me. At the same time, the Butterfly Garden allowed me and my group to learn about and see butterflies that are native to Belize. Although there sadly were not that many butterflies out and about, it was still a super cool time. Being the animal lover that I am, getting to visit two animal sanctuaries was a highlight for me!

Unlike Cahal Pech, Lamanai, and Xunantunich, the Barton Creek Cave is a Mayan Ruins Site that is in the form of a cave. Knowing this, the Barton Creek Cave was used as place to make sacrifices in the Mayan culture over the years. My tour guide was a Belizean local who emphasized the value of the Mayan life and culture, which is still existent to this day. Unfortunately, the Mayan people are a small minority in Belize today; Belize is in fact a melting pot of ethnicities and races. That being said, while their culture still persists as it has for centuries, the Mayan people are under-looked in their own society. Through visiting the Barton Creek Cave, it almost felt magical on the outside while in the inside it taught me about a really special culture still alive today in our beautiful world.

Travel Breaks

Most Meredith College study abroad programs allow for independent travel breaks. On these independent travel breaks, students can travel to different cities and even countries (depending on the program) on their own. Personally, I saw independent travel breaks as a way for me to become more strong and independent as I navigate a brand-new place. While in San Ignacio, I got to visit Caye Caulker and the Belize Zoo on my first travel break and Placencia on my second travel break. While I will not get into my travel breaks very much in this post (I feel that they are each better served in their own post as I have SO much to say about each), I will say that each of these experiences was extremely neat, fun, and rewarding!

Having the ability to study abroad in Belize on such a unique program that allowed me to serve others while exploring a brand-new country and culture was a remarkably rewarding, eye-opening experience. While I am extremely lucky that I have been able to even go to Belize, I know that so many have not and may never even get to. That being said, I want to utilize my study abroad experiences in Belize and beyond to share with and empower others to go out and see the world while also learning about it. Wherever this world may take us, being able to learn about the various cultures and history that different places have to offer is extremely valuable. Not only does getting to travel somewhere brand-new help us to expand our minds, but it also helps us to grow into the strong and independent people that we are meant to be.

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The BEST Jack Rogers End of Season Sale Deals

Love my Jacks! I have ALWAYS been obsessed with Jack Rogers sandals. In fact, when I was a Sophomore in high school, I bought my first pair of platinum Jacks Flat Sandals and have purchased a new pair practically every year since, as I wear them out a ton. I also have three others Jacks sandals as well as a pair of heels from the brand. You can probably say I’m obsessed at this point LOL! In honor of Jack Rogers End of Season sale, I wanted to share my favorite finds from the sale to hopefully inspire y’all’s future shopping sprees at a fraction of the cost.

Georgica Jelly

Retails for $50, on sale for $25. Shop here!

Jacks Flat Sandal

Retails for $128, on sale for $79. Shop here!

Georgica Sandal

Retails for $128, on sale for $79. Shop here!

Palmer Espadrille Snake Embossed

Retails for $98, on sale for $35. Shop here!

Lauren Snake Embossed Sandal

Retails for $138, on sale for $50. Shop here!

Jackie Sandal

Retails for $118, on sale for $69. Shop here!

Georgica Cork Sandal

Retails for $118, on sale for $50. Shop here!

Kennedy Flip Flop

Retails for $48, on sale for $15. Shop here!

Palmer Wedge

Retails for $134, on sale for $40. Shop here!

Jacks Slipper

Retails for $88, on sale for $25. Shop here!

Bella Jelly

Retails for $50, on sale for $20. Shop here!

Sallie Rainboot Sparkle

Retails for $68, on sale for $49. Shop here!

Rowan Flip Flop

Retails for $78, on sale for $35. Shop here!

Ronnie Mule

Retails for $148, on sale for $45. Shop here!

Holly Flat

Retails for $128, on sale for $35. Shop here!

Bea Sandal

Retails for $98, on sale for $45. Shop here!

Reese Gingham Flat

Retails for $98, on sale for $30. Shop here!

If it’s cheaper somewhere else, then I am going to get in then! Hopefully, some of my favorite finds from Jack Rogers’ End of Season sale will provide you with some shoe inspiration. It surely did for myself! My Aunt Margaret whose also an avid shopper like myself once told me to shop as much at sales as possible. That way, you can buy what you want from that season but at a fraction of the cost. Indeed, my Aunt Margaret is right! Now, let’s see if I can keep my cart empty before the weekend LOLLLL!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Adjusting to College Life During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Back in early March, all of our lives were transformed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Myself included, many of us assumed that we would be back to our pre-pandemic lives by the time the next school year starts. However, college life during the Fall 2020 semester and potentially the Spring 2021 semester will look completely different than we ever envisioned. As somebody who is about to start her Senior year of college in the middle of a pandemic, it is HARD to know that my college experience will be extremely different my last year than I ever thought it could. Since I have been back at college for almost two weeks now, I know that the adjustment into college life amid a pandemic will not be an easy one but it is an important one for us all to do.

It’s OKAY To Grief

During this pandemic, we have ALL lost something one way or another. There are several engaged couples who have had to cancel or postpone their wedding days, many people of all ages have had to cancel or postpone trips, celebrations, concerts, events of all kinds, and all of the above. Similarly, we college students are losing a lot during Covid-19. We are losing the many moments that we thought we would have this semester – everything from parties, socials, hangouts, retreats, meetings, and simply going to class in-person. Whatever we may be losing, know that it is OKAY to grief and feel the pain. In fact, ALL OF US are feeling it. The biggest piece of advice that my mother gave me is to feel the pain and sadness, as it will help one process it better. The same thing goes for a college semester that does not look anything like the one we had anticipated. If you feel that you need to talk to somebody about your grief about this new and different semester, then reach out to a friend, family member, or even a counselor on or off your college campus. Many people are willing to help, as we’re all in this together!

Use The Slowdown as an Opportunity

It most definitely sucks that the coronavirus has taken over practically every aspect of our lives. However, it should not be something that takes over your life. Although it is normal and okay to grief, it should not necessarily take over your life and the joy out of what is right in front of you. Personally, I had a really hard time adjusting to life during quarantine and the slow down. I am one who is such a social butterfly – I host people ALLL the time if I am not out and about. The slow down is HARD and I get it 100000%. We have all lost something, but it should not deter us from enjoying what is right in front of us. Use this time to do the things that you have always wanted to do. If it were not for the slow down, it would not have been able to recode and relaunch The Pink Chickadee. My platform on The Pink Chickadee has been such a blessing in my life, and I have to thank the Covid-19 pandemic for it. At the same time, I have also decided to focus on my own self growth and self love. I have really taken the initiative to take care of myself before anyone else, which has been a golden thing in my life that I sadly never put in the time to do before the pandemic hit. As for yourselves, use this time to do the same thing: think of something’s that you have always wanted to do yet never did and JUST DO IT. In the long run, you have nothing to lose!!!

Be Creative

Since the Covid-19 pandemic started, I have gotten real creative with ways to meet my social needs yet still maintain my social distance. Zoom has become my best friend, despite the severe Zoom fatigue that I feel regularly. 2020 is most definitely the year for all-things virtual and let’s definitely try to make the best of it. The possibilities are ENDLESS!!! If you need any ideas, check out my blog posts How To Get Involved in College During the Coronavirus Pandemic, 11 Social Distancing-Approved Gatherings, and Fun Ideas To Spice Up Your Next Picnic for more inspiration!

The Bonds We Create

All of us current college students each have one thing in common: we are college students at college during the coronavirus pandemic. We have all seen our lives transform in the blink of an eye, especially at our social college age. Our lively lives have shifted to anything but the liveliness that we saw before March 2020. The Covid-19 pandemic is going to bring us all many more struggles than we have previously seen since it started. We have all faced several obstacles during this time and have been tested way beyond our limits. But, remember, every college student at the moment is in the same boat as yourself, whether or not you realize it. Make the most of your time with your classmates and bridge those connections with others. Most of us are struggling during this time, so why not struggle together?!

Reach Out to Others

Life during Covid-19 is HARD! It’s hard for all of us. That does not mean that you have to go through all of the challenges of our new coronavirus world alone though. There are SO many people out there to help you during this time. Below, I have listed some of the many resources that are available to you:

The struggle is most definitely real when adjusting to college life during the coronavirus pandemic. Though it may be hard to adjust to this new and different world, the most important thing is that you DO still have access to an education during these trying times. Whether or not you are on your college campus this semester, strive to make the best of any situation that may pop up. Be sure to keep your connections with others going strong during this time and beyond – we all need one another now more than ever. This too shall pass, but we are ALL in this together. While a pandemic was in none of our plans for the Fall 2020 semester, it is now and we will have one another to connect with during these trying times.

XOXO – Katie <3

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Weekly Menu Round-Up: August 16-21

Woohoo!! It’s time to get back on the grind! Getting back on the grind also means that it is time for another Weekly Menu Round-Up. This week is my first week of classes as a college Senior, which leaves for tons of menus to prepare for the upcoming week. Since my week is kind of busy with meetings and virtual events amongst classes, I have a few dutch oven/Crockpot meals included that last for a few days, which make for EXCELLENT budget-friendly meals throughout any busy week. Here’s to a great Senior year with some amazing meals to fuel to start of it!

Sunday: Flatbread pizza

I have had some super delicious flatbread for pizza from Trader Joe’s in my fridge for the past few days. Today, I am deciding to use some of the mozzarella, prosciutto, garlic, and spinach in my fridge to whip up a mighty pizza to celebrate my last eve of the first day of classes. This meal is easy and all available right in my kitchen as we speak!

Monday: Dutch Oven Ravioli Bake

Last week, I purchased some Maine Lobster Ravioli from Costco. I have ALWAYS been one to spice up my recipes. So, I looked up a dutch oven ravioli bake via my best friend Google and found one. I cannot wait to try this easy and delicious looking recipe linked here. Additionally, I will be serving it with Caesar salad and Texas toast. Luckily, since it is a dutch oven recipe, I can have the leftovers for lunch and dinner on Tuesday!!

Wednesday: Slow Cooker Vegan Pinto Bean Enchiladas

I don’t know about you, but I am a sucker for Mexican food!!! Yet, I literally NEVER know how to cook Mexican food at home. Fortunately, that is all about to change as I will be giving it a try this week with some crockpot vegan enchiladas that I found via *of course* Google linked here. Being someone who is super picky about meat, I typically cook on a pescatarian diet when at home. That means that I typically try vegan/vegetarian options when cooking which I LOVE doing!! Like Monday’s Ravioli Bake, I will also be enjoying my enchiladas with some tortilla chips into Thursday for lunch.

Thursday: Potstickers & Roasted Brussels Sprouts

To keep it easy for Friday-eve, I will be heating up some pre-made shrimp potstickers from Trader Joe’s. Since I love myself some good olde veggies, I will be adding my favorite recipe of roasted Brussels sprouts into the mix along with some soy sauce on the side for dipping.

Friday: Lobster Bisque & Crostini’s

Similar to Mexican food, I am most definitely a sucker for some soup! I guess it may be because I have New Jersey roots LOL!!! Since getting my apartment, I have been dying to try Wegman’s branded Lobster bisque soup. So, I am going to FINALLY try it this Friday and serve it with some roasted mozzarella crostini’s and some roasted mushrooms. Most importantly, Friday’s dinner will NOT be complete without some wine to wind down after my first week of Senior year!

Hopefully I can provide you with some inspiration for some practical, yet delicious recipes to make in your own kitchen during a busy week. Next week, I will excitedly be sharing another Weekly Menu Round-Up, as I will be regularly cooking in my kitchen each day. Here’s to making many more memories in the kitchen!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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My Social Distanced 21st Belated Birthday Outing

A special thanks to my great friend Cassie for making my 21st Birthday sign! Love you always girl <3

It’s rare that we hear the words birthday outing and social distancing in the SAME sentence. For most of us, we think that it is practically impossible to have a birthday or celebration outing of any kind without keeping the social distancing protocols in mind. As someone who is strictly following the current social distancing protocols that still wanted to get out and have some fun with my girls, I got creative and decided to have a belated 21st Birthday outing with some of my best girls when I came back to Raleigh. By getting together with my girls for a good time while still maintaining our social distance helped us to still have a great time while being safe.

Part 1 – The Vineyard!

To begin our outing we went to none other than a vineyard aka one of my FAVORITE places to social distance!!! We went to Cloer Family Vineyards in Apex, North Carolina which is one of the few vineyards in the Raleigh area that makes their own wine there. It is also family-run, which I LOVE as someone whose always down to support local businesses. The staff at Cloer Family Vineyards were also really good about keeping up with the current social distancing standards, as each table had a sheet on it that was both green and red. A green sheet on a table meant that it was clean, while a red sheet on a table meant that it was not. In order to maintain our social distance and stay safe, we decided to enjoy our bottle of the house Chardonnay outside. As of right now, most of my activities with others are outside, as I can better keep my social distance. At the vineyard, there were only four of us including myself which was real nice to both promote social distancing and keep it intimate!

Part 2 – Dinner in Our Trunks!

As previously mentioned about 1000+ times in this post, I am very strict when it comes to social distancing. Initially, I wanted to go to a hibachi restaurant. However, after quite a bit of thinking I decided that I wanted to play it safe and order from a local sushi favorite of mine and eat it from the trunks of our cars instead. The great part about ordering takeout was that we could all order from the restaurant of our choice! For the dinner portion, I had two more friends join that were not at the vineyard outing. I still had a small group, which made it intimate and special, but also perfect for celebration during this era of social distancing.

Social distancing or not, making memories with friends and family, especially for celebration is always a blessing. When we get together with others we can make memories that can and will last a lifetime. Through having my belated 21st Birthday celebration both social distanced AND an amazing celebration, I truly had it the best of both worlds.

XOXO – Katie <3

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Interview with Small Business Owner Cassie of Cassies Designs

Hey y’all! Spread some confetti in the air, because, today, I have a very special post with a real special friend of mine: Cassie of the Etsy shop Cassie’s Designs. As of right now, we are doing a SUPER FUN monogrammed champagne flute set and $15 Target gift card giveaway on both of our Instagram pages ALL WEEK! Cassie and I met while interviewing for the Honors Program at Meredith. She was, in fact, the first friend that I made at Meredith. Over the past three years, we have grown closer as friends who share a love for our sweet school Meredith College and both have their own side hustle’s. Through it all, she has truly been a special friend and more importantly a blessing in my life. I hope that y’all enjoy learning more about Cassie’s story to becoming the one woman show behind Cassie’s Designs and can gain a bit of wisdom from this strong sister of mine!!!

Tell me a bit about yourself!

My name is Cassie and I am the one woman show that operates Cassie’s Designs. I am from a small town in North Carolina called Walnut Cove. I graduated from Meredith College in 2019 with my Bachelors of Arts in Criminology and minors in Sociology and Pre-Law. Go odds! Currently, I attend Wake Forest University, where I am obtaining my Masters Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. My ultimate goal is to open a therapy farm for at-risk children and adolescents. When I’m not crafting, or schooling, I enjoy taking my pup on long walks, reading, watching The Golden Girls on Hulu, and cooking. 

Share three words that describe yourself!

  1. Creative
  2. Empathetic 
  3. Humorous

What products do you sell?

I sell t-shirts, dog bandanas, wreaths, face masks, wine glasses, champagne flutes, hoodies, ornaments (essentially anything that is customizable).

What made you choose to start Cassie’s Designs?

  1. I actually started Cassie’s Designs in my closet in 5th grade. Ha! In addition, I attribute the founding of Cassie’s Designs to my late Nana. She would always encourage and inspire my creativity. No project was too big or too small for her, she did whatever it took to help make my dreams come true. 
  2. Moreover, I’ve always enjoyed making items and giving them to people. More recently, I bought a Cricut Cutting Machine for my time as a Resident Assistant at Meredith. After dabbling with the machine, my desire to craft grew and I realized that my ideas and items could be utilized by everyone.

Where do you get inspiration for the merchandise that you sell?

I’m inspired by everything. Ha! I’m inspired by my family and friends. I’m in a lot of online groups that give me ideas for new projects. I draw inspiration from books, TV shows, Pinterest, you name it!  In addition, sometimes I just buy materials with no ideas in mind, but as I begin crafting, it all comes together.

What are some of your goals within Cassie’s Designs?

  1. Gain a mass following (not only to sell items, but to promote social justice).
  2. I want to learn how to sew and do embroidery. I have a sewing machine, it’s just learning how to use it, that’s the challenge. 
  3. I want my Etsy shop to be successful. I’d really like it if the majority of my sales came through there.

What are your career goals outside of Cassie’s Designs?

My ultimate goal is to open a therapy farm for at-risk children and adolescents. I firmly believe in the power that animals have on our ability to cope with challenging situations in life. I feel that I’ve always had this gift where people feel safe and open up to me more than the average person. We never know how our words impact others, so it’s important that we make every word count.

How did founding Cassie’s Designs help you achieve your goals?

It’s really important to me to be a strong and independent woman. Running Cassie’s Designs is all me. I pride myself on being someone that others can look up to. Having my own business makes me feel a sense of independence and pride that no one can take away from me. It also aligns with my ultimate goal in life which is to help people. 

Is there any product you would like to release/sell?

I really want to make and sew custom pieces of clothing. As a woman in the plus size community, I feel there are not enough viable options for bigger women. The clothes are always overpriced and aren’t made well. I’d love the opportunity to make others feel beautiful and to love their bodies just the way they are.

In times where you feel like you’re just going to give up, what helps you to keep going and preserve?

I always just feel this spark of optimism anywhere I go. Ever since I was a child, I’ve always held the mentality that tomorrow is a new day and if plan A didn’t work, there are 25 more letters in the alphabet. Sweet Red wine from Aldis is also a nice pick me up after a long work day!

If there’s one thing you could say to somebody looking to start their own small business, what would it be?

Make sure to have variety in your products. You want to appeal to a wide variety of people, so there is something for everyone. And always, always, always take pictures of your work!

Lastly, share the first thing you want to do once quarantine is over!

Okay, so 2 major things I want to do. One, is to go to all the concerts that I had lined up before Corona hit. Two, I want to go out to a bar. Ha! Since my birthday was in the height of Corona, I never got to experience that 21st birthday bash.

Feel free to follow Cassie’s Designs on social media and shop her super adorable designs!

Lastly, enter our giveaway on both of our Instagram pages!

XOXO – Katie <3

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How College is Different During the Coronavirus Pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic has drastically changed the way that college life looks. While it will only be temporary, it is definitely an adjustment. As someone who has been on her college campus living in her on-campus apartment before classes start for a week now, I can definitely say that college campuses look quite a bit different during a pandemic. Today, I will be sharing how college campuses differ while in the coronavirus pandemic.

Visitor Restrictions

Attending a small college with only two entrances for cars means that pandemic or not there are only a few ways to enter the campus. Upon entering campus, everyone is stopped by Campus Security, and the back gate entrance is locked. Whereas, in the dorms and on-campus apartments, the only off-campus guests that are allowed are move-in helpers. Moreover, the number of guests per dorm room/apartment is also greatly capped. Upon coming to campus, my classmates and I that are living on campus had to sign a contract that said that we would abide by the guest restrictions. By limiting the amount of visitors on campus, my school can better contain and limit the spread of Covid-19.

Mask Requirements

Whoever thought that in the year 2020 that masks would be the new black was seriously one in a million! I surely never anticipated that I would be wearing a mask practically everywhere I go these days, but it definitely IS the look of the year!!! Similar to going to the grocery store or my version of paradise aka Home Goods, wearing a mask is required on a college campus. At my school, there are signs literally EVERYWHERE telling students and faculty to wear a mask upon entering buildings and in areas where they cannot social distance. Research has shown that wearing a mask helps to contain the spread of Covid-19. Luckily, wearing a mask can be fashionable, too! Brands such as Lilly Pulitzer, Vera Bradley, Target, Kendra Scott, and several Etsy shops each have such adorable masks that one can wear to spice up their back to school wardrobe on and off a college campus. While we have to wear a mask, why not make it fashionable, even on a college campus?!

Social Distancing Protocols

The fact that a car can only run as long as it has a gas pedal and a steering wheel is similar to the fact that containing the spread of Covid-19 entails maintaining a distance of 6 feet apart while wearing a mask. Likewise, on a college campus, it is required that all student take precautions in following social distancing protocols. Most colleges have markers in order to ensure that students remain six feet apart from one another. My college, like many others, want to make sure that their on-campus residents follow social distancing protocols both on and off campus. My college has required that all students limit their off-campus travel, especially outside of my college town of Raleigh, North Carolina. If a student leaves the college town, then they must register with a specific site and list the things that they have done while there, in order to determine whether or not they need to self-isolate when they get back. That way, we all may be safe while on campus.

Contact Tracing

While the car may need a steering wheel and gas pedal to start, it also needs gas in order to start. The same goes for contact tracing on a college campus along with wearing a mask and keeping social distance, in order for a college to run smoothly during a pandemic. My college like many others is requiring all students, faculty, staff, and visitors to download the Campus Clear app. On the Campus Clear app, everyone who comes to campus essentially is screened for Covid-19 symptoms daily. Using Campus Clear requires its users to say whether or not they have coronavirus symptoms or has come into contact with someone who has Covid-19 and notes whether or not they are good to go. If a student is experiencing coronavirus symptoms, then they will receive instructions in the app on how to proceed. At the same time, if someone has tested positive for Covid-19, then those who may have interacted with them will be notified to self-isolate and asked to get a test as well. My school also has a building designated for students who have to self-isolate. Knowing that my school and many others are taking contact tracing seriously is extremely vital in keeping everything on a college campus up and running.

Classroom Layout

In order to promote social distancing, all classrooms have been laid out in a way that also promotes social distancing. While on campus, I have visited an academic building where everything has been drastically changed, in order to promote social distancing. For example, common areas are closed and tables that once had four chairs at them may only have one or two. As for in the classroom, desks and chairs are also laid out much differently in order to allow for students to maintain their social distance. At my school, desks and chairs have been rearranged in order to promote this. I found the social distancing classroom setting at my school to be rather friendly, while I know that some other schools’ classroom settings may not be the same. Whereas, my friends at larger universities were telling me that they have seen every other seat be blocked off or wrapped in bubble wrap. However schools choose to layout their classes to ensure that students keep their social distance, it must be done in order to keep others safe.

Virtual EVERYTHING

Since containing the spread of the coronavirus involves A LOT of social distancing, many college-related events have transformed to a virtual format. Classes, socials, club fairs, block parties, meetings, career fairs, and even sorority recruitment have all likely switched to meeting on Zoom or Google Hangouts. I have had training sessions, meetings for clubs/organizations as well as my thesis, and classes through a virtual format. Since large gatherings are not recommended at the moment, it is best not to have them. Most colleges are also strictly following the CDC’s, their state’s, and their local area’s guidelines as they pertain to keeping us safe. For right now, that means that most college events will be held virtually.

Outdoor Events Over Indoor Events

If an event can be done safely while social distancing, then it will 9 times out of 10 be done outdoors. In past years, many events that I have attended on my college campus have been either held virtually or outdoors if in-person. If a college chooses to have an in-person event outdoors, then it will most likely require all of their students to wear a face mask and maintain social distance at ALL TIMES. For instance, I attended an event on-campus earlier this week that was held outdoors where all of us were required to both wear a mask and stand 6 feet apart. At that event, each of us were split up into smaller groups to meet up with others. We also received goodie bags which were distributed to us 6 feet away from someone else’s goodie bag. Although this event looked a whole lot different than events in the past, it still felt SOOO good to see others in-person that I hadn’t have seen in a LONGGG time. Definitely take advantage of outdoors in-person events if you can, just wear your mask!

Online Campus

With the coronavirus still impacting practically every aspect of our lives, it unfortunately means that many students will not be able to be on campus in-person. Students will be attending classes and apart of campus from EVERYWHERE. With that all being said, it is important to know that virtual platforms such as Zoom, Instagram, Tik Tok, Facebook, email, and forms of messaging will be a vital part of the college campus scene. These virtual platforms will allow us college students to come together in ways like never before. The sense of community that us college students have felt on our campuses will transform to the digital world – I have seen it happen on my own campus and will continue to throughout the year. Knowing that the digital world is thriving on my campus, I rightfully assume that it is on many other college campuses as well.

Varying Social Distancing Definitions

With college students coming together after being apart from one another for about 5 months, there is most definitely differences in how they view the importance of social distancing. While me and most of my friends take social distancing very seriously, there are also many college students who do not. There will be parties and classmates of yours that will not wear a mask or practice social distancing when off campus. There will also probably be times that all of us college students do not feel comfortable when asked to partake in an activity. Even though our definitions of social distancing may be different, it is most important to remember to do YOUR PART in maintaining your social distance. Most importantly, you MUST do whatever makes YOU feel the MOST comfortable during these trying times. DO NOT do anything that you do not want to do or feel comfortable doing. Trust me, it will pay off in the long run!

Social Distanced Hangouts

With social distancing measures still in place pretty much everywhere, that means that many of us college students have to get creative with our hangouts and gatherings. College campuses have to regulate social distancing measures. That being said, picnics, walks, and outdoor activities will become the latest and greatest way for college students to hangout on campus. A friend of mine who attends a much larger university than mine also said that some of the restaurants at her school have been closed, in order to maintain social distance. Knowing that many colleges are taking social distancing very seriously, us college students will have to get real creative with our hangouts. If you need any ideas, please feel free to check out my post 11 Social Distancing-Approved Gatherings for inspiration!

Staggered Move-In’s

To promote social distancing and safety on college campuses, many of them are opting to stagger college move-in’s. At my school, we usually have one big day for Freshmen move-in. On the contrary, this year, that move-in has been spread out to three different days. As previously mentioned, each student is allowed only two moving helpers who all are required to wear masks when moving in. The same goes for my on-campus apartment. That way, everyone can strive to stay safe!

Zoom Fatigue

Now the struggles of college life during a pandemic: getting SICK OF ZOOM!!! I don’t know about you, but I get real tired of sitting at my desk ALLL day long on Zoom calls (I wish I was feeling 22 LOL!!!). Like myself, many college students get real tired of staring at a screen on Zoom all day everyday. It is definitely a STRUGGLE and y’all THE STRUGGLE IS REAL!!! Though some days feel much longer and more like a hassle than others, it is important to remember that you are not alone and that many others feel the same exact way.

Greater Emphasis on Social Media

With many colleges having a major online campus presence, many colleges will be placing a greater emphasis on their social media. I am extremely involved in a few on-campus organizations. Many of them have emphasized that social media will be a key way in reaching students on campus in ways that they have not like ever before. As online events take precedence over in-person one’s, the usage of social media will not only help promote those events, but also keep students engaged and have a sense of belonging on their campus even though it may look a bit different at the moment.

College life most definitely looks different right now due to the coronavirus pandemic. Even though college life has witnessed its several changes since March 2020, it does not mean that the authenticity of the college experience is completely taken away from us college students. It just means that us college students have to find new ways to socialize and engage with one another while remaining safe. During this time, each of us has a special story and experience to share, whether or not we are a college student or even living on campus as a college student, and we will remember these trying times and look back on them many years later. I hope to look on these times with a bittersweet smile on my face and I hope y’all will be able to too.

XOXO – Katie <3

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