Weekly Menu Round-Up: March 1-5

As someone who loves a good menu, I am very excited about this week’s eats. This week’s menu consists of some recipes that have been family favorites in my Mom’s kitchen while growing up and also some that I have grown to love over the years. Everything for this week’s menu has been purchased from Aldi, and I have had such a fun time crafting it all!

Monday

So, tonight, I will be making my Mom’s Lemon Caper Salmon recipe with salmon filets and serving it with my favorite side dish of green bean casserole and roasted Brussels sprouts. To use the leftovers, I will be making a Lemon Caper Salmon Linguine Pasta and serving it with my new vegetable favorite of Sautéed Kale.

Tuesday

Another favorite of mine growing up has been crab cakes, so I will be enjoying some crab cakes with a side of roasted broccoli and a biscuit (and maybe a drizzle of Old Bay seasoning!).

Wednesday

Who doesn’t LOVE breakfast for dinner?! For Wednesday night, I will be making a fried egg over corned beef hash – a favorite of mine from my Papa’s and Grandma’s kitchen! In addition to my favorite breakfast recipe, I will also be having a good olde biscuit.

Thursday

Aldi has a wide variety of different raviolis, so I will be trying their spinach ravioli and having it with a buttery garlic parmesan sauce that I love to make (and is so so so easy to do!). On the side, I will be enjoying my favorite new Caesar salad twist – a kale Caesar salad!

Weekend

If you know me, then you know that I am a sucker for a delicious one pot recipe, so I will be making my Mom’s Dutch Oven Tuna Casserole recipe in my own kitchen. I could not be more excited to enjoy this few days-lasting casserole in my own apartment!!!

I am oh so excited to enjoy the many delicious kitchen favorites of mine in my own kitchen this week. A taste of home is always a great way to kick off the month of March!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Lilly Pulitzer Pieces Worth the Investment

Us Lilly Pulitzer lovers pride on living that Resort 365 lifestyle! Lilly Pulitzer has been my favorite fashion designer for years. The vibrantly colorful prints that bring such personality have always made me happy. I have also cultivated an extraordinary group of friends both in-person and through my platform of Lilly Pulitzer lovers. While Lilly Pulitzer is a super amazing fashion brand, it does come at a hefty cost. So, today, I am going to share the Lilly Pulitzer pieces that I think are worth the investment, whether purchased during one of Lilly Pulitzer’s signature After Party Sales or full priced!

*Disclaimer: Please note that this post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase through one of my links, then I will receive a small commission. This commission is at no extra cost to you. Additionally, this post is not sponsored, and all opinions are my own.*

Valli Shift Dress (in White, Black, or Navy)

Callahan Knit Short

A Printed Maxi Dress (like the Destini Maxi Dress)

UPF 50+ Skipper Round Hem Popover

Trista Stretch Shirtdress

A Blazer Cardigan (like the Beckington Blazer Cardigan)

ANYTHING Luxletic (my favorite is the Luxletic Monica Skort!)

Elsa Silk Top (especially a solid color or in a favorite print)

A White Lace Dress (like the Ophelia Lace Swing Dress)

Izzy Skirt

Resort Scarf

Little Black Dress (like the Adalee Shift Dress)

Ceramic Mug

Buttercup Stretch Short

Tumbler with Straw

Lilly Pulitzer has so many products to choose from, but for the long run, some products are worth the price tag more than others. I hope that I have provided you with some inspiration for some pieces to shop for moving forward and aim to purchase.

XOXO – Katie <3

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My Favorite Black-Owned Small Businesses

There is so much talent in this world, but so much of it goes unnoticed. The majority of businesses that I know of are not minority-owned. So, in honor of Black History Month, I wanted to share some of my favorite Black-owned small businesses. I have enjoyed shopping and admiring many of these small businesses’ countless amounts of extraordinary creations and I hope you will to!

  • The Tiny Tassel – founded in 2015 by Mimi Striplin, this jewelry and accessories brand is inspired by the vibrant and colorful streets of Charleston, South Carolina. Each of the pieces sold are meant to be statement pieces, and are all handmade with a classic twist (my flamingo tassel earrings were designed and handmade by Mimi, herself – she’s super sweet!!!).
  • Copper and Brass Paper – started in 2017 by mother Ariel Young who noticed the lack of diversity within the paper goods and stationary sold. Young’s passion passed along from her mother ignited her own passion for the pretty little details, like her stationary and paper goods that include the positive promotion of black people.
  • Pipcorn – began when co-founder Jeff Martin was helping his sister move apartments, only to discover a tiny bag of heirloom popcorn kernels that were the best that they had ever had. They eventually tracked down the Indiana farmer who grew it from his family’s heirloom seed stock. Now Jeff and his wife Teresa are proud minority popcorn small-businesses owners who have even appeared on Shark Tank.
  • The Chocolate Boutique – it all began with cofounder Kesha’s love for chocolate, growing up in Hershey, Pennsylvania. She, then, with her husband Dozier decided to open their own unique Chocolate Boutique in their current hometown of Raleigh, North Carolina.
  • Effie’s Paper – was created to curate lifestyle products that would co-exist with the technology existing today. This stationary and lifestyle brand sells the most adorable trendy finds AND offers discounts upon visiting their site.
  • Bespoke Binny – founder Natalie started Bespoke Binny to commemorate and remember her Ghanaian descent while living and working in London, England as a Cognitive Behavioral Therapist. Natalie’s designs take on the vibrant geometric African prints that are super unique to her Ghanaian culture and showcase her talents.
  • Salt N Sprinkles – a black-owned and women-owned vegan bakery where all of the baked goods (mostly cookies) are freshly made in a home kitchen. All cookies are made ready to order or for pick up in the Los Angeles, California area, but will soon be made to ship nationwide!
  • McBride Sisters Collection – started by the McBride sisters, Robin and Andrea, who grew up living along the vines of Monterey, California and Marlborough, New Zealand. Robin and Andrea call their wines “the fun, fab, and eco-friendly SHE CAN collection,” where their also give some of their proceeds made to the SHE Can Professional Development Fund, to allow for women to break barriers and make their dreams come true.
  • Zou Xou – creates the most beautiful and comfortable stand-out flats. These flats are made to be a classic statement piece that can be worn in several scenarios for years to come.
  • The Pink Retreat – founded by my Instagram friend and fellow Lilly Pulitzer lover Tosha Williams who proudly calls herself a Mompreneur, The Pink Retreat brings Lilly Pulitzer lovers of all kinds for an annual inspiring and welcoming weekend away in Palm Beach, Florida together. Williams is now a stay-at-home mother who used to be an Art Therapist and uses her strengths in art to allow for beautiful art therapy activities while at The Pink Retreat.

It’s important to remember that Black Lives Matter today and everyday. Several Black-owned businesses go unnoticed and it is time that we recognize them for all the beauty that they bring. Happy browsing and admiring of these amazing small businesses and the works of some great black entrepreneurs!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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So I Tried the Viral Tik Tok Baked Feta Pasta Recipe

The girl who is not on Tik Tok is now the girl who tries all of the Tik Tok trends! Although I am not an avid Tik Tok user, I am super into trying the social media trends and things that my friends discover on Tik Tok. When I came across the baked feta pasta recipe that went viral on there, I knew that I had to try it! Today, I have decided to share my experience trying this viral recipe, which, yes, leads up to its hype!

My friend Hannah and I tried this viral recipe for ourselves in my apartment. The recipe is extremely easy to make, so it makes for a great and easy recipe to make when you have had a busy day. It took 20 minutes maximum from start to finish. As for the ingredients, I added the following and purchased everything from Aldi:

  • Feta cheese (not a block)
  • Cherry tomatoes
  • Rotini pasta noodles (half a box)
  • Olive oil (drizzled)
  • Basil (sprinkled)

Overall, this recipe was amazing and super fun to make! One of my friends lives in a dorm and she said it is also dorm friendly! At the same time, this recipe is also extremely budget-friendly and can feed a crowd. Not only was it delicious, but it was also super healthy and you can make a lot with it (especially when you have a block of feta and use a whole box of pasta noodles). Yes, this recipe is definitely worth the hype!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Makeup Products That I Use Regularly

Putting on makeup has always been one of my favorite of the day. Makeup has always been a consistency of everyday, and a fun way to wake up and start the day. Today, I am sharing the makeup products that I use practically everyday – such as my go to foundation, eyeshadow palettes, mascara, blushes, and lipstick.

*Disclaimer: Please note that I make a small commission off of every sale made using my links. You do not have to buy the products listing using any given link if there’s something else you like. Thank you for your interest in shopping with me!*

Over the years, I have tried several makeup products. I have given over 10 mascaras a try before I discovered the right one for my sensitive eyes. The same goes for my foundation – Clinique has become my brand over the years! That being said, I hope my regular makeup products help provide you with some inspiration for yourself.

XOXO – Katie <3

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So I Went to New York Fashion Week

The dream come true!!! Ever since I was a little girl, I had always dreamed of getting to attend New York Fashion Week. Luckily, in September 2014 at the age of 15, my fashionista dreams came true. For my 15th Birthday, my mother took us to New York City the weekend of New York Fashion Week. Without any tickets to any shows, both of us still had the time of our lives. It was most definitely an experience that I will never forget!

What We Did

New York Fashion Week is a time that people from everywhere and all different backgrounds come together for a common ground – Fashion Week. New York City has several different activities and things to do around the city, especially during Fashion Week! The two big booths that I remember seeing and enjoying were Glamour Magazine’s Pop Up booth, complete with refreshments and a photo booth, and the Zappos Recharge photo booth and catwalk – where I got my hair done and got to walk the catwalk for free and was given a complimentary juice. Both of these super fun activities were one of my very favorite lifetime memories!

Besides taking in all the New York Fashion Week sites from an outsider’s perspective as a teenager, my mom and I also explored a bit of the city. We walked through the Fashion Institute of Technology’s current exhibits within their museum, fell in love with the Doughnut Plant in Chelsea (this has become a favorite joint of mine and is a mini chain around the city!), and walked through the business district where we walked along Wall Street along with the 9/11 Memorial where we paid our respects. We also walked through the Meatpacking District and just wondered the city streets. The best part of it all was simply just time with my mother that is irreplaceable!

Takeaways

Having not been a blogger then, I was still really excited to be in New York City the weekend of New York Fashion Week. There were so many free activities and excitement going on throughout the city that it made it super special. Moreover, it was really special to have one on one time with my mother, especially looking back now as I begin my years starting out in the real world and leaving my home with her behind. I definitely recommend going to New York Fashion Week if you can – it is truly an experience that you will NEVER forget!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Weekly Menu Round-Up: February 7-12

I have always loved cooking, especially since Covid-19 has called for us all to spend more time at home. Cooking has been one of the silver linings of this pandemic! With Valentine’s Day coming up, I am using this week as an opportunity to save while I can so I can host a nice dinner for Maggie and I this weekend. This week is very exciting, and I cannot wait to share all of my planned meals with y’all!

Sunday

Sunday funday!!!! To commemorate the Super Bowl, I will be making one of my favorite recipes – barbecue shrimp and serving it with Mac & cheese and cauliflower nuggets. Such a fun way to celebrate the Super Bowl, even if I don’t watch!

Monday

I am kicking this week with a bang and trying a shrimp fried rice package that I found at my local grocery store. It will be an easy to make recipe and served with my favorite vegetable dish – roasted broccoli and of course yum yum sauce!

Tuesday

Who doesn’t love breakfast for dinner?! This Tuesday, I will be enjoying a classic breakfast for dinner of scrambled eggs and a salmon cake that I picked up in a packet from Trader Joe’s. Something easy, yet delicious!

Thursday

Last week, I found this amazing-looking seafood mix at my local grocery store to be served with pasta. So, I can giving this delicious-looking mix a shot and serving it with angel hair pasta and some classic Texas toast – a childhood favorite of mine!!!

This week’s menu is simple yet delicious! Luckily, I have been able to easily use some of the groceries that I already have. Cheers to a great Valentine’s Week, although it will look different than the past!

XOXO – Katie <3

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From Small Business Owner to Medical School: Interview with my Roommate Sophie

My roommate Sophie is one of my best friends and blessings that Meredith College has brought me. At the same time, Sophie has also restructured her life to aim for the stars in ways like never before. From an entrepreneur in high school to a med school bound college student, I bring to you an interview with my fabulous roommate!!!

Tell me a bit about yourself!

Current senior at Meredith College who is going to medical school in July!

What is your major at Meredith and what are you involved in on campus?

I am a double major in Biology and Psychology and a minor in Chemistry. I am an officer of both the Angels for Disability Advocacy and Meredith Advocates for Young Children as well as a member of other clubs on campus. 

Did you ever anticipate that you would select the major that you did looking back at your high school years?

Not at all. I started out coming into college wanting to be an engineer. When I actually saw and learned about what an engineer does, I realized I wanted to do more medically. Also, I further my love for children when I took my first class at the Meredith Autism Program and absolutely loved it! So, I decided to also be a Psychology major!

So, in high school, you and your sister had a brand called PinkyGirl. Tell me a bit about PinkyGirl!

It was a monogramming company on Instagram. We were international!

What made you and your sister want to start PinkyGirl?

Honestly, we started it just by chance of setting up an Instagram page! It took off by word of mouth.

I know PinkyGirl took off when you were in high school! Tell me about life as a female entrepreneur!

I was definitely busy, but I loved meeting my customers and the people and scientists involved in Susan G. Komen– we developed a partnership with Susan G. Komen.

How did you balance your high school life with running PinkyGirl?

It was a lot, but I had help from my family (Mom and Dad and of course my sister) and a few employees. We got so large that we had to move into a manufacturing facility and hire employees!

There are many highs and lows when it comes to running a business. What were some of yours?

Lows were keeping up with monogram orders, especially during the holidays. Sometimes, it felt like we were drowning. Highs included meeting customers and building meaningful relationships!

What were some of your favorite memories from PinkyGirl?

I absolutely loved having a booth at A Shopping Spree for being awarded “Entrepreneur of the Year!”

I know you went to Washington, DC as a result of your hard work with PinkyGirl. Explain to me a bit about that awesome experience of yours!

 I was flown to DC in order to be recognized for winning a young entrepreneur scholarship. I spoke with Thom Tillis and others about the importance of young entrepreneurship.

You do not run PinkyGirl anymore. Ultimately, you decided to pursue your dreams of becoming a doctor #FemalePower!!!! Tell me a bit about what made you decide to make that switch!

I have always had a passion for helping others, and I also loved learning, especially biology. At some point, I just realized that I wanted to do more with my life by directly helping people using my biology knowledge. The business route just wasn’t what I wanted to do with my life.

What piece of advice would you give to someone who is looking to start their own business?

Find a passion and stick with it, even if it is not the most popular at the time. Also, be unique!

I know you came in at Meredith wanting to pursue an engineering degree. What made you make the switch and realize that your dream is to become a doctor?

 I knew engineering was not for me when I truly got to experience what engineering would be like. I have always loved helping others, and I just did not get that direct sense with engineering. I wanted to do more and make a larger impact in people’s lives.

What would be your dream area specialization as a doctor?

Pediatrics or Family Medicine

You also are a Psychology major and have spent a ton of time working in the Meredith Autism Program (MAP). Explain to me about that amazing experience of yours at MAP!

I work as a teacher for children with autism to enhance learning age-appropriate academic and social behaviors. My duties are to implement behavior plans, analyze behavior data, perform discrete trial training, and communicate results. I earned my NC license as a Registered Behavior Technician. My time in this role has been monumental for my clients and me. Spending several years working one-on-one with children with autism has allowed me to develop my passion for helping others, especially young children.

Along with your work and involvement at Meredith, you also babysit a ton. Has babysitting helped affirm your decision to become a doctor?

Most definitely! It has influenced my wanting to become a pediatrician because I love working with children.

Explain to me the process of medical school applications

It’s a complex one that goes over my head! It was a lot–glad it’s over! So, you begin applying about a year before you want to start medical school. Also, you have to make sure you get the prerequisites fulfilled by junior year if you plan to go straight into medical school without a gap year. With this, you also have to plan out when you will take the MCAT and how you will study for it. Once everything is complete, it is basically just a waiting game of hoping to get an interview and then an acceptance. 

How have you successfully completed the medical school application process and what pieces of advice would you give to somebody who is wanting to or about to go through it themselves?

I would just say to start everything early and plan out! Have places in mind that you want to work at to gain clinical hours and also have some volunteering that you like to do and stick with it (even if it is just once a month for a few years).

As a fellow Woman in STEM, what is one thing that makes you proud of the STEM degree that you are about to accomplish?

I love knowing that I am able to use my STEM degree to make a true difference in the world!

What are the next steps in your journey to becoming a doctor?

Well, I still am waiting to hear from some other medical schools. Then, I will decide where I will be for the next phase of my life. Right now, I am really liking West Virginia where I just got accepted into!

Lastly, if you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?

To just know that everything will work out how it is supposed to. Don’t stress. (This is so hard to remember when you are in the midst of your busy, chaotic life!).

Through it all, Sophie has aimed for the stars and she will reach them in ways like never before moving forward!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Tips for New Bloggers!

The blogging world is new, exciting, and also intimidating! When I first started blogging a little over a year ago, I had NO idea what I was getting into. I was extremely intimidated, nervous, and anxious. At the same time, I took a few breaks from blogging before restructuring and kickstarting The Pink Chickadee – all within the spam of a year. However, I have found a way that works for me and I have been super successful since my initial start. Today, I am sharing some tips for those who are looking to start their own blog!

Discover Your Niche

When creating your own blog, you most definitely need to discover what your blog’s niche will be. Need help finding what your blog’s niche is? Then, use these questions listed below to help you find out what your blog niche will be.

  • What is the ultimate purpose of your blog?
  • Who are you targeting to come and visit your site?
  • What type of content do you want to share?
  • What are the goals of your site?
  • What do you want to get out of starting your blog?
  • Is your blog personal (friends and family) or are you reaching a wider audience?

Once you have figured out the answer to these questions, then you will be better able to discover your blog’s niche and what content you want to share and how you want to reach others.

Get Inspired on Social Media

Once you have discovered your blog’s niche, then it’s time to hit your favorite social media platforms to get inspired by other bloggers who are in your niche. Even now, I love going through other influencers’ Instagram pages and saving their photos that inspire me into a gallery titled “Blog Inspiration”. I use my “Blog Inspiration” gallery as, essentially, my own Instagram Pinterest board. I use “Blog Inspiration” to see what content I like from other influencers, what content I would like to share myself in my own unique way, and what content they share in ways that have effectively reached their following. One of the ways that I have looked to other influencers is to see what hashtags they use – hashtags are an effective way on social media to reach and connect with other influencers, whether we realize it or not. Another way that I get inspired by others is to look for fun photo ideas to replicate in my own way. Looking to other influencers, I have been able to see what works for them and use their content ideas in similar ways on my platform. Overall, as a blogger, it is important to always be creating new and fresh content that will entice your readers and following.

Create Blog-Only Social Media Accounts

While this is a subject up for debate, I have found that creating your own blog-only social media accounts is the best way to go. Personally, I like to keep my personal social media accounts private and share more personal things on there that I may not want to share on my blog – like a ton of memes. On the same token, I know that many of my followers on my personal account may not be as interested in my blog content, since it is not of their interests which is OKAY. That being said, I have created a blog-only Instagram, Facebook page, and Pinterest accounts.

When creating your blog’s social media pages, it is important to have them be business profiles. Personally, I totally forgot how to do this – I did it once and never thought about it again! With a business profile, you are able to see insights on your blog’s accounts as it pertains to your followers, followers’ demographics, and your profile’s growth. Statistics are very important when it comes to blogging – whether we realize it or not!

Connect on Social Media

Once you have created your blog’s social media accounts, then it is time to have some fun! Social media is an excellent way to connect with others, especially those who are in your niche. Follow others in your niche and take the time to connect with them, whether it be commenting on their posts, replying to their stories, and interacting with their profiles as much as you can. I highly suggest interacting with your fellow blogger cohorts as much as possible! Through interacting with other influencers, I have been able to make many friends within my niche and beyond. Today, I definitely can say that I couldn’t imagine my life without my influencer friends – they’re the BEST!!!!

Be Consistent

However you choose to do it all, consistency is KEY! When I restructured my blog in July 2020, I decided to post content on my blog every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday (occasionally, I don’t post one of those days but it is rare). Each day that I post content on my blog, I advertise each post on my Instagram Story (with direct links via my Instagram bio) and as a Facebook post on my Facebook page. At the same time, I post content on Instagram daily and find ways to engage with my followers through icebreaker questions and ways to interact with my followers. Every Sunday, I share an icebreaker on my Instagram Story that’s a different question each week and share my followers’ responses. At the same time, everyone’s way of being consistent is not the same. Whatever works for you is what you should do!

The Website

There are several various ways to start your blog on a site. Personally, I have used WordPress and I have a plan where I purchased my own domain name and was able to code my site using CSS. There are other options out there, too. These options include Squarespace, Blogger, and Wix. Whether or not you choose to purchase your own domain name and code it yourself to your liking or select a free plan, as long as your site is made to your liking then that is ALL that matters. I know a lot of bloggers whose websites are not the fanciest on the block and that is OKAY. One of the reasons that I chose to recode my site using CSS is because I have acquired the skillset as a Website Development minor and have a passion for the subject. What matters is that your content is what your readers want to see and that your posts are consistent on social media and on the blog.

Schedule Content

With my constant mentioning of consistency, the best way to be consistent is to schedule your content in advance. I schedule my content for my blog a 3-6 weeks in advance and my Instagram content the week before. I use a spreadsheet to schedule all of my content in Google Sheets (I LOVE a good spreadsheet!!!). Whenever I take photos, I schedule the photo shoots that I take, too and make arrangements with others to take my photos if needed accordingly. My way of planning is all digital, but if you love a good planner or notebook or have another way of scheduling content, then do whatever works for you!

Be YOU & HAVE FUN!

Most importantly, it is important to remember to be yourself. Through it all, there is only ONE YOU – everyone else is taken! Be yourself and make yourself known in the most unique and you way that there is. Lastly, remember to HAVE FUN!!!!

Blogging is hard and it does take a while to get it all down, but remember to do it your way and have a blast!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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