30 Gift Ideas that are Experiences

It can be SO easy to think of Christmas gifts as a tangible item, a gift card, or simply writing a check. BUT there is so much that we can give others that is an experience that they’ll remember for a long time. Today, I have rounded up a few gift ideas that are rather about the experience and not the item!

Gift Ideas that are Experiences

  1. Professional Society Membership
  2. AirBnB or VRBO Reservation
  3. Sports Game Tickets
  4. Wine & Design Art Class
  5. Performance Tickets
  6. Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner River Cruise
  7. Cooking Class
  8. Spa Day
  9. Wine Tasting at a Vineyard
  10. National Parks Annual Pass
  11. Indoor Sky Diving
  12. Pottery Painting
  13. Handlettering Book
  14. Airlines Gift Card
  15. Board Games/Card Games
  16. Professional Photography Session
  17. Museum Tickets
  18. High Tea
  19. Brewery/Distillery/Winery Tour
  20. Puzzles
  21. Theme Park Tickets
  22. Night(s) in a Hotel
  23. WordPress Subscription
  24. Build your Own Planner at an Erin Condren Store
  25. A Balloon Ride
  26. Horseback Riding
  27. A Massage
  28. Subscription box (e.g. FabFitFun, Ipsy, Birchbox, Hello Fresh, etc.)
  29. Ferris wheel Tickets
  30. Dinner at a Steakhouse
  31. A Trip to Get a Custom Made Garment

There are SO many gifts out there that it can be hard to choose what to get someone. Experiences are a way to allow them to not only look forward to the near future, but also make a memory while doing so.

XOXO – Katie <3

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Relationship Sunday’s – Why the Timeline Doesn’t Work

Back in my high school days, I used to picture myself meeting my true love in college and waltzing ourselves away into the postgraduate years married and living happily ever after. While my high school envisioning for myself is the reality for some, it is not the reality for myself and I am completely okay with it and happy that it isn’t. For us single folks, I know that having a timeline can sometimes provide satisfaction and a place of contentment to knowing when our perfect partner will come into our lives. BUT I am here to tell you today that NO timeline works when it comes to dating and potentially marriage. It just doesn’t.

When it comes to dating, it is easy to dream up what you want in a potential partner and strive to make it happen. On the flip side, dating is not something that I see as something that is one and done. It takes time to form a meaningful connection with someone else, whether it be a significant other, friend, coworker, or even a new pet. ALSO, I have noticed that when I spend time furiously searching for new connections in my life, whatever they may be, that they don’t seem to show up. In those moments on wayyyy too much searching for something I perceive as missing in my life, I will ALWAYS miss out on what’s in front of me in my life right then and there. What we are looking for, in fact, ends up coming into our lives when we stop searching for what we’re desiring and simply being content in the moment. This same concept goes for dating. It all happens when we least expect it.

Things happen when we least expect them to. It’s true. BUT it is SO hard to just sit back and relax and let it happen at times. AND that is OKAY! I have always been a worrier and tend to worry more than I should, especially about when I think and want things to happen. It’s HARD y’all and sitting back and letting things happen and enjoying where you are in life as much easier said than done. Indeed, it is something that I strive to work on everyday. I mean, my 10 year old self would LOVE to see where 22 year old Katie is now and I wish she could see it – she would be SOO excited!

Timelines are so not ideal when it comes to our lives. I know I love a good plan, but that’s not how life goes. Life takes its own twists and turns and it’s amazing in its own way. When we put timelines in our own lives especially when it comes to dating, we force things into our lives that aren’t right and ready for when they are meant to happen. With dating, I have always seen it to be a delicate thing that shouldn’t be rushed anyways. When we do try and rush dating and specifically dating into marriage, we miss out on the great moments along the way within our relationships and just life in general. You wouldn’t want to force yourself to finish reading a 300 page book in a day, so why would you with a relationship?!

Above all else, remember to focus on YOU and what YOU want in this life and not WHEN you want it in your life. If it is meant to be, it will all come into your life the way it is meant to. Life is so short anyways, so why spend it worrying and overthinking?! Things come the way that they are supposed to come into our lives and they will all be beautiful in the ways that they are meant to be. Personally, I love to travel and make memories together with my friends and family and dogs. Those are the memories that I want to focus on and NOT the time I spent worrying about what was next to come, as it will come when it does. It’s so hard to do and easier said than done, but it is also so rewarding, too.

The only timeline that matters in this world is our own. The timing in our lives is made in perfection for ourselves and only ourselves. Remember that.

XOXO – Katie <3

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Black Friday Week 2021 Deals – Items I Use & LOVE

With Black Friday Week sales and Cyber Week deals upon us, it can be pretty daunting to decide what to get if anything. Personally, I’ve always been a fan of Black Friday Week sales, but I try not to go overboard during them, especially when I have what I want and need already. BUT, Black Friday Week sales can be an excellent opportunity to snag an item or two that you could actually use for a fraction of its price. Indeed, case in point, many of the items that I love and use regularly are on sale currently. So, I am sharing these items with y’all today!

*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.*

Many of these items I use almost daily (aka the Keurig, mascara – that I have used for YEARS now -, the Ninja air fryer, and my Longchamp and Barrington Gifts totes which I alternate over the days) and am glad that I purchased them when I did. I am also super excited that they are on sale for others such as potentially yourself to purchase and enjoy, too!

XOXO – Katie <3

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My Favorite Preppy Black Friday Sales 2021

If you know me, then you know I LOVE to shop til I drop! With it being Black Friday and cheerful sales all around, I couldn’t not share some of my favorite deals. Let’s get shopping!

*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.*

Happy shopping and an even happier holiday weekend to you!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Is Blogging a Good Side Hustle for You? Here are 11 Reasons Why!

The photos, the outfits, the reviews, and the products, oh my! When it comes to being a blogger, I have pretty much loved every minute of it all. On the same token, blogging isn’t an easy gig to get into especially when talking about making money and when it comes to the commitment that you have to invest in it. But, that all being said, blogging may still be a good side hustle for you. Today, I will be sharing 11 reasons why blogging may be a good side hustle for you.

Is Blogging a Good Side Hustle for You?

  1. You’re driven – To be a blogger, you have to be driven enough to be able to stick with it. Like picking your full time career, you decided that you wanted to do your full time job and you stuck with it. Similarly, deciding to start a blog is not something that you should think about overnight and then create the next day. It should be something that you think about overnight, sleep on, and then go from there. You should wake up in the morning and be ready to take on the world and your side hustle, too. The drive to start blogging is a good indicator that you know it would be a good side hustle for you.
  2. You have a passion that you want to share with others – Do you have a passion for fashion? Maybe you have a itch to travel and want to share your adventures and tips with others? Maybe you want to connect with others with your own personal experiences? Maybe you like to shop and want to help others shop, too? Perhaps, you’re a bargain hunter and want to help others find bargains too. And, maybe, it is all of the above in some capacity. Whatever the case may be, you have a passion and a strong one at that. My mother always said that people LOVE to talk about themselves. The same idea goes for our passions! That being said, if you have a passion and you want to talk about it with others, then blogging may be a good side hustle for you to do just that.
  3. You are willing to make the investment – Blogging IS an investment. Blogging is an investment of your time, energy, money, and a major commitment at that. They say with blogging that you have to spend money to make money and that is the truth. You HAVE TO be willing to invest monetarily in your blog before you ever make a profit from it. Some of the ways that you can invest in your blog is through purchasing your own website domain name, site features (I use WordPress), site logo, camera, tripod, light ring, and even photographer (however, I think that the website and logo should be your priority and photography should be a secondary priority that comes later on if you so desire and can afford it regularly). Whatever you choose to do to invest in your blog, know that it will be an investment of your own money before you yield money from elsewhere. Be prepared and willing to do just that, if you want to make blogging your side hustle.
  4. You’re realistic about it – Blogging takes realism. Let’s be realistic here for a second. You will NOT grow your blogging platform overnight – IT TAKES TIME. Being a new blogger on Instagram does not mean that you will have a following of 1,000+ overnight on a brand-new account. You just won’t. The same idea goes for your website viewers. It takes time. On the same token, blogging will 9 times out of 10 probably not become your full time gig. It probably won’t. While you may yield some money from it, you won’t right away and you probably won’t do it full time either. However, that is not to say that that won’t happen and could actually happen for you. A lot of people it doesn’t happen to. In fact 80%+ of bloggers make no money from their blogs ever. And that is OKAY! If you are considering making blogging your side hustle, then be realistic with yourself, in order to know if it is a good fit for you.
  5. You are willing to make the commitment – Blogging is a major commitment. It is a great commitment to make to yourself and to helping others, such as your readers. BUT, you have to be willing to make that commitment. There’s a lot of time, energy, to do lists, editorial calendars, writing sessions, brainstorming sessions, photoshoots, content planning, and much more that goes into blogging. For most of us, blogging involves many of these tasks being done on our own. My small business owner friend Holly of Glitter and Daisies (use my code PINK10 for 10% off your purchase) shared an Instagram Reel where she shares all of her staff who happened to be her playing a variety of different roles besides her cheerleader boyfriend who is a gem – whether it be shipping packer, content curator, etc. Just like Holly, bloggers experience the same exact thing. It takes A LOT of work, time, and commitment. Blogging will be a good side hustle for you, but only if you are willing to make that commitment.
  6. You have the time to make the commitment – Many times, I say I want to do something. However, 9 times out of 10, I do not do it. Reason being? I simply do not have the time to do it. That is OKAY! Time is limited. We need to make the time for our jobs, to make 3ish meals a day, for our families and potential partners, for our pets, and to simply be a sane human being (for me that is binge watching shows on Netflix!). The same idea goes for starting a blog. You NEED to make sure that you have the time to start a blog, stick with it, and be successful. When it comes to blogging especially while working full time, a lot of creative thinking and time that is invested into your blog is done after work hours and on the weekends. That’s the honest truth. If you do not think you are able to do that at this moment, then blogging may not be for you now. Though, that is not to say that your time may free up and blogging may be a good side hustle for you in the future!
  7. You are not just in it to make money – Although you will probably not make a bunch of money from blogging right away, you may make some money from it in the future. If you want blogging to be your side hustle, then make sure you are in it because you have the drive, passion, and the willingness to share that passion(s) of yours with others. You should NOT be in it just for the money and perks that come with it. Blog because YOU WANT TO and NOT because you want financial perks from it. There is so much more to blogging than meets the eye and there is so much reward within it. That’s the best part of it all. End of story.
  8. You want to establish a community of like-minded individuals – One of the BEST parts of blogging is the extraordinary community that I have gotten from it. There are so many people, influencers, bloggers, small business owners, and likeminded folks alike, that I have met and can proudly call my friend. These people live anywhere and everywhere and it is so cool. It’s a gift above all else and makes blogging a good side hustle for that, too.
  9. You want to help others – Above all else, when starting a blog, you should have a passion and a passion that you want to share. With your passion, you probably want to help others in some capacity. Whether it be sharing style inspiration, the latest sales, a new recipe, empowerment, personal experiences, travel tips, or tips on something else, your blog will impact others and hopefully impact them in a positive light. You must want to help others in some way, shape, or form, if you are considering making blogging your side hustle.
  10. You are willing to learn a bit throughout the process – NO blogger knows it all, especially when blogging regularly and even starting a blog. When blogging, you HAVE TO be willing to learn from others and grow as a blogger. There is no specific manual for starting a blog, but there are several podcasts, blog posts, and Youtube videos that can help you along the way. Remember that every blogger could learn something new and improve, no matter how long they have been blogging for. Simply being willing to learn and grow throughout the process of having a blog will make blogging a goof side hustle for you.
  11. You can trust the process – Whatever may happen throughout the blogging process, remember to trust the process of being a blogger. There will be times where you will feel great about your blogging platform and times where you won’t. It’s normal. My Aunt Amy is a blogger and has been much longer than I have and she says the best way to be successful with blogging is to keep keeping at it. At the same time, in the blogging world, slow and steady wins the race so be patient and your blogger world will be great – blogging side hustle and all!

Being a blogger has been the best side hustle for me, and I hope if you are considering becoming a blogger yourself that blogging will be the best side hustle for you, too!

XOXO – Katie <3

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DC Diaries Part 9 + Moving On From My College Years

Well, it’s been quite a while since I have shared a little bit about my life here in Washington, DC. To say the least, it has been a bit of a journey since I last wrote a DC Diaries blog post. However, through it all, it has been a rollercoaster but I have realized that I am coming out of these past few months ready to take on the world now more than ever before. At the same time, I am starting to move on from my college years and even embrace the new world that I am living in.

Once I graduated from college, I almost felt like I was still in college. I still had my friends, despite living up in Washington, DC. Though I did have my friends and professors’ support from afar, my life was changing and so were my fellow Class of 2021 friends’s lives. Many of us started jobs or graduate school programs or were deciding just what to do next. Whatever the case may be, we will always be one another’s classmates, but we wouldn’t be seeing one another on a regular basis like we would in our college years. Consequentially, I also didn’t start my job until 2.5 months after my college graduation – something that I am extremely grateful that my company suggested I do. So, it was a weird feeling going from the college world to the working world. I missed seeing others my own age regularly, especially as I was working from home. Needless to say, it was quite strange going through all of the motions of being in a setting with all of my classmates who all happened to mostly be my own age to being around people of all ages.

To be honest, the transition from college life to the postgraduate world SUCKS and it really SUCKS. I have always been one who likes to tell the truth and not hear things in a sugarcoated fashion, most specifically when it could hurt me in the long run to hear it in that manner. When you aren’t around those your own age constantly, it can be hard and I have felt it on and on and on again. Personally, I started to go through my college years and try to relive things that I missed about them, whether it be friendships or relationships that never seemed to blossom. But, after careful reflection, I realized that the more reliving I attempted to do, the more I was trying to fill a void within my own heart of missing the college years that I had just left. It’s a weird time and it is quite difficult for anybody to process – even my coworkers who are older than me have said that.

Although I do miss my college years, I am glad that I am not in college anymore. My college years are over and they are over for the better. I had four extraordinary years of college, and I am eternally grateful for them. While in college, I was ready for a change. I knew that while I did love Raleigh, I did not love it enough that I wanted to make it my home after college.

As for my life in Washington, DC, I am *finally* starting to figure out what I want to do next. There are some exciting ways for me to get involved that I have yet to share, but will in time’s due. I am also looking at starting something exciting and doing some event planning within the scope of my company. The opportunities for me outside of work are rolling in and I couldn’t be more excited!

When times get tough, I am a firm believer that better times are always to come. Remember that, my friends and fellow readers.

XOXO – Katie <3

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My Christmas Wishlist 2021

Over the years, what matters most to me during the holiday season is simply being together with friends and family. Especially after the lack of togetherness in person that 2020 brought to us all, it will be so nice and needed to see everyone in real life. Despite my lack of excitement towards Christmas presents as compared to other holiday festivities, it is still super fun to be able to make a Christmas Wishlist! This year’s Christmas wishlist consists of several items that I could use, especially within my kitchen and work life.

*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.*

So, personally, I have been needing some serving bowls and platters since I am coming out of college. Within my Fall FabFitFun box, I selected the Golden Rabbit Dutch oven in the Cobalt colored print. Little did I know, I would find the serving platter and serving bowl in this beautiful print via Pottery Barn’s site. Although they are a bit pricey, I think they will be a good investment moving forward and I am also excited that they will match my dutch oven. When it comes to my kitchen needs, I have also been in dire need of an electric can opener and couldn’t pass up the opportunity to put this gorgeous The Pioneer Woman (a kitchenware and home collection that I have been eyeing for a while now!) X Hamilton Beach can opener! At the same time, I have also been looking for a super fun cutting board to use as a serving platter for guests and have LOVED Mark & Graham’s products – especially this wood marbled round cheese board that I can also personalize.

When it comes to work, I know that my work life will transition to be more in-person a few days a week as the months progress. It’s currently looking like Spring 2022 will be the golden ticket to a more consistent in-person yet still hybrid work life. So, when I saw these Lilly Pulitzer insulated snack bags in this pink print that I am obsessed with, I could not not add them to the list!

For working from home and my kitchen pantry, I found this affordable and adorable 3-tier rolling cart at Michael’s. Currently, I am hoping to get this cart in both bright pink and white and have one to store snacks in my pantry and the other to store pens and notebooks in my home office which is flooding with papers and laptops!

Last but not least, I have LOVED doing at-home blowouts for special occasions and want to do them more and more and more. I did them for both of my college graduation photo sessions and they turned out super nicely. That being said, when I saw this Revlon hair dryer and volumizer, I knew I needed to add it to my list.

While there isn’t truly anything I want for Christmas besides ringing in some Christmas cheer for all to hear with friends and family, I do hope that my Christmas Wishlist provides you with some inspiration, especially if you’re stuck yourself – I know I was when my family asked me!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Gift Guides: November 1-14 Round-Up!

Merry merry merry, Christmas is on its way! With Christmas now approaching sooner than ever, Christmas Gift Guides are also super helpful is gathering up ideas for what to shop for and purchase for your friends, family, coworkers, and even a Secret Santa exchange. Over the past two weeks, my gift guides are targeted at the Lilly Pulitzer Lover, Blogger, Disney Lover, For the Monogram Lover, For Mom, and For the Home Chef. Let’s get into now!

*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.*

For the Lilly Pulitzer Lover

For the Blogger

For the Disney Lover

For the Monogram Lover

For Mom

For the Home Chef

Happy gift giving!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Relationship Sunday’s – Why I Don’t Use Dating Apps

The other day, I was watching a YouTube video where a YouTuber was emphasizing how she used dating apps to try and find her person or what I like to denote soulmate or partner for life. Moreover, this YouTuber was essentially putting herself out there to find the one soulmate for herself on the format of online dating. While I know that this YouTuber used online dating apps for a while and I think eventually found success on it, I know that online dating is just not for me.

***Disclaimer: Before I get into the meat of this blog post, I do want to point out that I know many people who have used dating apps and had success. I have seen some of my best friends and family members find their significant others online and had success with it. In fact, one of my good friends recently got married to someone that she met online, and I couldn’t be happier for them both. Furthermore, just because I do not use online dating apps does not mean that it may be the right path for you to use when dating.***

Now, you may be wondering why I don’t use online dating apps. I will be the first to admit that I have used them in the past, but it only has been for under a week or 24 hours and for the sole purpose of seeing what is out there. One time, I actually had a chat with someone from a dating app, which is when I knew that I was not comfortable with the whole dating app experience. During that experience, I felt extremely uncomfortable with the idea of meeting someone that I had never seen before in real life and attempting to date them. In fact, I ended up frantically talking to my therapist about it afterwards, thus, realizing that dating apps were not for me. In more recent times, I have used apps such as Her and Bumble to meet friends and only friends within their friend sections of the site so that others who wanted friends would do the same and did not feel the ways that I was on a dating app. On the contrary to dating apps, I actually loved using both Her and Bumble’s friends sections on their apps and found it FUN! Because I am super busy with work, I ended up recently deleting my friend meeting accounts, since I solely didn’t have the time to commit. Though I have to say, I am personally glad that I ended up giving dating apps a try so that I could know what I liked and didn’t like when it comes to potential relationships and meeting others to potentially date.

A few weeks ago, my friend and I were talking about dating apps. While she uses them for fun, we both wholeheartedly agreed that we probably would not want to use dating apps for any sort of serious relationship. Rather, we saw dating apps as a method for none other than causal dating and hookups. While it is the case that many dating apps’s users are looking for something not very serious, it also has its benefits for those who do desire casual dating experiences at the time that they use the dating app. Personally, if I were to use a dating app at this stage in my life, it would solely be for fun and nothing more than that. However, I really value having a personal connection with those that I may date, rather than just one online. I like to know who I am dating and what I am getting into when dating this person beyond what you can see in a few perhaps photoshopped photos on an app.

Recently, I have watched “Love Hard” on Netflix – a movie about a woman who writes a column about her disaster dates via dating apps under an alias. She, then, proceeds to meet this guy she really liked and thought was the right guy for her and flies across the country to see him, only to discover that he had used photos of his old and who he perceived as better looking than him middle school friend. Even though “Love Hard” is extremely exaggerated, it does make the point that people can and will not tell the truth on dating apps. Hence, the millions of episodes on MTV’s “Catfish” that involve catfishing via meeting on a dating app.

Back in August, one of my friends suggested that I start dating and maybe even create a dating app profile. To that friend’s despair, I decided that I would not do that. Nor did I even want to try to date online. Personally, I am pretty content being single and do not want to try and date within an online format. Rather, I would prefer to be single and shine my own bright light that way. I truly believe that one day my person will come into my life at the right timing, whoever they may be. But, right now, I would rather enjoy my single years free of the stress of dating apps and simply shine!

XOXO – Katie <3

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My Favorite Classic Print

Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! When I was a little girl, I began to fall in love with animal prints. My love affair with animal prints grew over the years and over again. When I was 12, my Grandma bought me a faux fur leopard coat from none other than the fabulous Justice – a coat that I still own and wear to this day – and it became one of my most prized possessions. Flash forward to 2021 and leopard print is the biggest print of the year and everyone seems to be sporting something in this well-known print. Though leopard print is such a lovable print especially now, so many wonder: is leopard print trendy or classy?

Upon a basic Google search to answer whether or not leopard print is a trend or a staple, fashion magazines like Glamour, Elle, and Vogue amongst the likes are reporting headlines such as: “Animal Print Is Spring’s Biggest Trend”, “Why The Trend Will Be Forever Chic”, and “Magical Leopard Print is the Look for Spring Summer 2020”. The list then goes on and on and on. In 2019-2020, my favorite shoe designer Jack Rogers released a leopard printed sandal in its well-known Jacks sandal. Other fashion brands did the same in products of all kinds. Printify.com describes leopard print as “timeless and most definitely back in vogue, often walking the line between classy and flashy.” Although leopard print can be a bit out of the box at times, who truly needs a box nowadays?

When it comes to fashion, I see a world full of self expression and making good impressions via the way that we choose to dress. In today’s day and age, I witness a coming together of all and every decades’ styles come into one. 2021 is the year of 21+ decades’ styles coming into the forefront, which will continue beyond the roaring 2020’s. Personally, I see that everything goes and especially in today’s day and age with people shopping at thrift stores and shopping secondhand becoming cooler and more mainstream now more than ever before, bringing back staples from decades past and remaking them into their own closets and personal wardrobes. I have seen clothing items from all decades worn by others on the streets and into the wardrobes of ordinary people. It is truly a beautiful thing. Similarly speaking, leopard print has flown in and out of the wardrobes of people’s lives throughout the decades in many different ways. But, in whatever capacity that this print may be presented to us fashion-wise, leopard print remains a timeless print – timeless in that it has flown through the decades of our fashion history and into 2021 and beyond. Thus, making leopard print nothing short of being known as classy.

Leopard print is most definitely having a moment right now, but it will remain a forever classic staple beyond its moment in the year 2021. Beyond my leopard print-obsessed years in the early 2000’s, I always loved the sheer elegance of a leopard printed petticoat, pencil skirt, dress, or even a pair of shoes. Hence, my obsession for my leopard print faux fur Justice coat that I have now owned for over 10 years and do not plan to let go of any time soon. Like myself, others have admired leopard print and garments within this print, too. Even though, leopard print may not be as mainstream as it is now within a few years, it will never fade away.

Through it all, remember that anything goes on any day. Leopard print may be one of the most well-liked prints of the year, but it will never disappear. It is a timeless and forever chic print that won’t ever fade away.

XOXO – Katie <3

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