Relationship Sunday’s: A Letter to my Former Relationship-Obsessed Self

Dear Former Relationship-Obsessed Katie,

It is February 2022 and you are thriving and sometimes barely *just barely* surviving adulthood. You graduated from Meredith College with a Bachelor’s of Arts in Mathematics with minors in Statistics, Website Development, and Data Science. You are employed. You’ve traveled the world and are continuing to, whether near or far. You are sustaining yourself financially. You feel empowered. You have the blog of the dreams. You have a dog named Rosie. You also live with Papa and love it all. You have extraordinary friendships that you’ve maintained over the years, yet you’ve lost some friends along the way too. Through it all, you have become stronger. You love yourself and are proud of what you’ve accomplished. You may be surprised, but through all of this you are also happily single.

YES, you Katie, are happily single in 2022. You’re single AND loving it – something you thought you would never hear before in your life. While you’re reading this, you are probably shocked and that is OKAY. Time will tell, but you’ll be happy being YOU more than you will be dating someone else in February 2022. In fact, you even had the best Valentine’s Day 2022, spending it with your Papa and dog making crab legs and Barramundi (a fish that Papa and I both LOVED!) single and ALL. You’ll be able to travel, have your evenings to yourself, and simply the freedom of not having to worry about anyone else. When you’re worried about when and who you’ll end up with in the long run, just remember to enjoy your time as the extraordinary woman that you are, being you and enjoying the moments. You’re single but it doesn’t define you. If you’re content with who YOU are then that is all that you need in life.

You will enter into a relationship. The relationship that you thought you have dreamed of. You will date somebody that you think will be your lifelong one. However, in short notice, you will realize that this person is anything but for you. This relationship of yours will get too serious too fast for your liking. It will provide you with the allusion that you are supposed to be committed to this person for life – a person that is anything but committed to you in the way that you are to them. You will have a Valentine’s Day with them, which will SUCK and that’s okay. It will get better once you release that they are not ever your forever. But, remember, that you DO NOT ever have to commit to them. You will miss your single days while dating this person. You WILL become single again and you will learn to love your single days.

Flash forward to May 2021, and you will graduate from Meredith College. You will move to the Washington, DC area which will become your post graduation dream while in college. You will move in with Papa and continue to love every minute of your time with him. You will adopt your dog Rosie. You will love every minute of it all and continue to simply enjoy the moment. You will be repulsed, in fact, by the idea of a relationship. Singleness will be your contentment and you will thrive in it all. You’ll enjoy your memories as a single woman and continue to do so, especially as you want to look back on your single days happy and content when you find your one and only.

Although you are very content with your single days, remember that you will feel sad being single at times and that is OKAY. Through it all, remember to believe in love, even when you don’t think it’s near. You can and WILL find your one and only one day and it’ll be beautiful. But, remember to enjoy the single days and let them outweigh the days you may not enjoy, whatever the case may be (such as being sick or stressed with work or even just mentally struggling). Believe!

While you dealt and will continue to deal with a lot of heartbreak, remember that at the end of the day, you are not alone. You will always have yourself. Nobody is ever alone. You will become content with yourself and that is ALL that matters.

XOXO – Katie <3

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The Life of Katie!

Most recently, I have been living out the hustle and bustle. Personally, I love love love the hustle! And, lately my life has been FILLED with nothing but the hustle and bustle. Life has been crazy, but it’s been good too. Here’s a peak into my life. And, if you want more updates into my life on the daily, then follow me on Instagram (@_thepinkchickadee).

  • Getting a work desk! – The most exciting highlight of these recent times have been getting a work desk!!! It’s the little things, y’all! I got assigned a work desk earlier this past week, since I got onboarded into the company in the heart of COVID-19, specifically citing the Delta variant times in the Summer of 2021 which extended my work from home times. Although I will be working from home for most likely the majority of my working days moving forward, I will be going into the office a few days a week, give or take, too. The other day, I went into the office and brought a HUGE Scout bag packed to the rim with stuff that I had gotten the day before via a shopping spree to both Walmart and Target to my desk that to my splendid surprise was actually much larger than I expected! It’s in a great location on my team’s floor, too. Let me tell y’all, I felt so so so welcome by simply coming into the office and having a desk that is my own. Luckily, I will be going in more often than I have in the past!
  • Car shopping – Recently, I have started the car shopping process. Last Fall, I car shopped a bit, BUT took a pause due to my busy work life and adjusting to working full time. Similarly speaking, y’all, the CAR MARKET SUCKS at this moment. Y’all, shopping for a car sucks during this trying times with inflation and all. It’s NOT easy! But, I am super excited to get back on the bandwagon of shopping for a car that I will have as my own for the next few years and perhaps beyond. The car that I have been driving now I have a very special bond with to say the least. I am sad to stop driving that sweet car that I have loved so so so much, BUT I am also excited for many more memories in my new future car. Through it all, I feel very very lucky that I am in a financial situation where I can afford a new car and actually make the car shopping experience something that is attainable for me and a good investment in the long run.
  • Blue Light Glasses – A few weeks ago, I put in my order for my FabFitFun Spring 2022 box. And, I ordered some blue light glasses as apart of my Add-On’s. Let’s just say that since I put these glasses on, I have NOT wanted to take them off! Y’all, I do not know how I didn’t make the effort to buy them sooner, especially with my work from home life.
  • FabFitFun Spring 2022 Box – Last week, my FabFitFun Spring 2022 box arrived in the mail! Funny story – it arrived JUST as I was heading out the door to catch my flight for my Girl’s weekend to Raleigh, North Carolina for my best friend Alanna’s 25th Birthday (read more about the Lilly Pulitzer-themed Birthday Party that me and my friend Hannah threw for her here!). Personally, I like to go *just* a bit crazy with my FabFitFun boxes and my Spring 2022 box was NO exception. I got A TON of new and exciting goodies to ring in the Spring 2022 season that feels SO close yet SO far away – we’ve enjoyed some warm weather here in the Washington, DC area for a few days before reverting back to some cold rain and wind the next day. Needless to say, I am excited to enjoy my Spring 2022 FabFitFun goodies in the coming weeks!!
*Some* of my many FabFitFun Spring 2022 Box picks PLUS my Ipsy February 2022 pouch!

Now, I want to know what’s going on in y’all’s lives! Comment here – I’d LOVE to know 🙂

XOXO – Katie <3

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A Day in Washington, DC Without a Plan

Some of the BEST travel plans that I have had have had anything BUT a plan. The other week, my good friend Bryn and I went into Washington, DC while she visited me with anything, BUT a plan. ALL we had planned, in fact, was which Metro (Washington, DC’s subway transit system) stop to get off at. From there, the rest was up to us and seemingly our minds!

So, funny story, Bryn and I are AWFUL at waking up early – haha! We, indeed got going in the mid-afternoon and hit my local Metro stop for the Smithsonian stop within Washington, DC with our snacks, coffee, and masks on hand. Once we got off at the Smithsonian Metro stop, we walked to the nearby notable Smithsonian of Washington, DC at the National Mall. If you don’t know much about Washington, DC, the Smithsonian is Washington, DC’s collection of museums that are government-run and FREE to all who come to visit. Some of the Smithsonian’s museums include – the Museum of American History, the Museum of Natural History, the Air and Space Museum, and the Smithsonian Castle aka the original and first-ever Smithsonian museum/building. The National Mall is conveniently located right along the Smithsonian, so as you explore ALL of the Smithsonian’s incredible museums, you also get to admire some of Washington, DC’s many monuments – the National Monument, Lincoln Memorial, the Capital, and much more! Once we arrived, we did nothing else BUT get hot dogs and soft pretzels at a local food truck. Another amazing part of Washington, DC’s National Mall is the MANY MANY MANY food trucks lining the streets alongside it.

Once getting hot dogs and pretzels, Bryn and I simply took in the incredible views of Washington, DC that are all around us. We, then, walked over to the Capital where we took wayyyy too many photos and admired the views of our extraordinary nation’s capital. And, we *of course* had to stop to enjoy some coffee and gold fish that we had packed while admiring where all of our United States Presidents have been inaugurated and a major building of many decisions being made within our country, too, have happened. The pond, steps, fields, and pathways surrounding the Capital are super stunning, y’all! It’s worthwhile, too.

Since yet again fueling up at the Capital, we headed over to the White House – a sight in which Bryn wanted to see while she was here visiting. The walk to the White House takes about 30 minutes from the Capital. One of the BEST parts about this walk is that it includes seeing the National Monument along the way. We *of course* had to stop there to take some pictures, too! BUT, the very very very best part of this walk that we took was that it happened to be that we took this walk at sunset. Sunset made our walk so so so much more stunning than on any other given time. It was so cool to see ALL of the monuments light up at night and shine brighter than a diamond. Then, when we got to the White House, it was dark and the White House was beautifully shining for all to see. Sometimes, visiting the White House and simply seeing it outside can be tough – given Presidential events, protests, and much more. BUT, we got lucky a few weekends ago while there AND it wasn’t crowded, either. It was a great time to just sit and admire the home of all our Presidents (well, most of them!).

After the White House sightseeing, we headed for the nearby Metro station and back to my house. Bryn and I both had an amazing time and each spent under $15 including food and Metro tickets, especially given that we had packed some snacks beforehand. All in all, a truly fun, spontaneous, and affordable day aka three of my FAVORITE THINGS! Blessings come in all sizes and packages, including those that are of the most unexpected.

XOXO – Katie <3

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Throwing My Best Friend a Lilly Pulitzer-Themed Birthday Party!

This past weekend, I went to my college town of Raleigh, North Carolina to celebrate my good friend Alanna’s 25th Birthday – YAY!! Alanna has been one of my best friends made via my college experience and she is ALSO a fellow Lilly Pulitzer lover. One of Alanna’s dreams was to have someone throw her a Lilly Pulitzer-themed Birthday Party, so our mutual best friend Hannah and I decided to make just that happen. Today, I am going to be sharing ALLL the tea on Alanna’s Lilly Pulitzer-themed Birthday Party!!

So, for Alanna’s Birthday party, I wanted to start by planning out my outfit. I asked Alanna what her favorite Lilly Pulitzer prints were and discovered that we share one of the same favorites – Seaing Things! Y’ALL, I own 6-7 (I lost track haha!) things in this specific print. So, I decided to wear my maxi dress that I purchased during the Lilly Pulitzer Sunshine Sale back in January 2022 along with my Lilly Pulitzer x Lele Saudoughi headband in that exact print, too.

NOW, onto the decorations!! Personally, I ALWAYS choose a few base colors based off of a print and/or theme. Fun fact: for my college dorm room Freshmen year, I based it off of Lilly Pulitzer’s Peel N’ Eat print and chose the colors: aqua, gold, coral/hot pink, white, and gold. SO, I *had* to do the same base color planning for Alanna which happened to be: hot pink, white, and aqua with pops of gold. I went to The Dollar Tree *surprise* for pretty much all of it. I made out a list via my vision for Alanna’s Birthday Party, in order to make it ALLLL happen. I made a list and checked it twice while at The Dollar Tree. Some of the items on that list included: pink and white balloons, B-DAY balloon, pink tablecloths, pink utensils, ribbon, and a Birthday banner. I also allowed some room for myself to simply be creative and see what I could find via my creative soul that could go with the theme. The items that I picked up included: a “Happy Birthday” banner, a gold foil garland, ribbon, gold glittered hand lettered cake topper, a white “Birthday Girl” sash, hot pink utensils, pink and white balloons, and a gold “B-DAY” balloon. As for the Lilly Pulitzer prints, unfortunately, my printer was not working to print out images of Alanna’s favorite prints, so I went through my crafting supply bin and luckily found some old Lilly Pulitzer planner sheets. All in all, my mind was EVERYWHERE when planning Alanna’s Birthday Party decorations, but in the end, it definitely all came together beautifully.

ONTO the execution!! We hosted Alanna’s 25th Birthday Party at Hannah’s place. Hannah and I started decorating a few hours before Alanna arrived and essentially went through ALL of the decorations (which, by the way, fit beautifully into my carry-on luggage) and put them all up together before Alanna arrived. Alanna is a holy grail Chick Fil-A fan and she brought over a heart-shaped tray of 30-count nuggets. Once Alanna arrived to Hannah’s place, we all went to Publix (it was actually my first time there – yay me!!) and we picked out two cakes, cotton candy-flavored wine courtesy of Alanna’s choosing, actual cotton candy, and some chips. It was such a fun memory with some of my best friends and simply catching up with all of ours’s mutual friend Jasmine.

Through it all, I felt oh so blessed to be able to give Alanna the Lilly Pulitzer Birthday Party of her dreams. It was the first time ever that I planned a Birthday Party and it all was such a blast!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Why Caring About What Others Think of Me Hurt Me 

Once upon a time, I was in high school striving to perfect the *perfect* shot for the good olde Instagram. All I cared about at the time in my life was whether or not others would like my photo and sometimes even who would. I wanted others to like my photos and cared wayyyy too much about what others thought of me. Perhaps, it even consumed my life and EVEN into part of my time at college. At some point in our lives, all of us have cared about how we were perceived by others and probably do from time to time. I get it as it IS human nature. However, when caring about what others think of us gets to be too much, it can REALLY hurt us in the long run.

Before getting into the bulk of this blog post, I want to mention that it is important in certain ways to care about how you’re perceived, such as in the professional world, dressing according to dresscode for an occasion (even if it means going into the office), being a kind person, and having a strong work ethic as a student. Those are all VERY important and valid things to be sure you care about succeeding the part for, as you SHOULD! I do, too.

When I was in high school, my Mom asked me “why do you care [about what others think of you] so much?” Mom was indeed right, just why should we care? We shouldn’t. BUT, it is easier said than done. TRUST ME!

In high school, I was *super* self-conscious, which may come as a surprise to some of the folks that knew me in high school. Although I did put myself out there A TON via dressing in my own Katie fashion style as I do today and simply being kind to others no matter who they were, I was also bullied quite a bit for it. The bullying started in middle school where it got really bad and continued into high school but not as much. People are mean and their actions that were hurtful towards me left a sore taste in my mouth and, thus, paved the way for me to be super insecure about how others perceived me. There were even times that I did things just to make sure that I felt affirmed by my friends at the time. Little by little, I was hurting only myself by simply giving even a little attention to what others perceived of me at any given moment.

In college especially during the pre-COVID years, I was beginning to really feel the pressure to be liked by everybody. Meredith College is such a great college and I am so blessed for my experience there. BUT, Meredith College is an historically all-women’s institution, so there is a lot of drama there, too. News flash: girls get catty and Meredith College women are NO exception. There were several moments that were trying at times, many of which only hurt me in the long run. It wasn’t until I started my platform here at The Pink Chickadee that my care for what others thought of me went away. At first, it was there and trust me, 2020 Katie was SOOO self-conscious. However, her confidence grew over time and her care for what others thought of her simply dimmed away.

At the end of the day, caring about what others think of you is a waste of time. Take it from me: a young woman who spent WAYYYY too much of her time – wasted time – thinking about others’ thoughts of me which I CANNOT even control. Instead, foster that time into your passions, walking or petting your pet(s), cooking, or perhaps even a nap. Whatever it may be, you have so much more better things to do with your time. It’s easier said than done – definitely know this from experience. But, caring less about what others think of you will make you stronger in the long run, like it did for me. You GOT this <3

XOXO – Katie <3

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The Life of Katie!

Happy happy Tuesday, y’all! Today is the day after Valentine’s Day and is a day in which it feels like a return to nothing but reality. Personally, I have always loved holidays such as Valentine’s Day and embrace my singleness and self love to yours truly and going back to my typical day to day life beyond allll the hearts and pink and red items on the shelves of every store. BUT, Valentine’s Day isn’t just the only time and excuse that we have for self love and care – it should be every day. Today, I’m sharing with y’all a peek into the Life of Katie and, yes, life beyond Valentine’s Day!

  • Exciting professional opportunities – This past week has been nothing but a whirlwind of excitement for me professionally. I’ve been onboarding to a project that’s in an area that I’ve since become extremely fascinated with since learning more about it and working on it on a very minimal basis back in December. While I won’t share much about my work on here, I will say that I am REALLY excited about this project and my future growth professionally on it. This project requires that I go into the office starting most likely this Spring sometime every Tuesday and Wednesday which will be so great for my social soul! At the same time, I am also on a planning committee for a STEM-related female empowerment group at my company, and it has been nothing but a blessing to me.
  • Neurodiversity awareness thanks to The Bachelor – So, if you follow me on Instagram (@_thepinkchickadee) – I’d LOVE to connect! Then, you probably already know about my major obsession with ABC’s The Bachelor Franchise. This season of The Bachelor starred Elizabeth – a neurodivergent woman who was proudly open about her disability on the show. While there was a bit of drama this season, as always, Elizabeth truly preached on being a woman who has a disability and others, including myself, rallied behind her. Elizabeth truly created a safe space for all of those to share their disabilities and embrace their differences, too. Trust me, it has been a beautiful thing. Everybody is unique and having Elizabeth on The Bachelor truly showed that to us all.
  • Enjoying Shonda Rhimes’ Inventing Anna on Netflix – Just like The Bachelor, I am ALSO a major major major fan of Grey’s Anatomy! The writer of Grey’s Anatomy is Shonda Rhimes – who recently wrote Inventing Anna aka the Netflix series documenting the true story of Anna Delvy who is actually Anna Sorokin. Anna Sorokin was a Russian/German socialite con artist who changed her name to Anna Delvy and moved to New York City and conned several thousands of dollars out of several folks. Anna Sorokin was famously in the news, given her arrest, trial, and imprisonment following her scandal. Needless to say, Anna Sorokin walked all A LOT of people and her story is extremely intriguing. Not to mention, my inner Grey’s Anatomy fangirl LOVED seeing some of the show’s many supporting actors in Inventing Anna. Read more about her story and a bit more about the Netflix film series by THE ICONIC Shonda Rhimes here.
  • Booking up my Spring/Summer 2022!! – Yep, you heard that right. My calendar’s ALREADY booking up for Spring/Summer 2022. LOTS of excitement is happening over the next coming months. Some of the festivities include: turning 23, graduation ceremonies and parties, a good friend’s 21st Birthday, conferences and galas hosted close to home, and much more! As someone who likes to stay busy, I am OH SO glad that I can live my hustling life that I so truly love to the fullest.
  • Binge-watched Netflix’s Sweet Magnolias Season 2 in a day – Many of us fellow bloggers LOVE Netflix’s original series – Sweet Magnolia’s. While I won’t share any spoilers here in this post, I will say that I did watch the entire Season 2 in a day, which was A BALL to do, too! There were a ton of mic drop moments over the course of Season 2. At the same time, I really enjoyed ALL the gorgeous fashion statements made by several of the characters throughout the season. ALSO, I love love love some good olde Southern Charm, and Sweet Magnolia’s gives me that charm that I so miss while living up North (although, I prefer living up North at the moment!). Bring on Season 3, Netflix!
  • Draper James x Kohl’s Collaboration Fangirling – So, Draper James recently dropped a GORGEOUS collaboration with Draper James. The pieces come at a much more affordable price when compared to the brand’s usual retail price on their main site. Many of the pieces are super classic as per usual with Draper James and workwear ready to go. Knowing me, I will *probably* be purchasing some new pieces to add to my work wardrobe as I go into the office this Spring. Below, I have linked some of my favorite products from the collaboration!
  • Girl’s Weekend with Bryn last weekend & Girl’s Weekend with Alanna and Hannah this weekend – So, this past weekend, my Instagram was FLOODED with photos of me and my best friend Bryn’s Girl’s Weekend here in the Washington, DC area. A fun fact about Bryn is that she actually grew up here in the Northern Virginia area and moved down to North Carolina. Like myself, she wants to relocate to here after she graduates from college – something that we both bond over regularly! We both explored so much of the Washington, DC area – from the National Mall, the White House, Reston Town Center, her old neighborhood, The Wharf, and everywhere in between! The time that I had with Bryn was nothing but priceless and is irreplaceable. Such special memories were made, and I am SO excited to celebrate my best friend Alanna’s Birthday THIS WEEKEND down in good olde Raleigh, North Carolina and have a 3 night slumber party with her and my best friend Hannah at her new place in the area. I love these girls more than words can say – they’re truly the best best friends I could ask for, amongst others too!!!
  • Women in STEM awareness at the Smithsonian this March – The other day, I was on LinkedIn. Actually, it was a Saturday – haha! Well, I saw a post on something quite amazing – orange statues going up at Washington, DC’s Smithsonian in honor of Women in STEM. As a PROUD Woman in STEM, I am more than excited about this display throughout the majority of March here in my own city. Women empowerment is so so so important, and especially, for women in STEM who sometimes to me feel like a dime a dozen.
  • Marshall’s/TJ Maxx Swimwear Obsessed – Recently, I have been OBSESSED with Marshall’s and TJ Maxx’s swimwear pieces. I’ve most definitely been browsing a lot lately online, but luckily for my wallet, have yet to commit to buying anything from it. BUT, I do plan to buy an adorable new swimsuit this season. Below, I have linked some of my favorites that are currently online!

Whew! Now, that was a lot. I hope y’all are well, and, as always remember to take time for YOU!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Relationship Sunday’s – Being Single and OKAY With It

Well, it was New Year’s Eve 2021, and I saw a meme that said “if you’re sad about not having a New Year’s kiss, then wait until Valentine’s Day – you’ll probably be single then, too.” Although a bit funny, when did it become a sad thing to be single? I hear it all the time and I am going to say it here and now: it is better to be alone than with others who make you feel alone. At the same time, being single does not make you alone or a loner. Rather, being single can be a fun time to enjoy your independence, work on growing your own self love and self empowerment, and simply doing things for YOU and no one else.

When talking about being single and some of the many things that I seriously LOVE about it, it is also important to mention that relationships don’t have to be the end all be all to our own personal independence, self growth, and doing things for yourself. In fact, when you’re indeed with the right person, you WILL feel empowered to work on yourself and be an independent person while cheering on your person in their similar journey, too.

Our world feels like it’s meant for couples – I mean, we literally have a holiday aka Valentine’s Day that is simply for couples. BUT, Valentine’s Day simply does not have to be solely for couple’s – I LOVE using Valentine’s Day as a moment for self love and care, irregardless of one’s relationship status. Indeed, there is so much to be grateful for as a single person. I’m grateful for my independence, growing on my self love journey, and doing things for me and only me. At the same time, I have an amazingly supportive group of family and friends that I am oh so thankful for every day. I have two dogs that I love to death. I have a job that I am learning to love and grow passionate for every day I report to work. And, not to mention, y’all here within my community via The Pink Chickadee. Through it all, I am extremely grateful for all that I have. Being single is literally in the smallest of scopes when it comes to all that the world has blessed me with. In the scheme of things, being single is a small thing and it’s something I’m blessed with at this moment, too.

Being single used to feel like the end of the world to me. I thought I was miserable and that being single meant that I was alone and, therefore, miserable. However, I have since learned that that is FAR from the case. When I got into a relationship with the wrong person destined for me, I realized how much I missed my single days. I was dating someone who was wanting to marry me after 2 days of dating, which *surprise* meant that I was in a relationship that got too serious wayyyy too fast. As the short-lived relationship progressed, I realized that I did not want a forever with my ex, like they did. I wanted my freedom, the ability to live wherever I wanted to (they insisted I stay in North Carolina and move to their hometown with them) post graduation, and independence. When I *finally* decided to break it off with my ex, I felt nothing but empowered. As a newly single woman, I felt READY SO SO SO READY to take on the world by storm!

For me, my relationship with my ex made me feel nothing but content about being single. I was excited to be able to enjoy my single years for what they are. And, at the end of the day, I want to look back on my single years with glee and happiness and nothing but contentment. Don’t you?!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Weekly Menu Round-Up: February 14-20

Another week, another weekly menu – YAY! I’ve been LOVING how much y’all love my weekly menus, too. This past week, I received my fourth HelloFresh box (read my blog post on my 4 weeks with HelloFresh experience here) with my first-ever reward inside of it which was …. a mini cheesecake that was OH SO GOOD! If you follow me on Instagram (@_thepinkchickadee), then you know that I post the recipes that I cook AND the final results of each HelloFresh meal that I make on my stories. This little Instagram Story time of mine in the kitchen has been nothing but a blast for me AND has allowed me to share the results of each and every single one of my weekly menus – one of which is now listed below!

Meal 1: Creamy Dreamy Mushroom Cavatappi with Scallions and Parmesan. This dish low-key reminds me of the Pesto Cavatappi at Noodles & Company aka one of my favorite dishes sold there and my go to order! Initially, when selecting my menu for this coming week, I was hesitant to choose this dish, well, until I saw it again in a different light and maybe just maybe craving Noodles & Company while I was at it. I will be serving this creation probably with a Caesar salad aka my favorite salad – haha!

Meal 2: One-Pan Black Bean & Poblano Quesadillas with Lemon Crema. The moment that I saw that this recipe was in the Hall of Fame of HelloFresh recipes, I just knew that I had to try it! It appears to be a super easy yet super delicious comfort food AND probably something that I will eat ALLL of before I head to bed the day I make it. ALSO, I feel like this will be a great The Bachelor Monday recipe, too, which is PERFECT because I get my HelloFresh boxes EVERY Monday. I am pretty sure that I will top this recipe off with none other than some sliced avocados.

Meal 3: Shawarma Chickpea Lettuce Wraps with Israeli Salad, Pistachios, & Lemon Garlic Yogurt and Creamy Tomato Soup. A few weeks ago, Papa and I had a Middle Eastern chickpea rice bowl with salmon. Personally, I was shocked when I handed Papa this week’s recipes in a stack to look through and that was the one that he chose (he isn’t the most adventurous eater, but I am seriously the exact opposite of him – in fact, Middle Eastern and Indian and Chinese cuisines are probably my absolute favorites in the world along with pizza!) and we both LOVED it. So, when I saw this gorgeous food creation pop up in my options for this week’s menu, I could not pass it up. At the same time, I cannot wait to see how the Creamy Tomato Soup balances it all out.

Meal 4: Shrimp & Honey Miso Broccoli Donburi with Sweet Potato, Scallion Rice, & Eggs. My recipes that feel like the healthier version of Asian takeout dishes are seriously some of my HelloFresh favorites! So, I am so so so excited for this lovely creation and to make a fun rice dish yet again! Seriously y’all, HelloFresh legitimately has some of the best twists on rice and I seriously won’t cook rice from the grocery store anymore – haha!

Meal 5: Pesto Caprese Sandwiches with an Almond-Studded Green Salad. I got this lunch dish in my HelloFresh box a few weeks ago AND have been craving it ever since my last box. Not only am I craving the sandwich, BUT I am also craving that gorgeously delicious and healthy salad, too.

Meal 6: Vanilla Delight Cheesecakes & Chocolate Lava Cakes. Not really a meal BUT it is a great Valentine’s Day treat for me and my Papa – who, I am by the way spending Valentine’s Day with this year!

Here’s to another great week with some pretty great meals. Also, it’s the week of Valentine’s Day, SO here is your public service announcement to treat yourself to a delicious meal and something sweet too – you deserve it!

XOXO – Katie <3

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What I Learned from Overcommitment in College

So, if you know me from my college days, then you know that I was the QUEEN of overcommitment. YES, I did SO many things in college (read it all here!) and – trust me – I LOVED every minute of it all, too. Although I did love love love my overcommitment college years, it also had its pitfalls: I most definitely spent many nights up until 3am, worked nonstop, and some all-nighters in the mix. My life in college consisted of work, blogging, committee meetings, social outings, and coffee all in between it all. My life in college contains some of my best memories. BUT, since graduating from college, y’all, I have been TIRED now more than ever before – LOL! The affects of being a workaholic in college are not what I need in my postgraduate years, especially as my priorities will shift when I fulfill my hopeful aspirations of becoming a married working Mama. So, I’m going to be sharing some key takeaways from my years of overcommitting in college.

  1. Sleep is VITAL – When in college, I literally complained to my good friend Claire one night about how I hated sleep – LOL! Seriously, this ACTUALLY happened as I wanted more time to do everything that I had to do without being tired, I mean, same. BUT, as Claire said back to me, “sleep is good.” Yes, sleep is good and always will be. We ALL need sleep even if it is just for a few hours each night. Y’all I rarely listened to my body in college and we have to. Our self care, including SLEEP, is vital to our successes in our career, personal lives, and of course of our physical and mental health.
  2. Prioritize – Yep, when it comes to deciding what you want to get involved in, prioritizing is KEY. Yep – when choosing involvement I definitely learned that I need to pick and choose what I’m most passionate about and what will suit my strengths, MEANWHILE, at the same time, deciding what fits into my schedule given my own personal commitments. For me, nowadays, that is 2-3 things on a regular basis with events related to other interests spread out over the months/year. Personally, being overcommitted kept me going in college as it allowed me to utilize my strengths outside of the classroom in a way that I was also passionate about along with my academics. However, as I got out of college and being wayyy too overcommitted during those days, I have learned that there is only so much that I can do with my time.
  3. Mental Health MATTERS – You know that phrase, “you can’t pour from an empty glass”? Well, we ALL need that valuable time to recharge ourselves and focus on our mental health. Above all else, your mental health matters. I used to break down mentally quite a bit in college. Sadly, I never really knew how to prioritize myself much in college. BUT, as I get out into the real world and am working for a company that truly sees the importance of self care, I find it now more important to take care of myself now more than ever before. I have seen some of my coworkers even take mental health days off, as it is ENCOURAGED. It felt nothing but empowering and rewarding to be able to work at a company that so truly values their employees and their wellbeing. Meanwhile, I also feel now more than ever before that I have to put myself first – above ALL of my extracurriculars and activities and work that I do.
  4. Full Time Jobs are MORE Time Demanding than a Single College Course – While in college, I was in classes usually starting at 10am and ending at 3:30pm with SEVERAL breaks in between that whole mix. That being said, I probably spent 4 hours maybe 5 hours per day in classes while in college. In retrospect, that is NOT a lot of hours. I spent 15-18 hours maximum in a class each week. Nowadays, I do a 40 hour work week as a full time employee. There is a MAJOR difference between getting involved in many extracurriculars and having 18 hours spent in the classroom versus getting involved in many extracurriculars and having 40 hours spent in the classroom. I barely feel awake sometimes after a full day of hard work, yet those are the most rewarding days! So, try adding in 8+ extracurricular activities atop of it all. Well, I think not!
  5. Work comes FIRST – Not going to lie, there were times where I definitely prioritized my committees and extracurricular work over my own schoolwork. While my schoolwork was why I came to college, I also LOVED my activities which kept me overcommitted during those years. I most definitely put my college life and activities first. BUT, I have learned through overcommitment that you do have to put your work first above all else at times. When I say this, I am NOT by any means saying that if you need to take time for yourself, whether to have a mental health day, need a sick day, or even a family matter, then do so and please do it to take care of yourself. BUT there are times that you will not want to show up for a meeting for work, go into the office, or something else, but you need to for your job and for your commitments made. I have always been taught to honor my commitments when I make them. It shows value and true integrity. Remember that.

Above all else, being an overcommitted college student taught me A LOT. It taught me the value of a hard work’s day, to prioritize my work, to feel rewarded by my way, and to truly take care of me. Sometimes, me does come before anything else and that is OKAY. Remember that, y’all.

XOXO – Katie <3

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Four Weeks of HelloFresh

Four times the charm, I guess! This week marks *surprise* my fifth week of HelloFresh. So, that being said, I have four weeks to reflect on of being a proud HelloFresh subscriber. Each day, I post on my Instagram stories my cooking experiences with HelloFresh (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!). In case you’re wondering, I have the 4 meals a week plan with 2 servings PLUS I order some staples for lunch, such as their sandwiches, salads, and fun little toasts, too via the HelloFresh market. My new favorite staple is their oat latte’s which are PERFECT for a healthy pick me up during the work day FULL of hustling. Now, let’s get into my four weeks of HelloFresh reflection!

*Disclaimer: Now, before I get into the meat of this post, it is in NO way being sponsored by Hello Fresh.*

*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.*

How do you get free Hello Fresh meals? Get $120 off your first Hello Fresh box(es) when your order using this link: https://www.hellofresh.com/pages/share?c=HS-7N1HD4BXO&utm_campaign=clipboard&utm_couponvalue=120&utm_invitername=Kate&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=raf-share

So, initially, when I started HelloFresh I was hesitant. I have ALWAYS BEEN a sucker for selecting my own meals based on my weekly cravings. Usually, my weekly cravings were 9 times out of 10 food items that are SO bad for me. That being said, I was so worried I would miss out on my cravings and perhaps have some FOMO. One of the main reasons I started HelloFresh was to begin the process of clean and healthier eating AND have the sheer convenience of my meals sent right to my door perfectly portioned for dinner for me and Papa and/or dinner for myself and lunch the next day. I have to say, though, HelloFresh has BLOWN me away! ALLLL of my hesitations have seriously been silly little worries in the scheme of it all.

When creating my weekly menus pre-my HelloFresh days, I used to take HOURS of overthinking and stressing just to create a simple weekly menu. If you know me, then you know that I am a major PLANNER and spend HOURS obsessing and planning over everything. However, with HelloFresh, I can be a lot less obsessive and a bit compulsive and simply stick to four great meals each week pre-prepped and all complete with some amazing recipes to try, too. Needless to say, my life has been made so much easier, as I just log onto the HelloFresh app, select what I want, and make sure that everything is in my set grocery budget for the week. ALSO, the more boxes you order, the more rewards you get too. My best friends Hannah and Alanna and I have each been ordering HelloFresh weekly in our respective households and we chat about it ALL THE TIME. Hannah and I both got a mini cheesecake as a reward for our fourth box aka the box with the first reward inside. Not to mention, my grocery store trips are made SO MUCH easier AND y’all know I love a good Giant and Food Lion run, too! Moreover, my life has been mad SO MUCH EASIER ever since starting HelloFresh.

A few weeks ago when I had just started using HelloFresh, my best guy friend Wyatt came over and said “I can tell you’re much happier since starting HelloFresh”. He knew that because I’m someone who really takes advantage of the highlight reel that social media is. I mean, if you follow me on social media, then you never really see me go through the emotions. It’s SO SO SO easy to simply share the highlights in our lives on social media. But, through it all, I was struggling with what I ate, where it came from, and it was all taking a tool on my emotional and physical health. BUT, HelloFresh has really helped me be my best self and has made myself feel oh so much better both emotionally and physically.

Now, above all else, you MAY just be wondering whether or not I will continue to use HelloFresh moving forward. For me, it is a most definite YES! The food is easy and fun to cook ALSO cooking is a GREAT mental break from this so called thing known as life – haha!!! – and I feel a lot better physically and mentally since getting it. My life has been so much more simplified and I feel a lot better overall since becoming a regular HelloFresh user. 11/10 for sure!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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