February 2022 - Page 2 of 2 - The Pink Chickadee

5 Ways to Show Yourself Some Love this Valentine’s Day

The other day, I was talking with my friends about Valentine’s Day. Each of us are fellow proud single women who love ourselves for who we are and watch one another grow on a regular basis. To their surprise, I celebrate Valentine’s Day in full swing as a proud single woman and utilize this holiday solely for loving ME! Valentine’s Day has historically been a couple’s-only holiday and a day to exchange candy cards in elementary school with your fellow classmates. It has ALWAYS been a day that is used to love on others around us and most definitely significant others and it should continue to be that way, BUT it should also be a great opportunity to show ourselves some love, too. So, today, I have listed out 5 ways that ALL of us can show ourselves love this Valentine’s Day.

Schedule an appointment to get some pampering done because YOU deserve it! – About a week ago, I scheduled a hair appointment the week of Valentine’s Day to get some much-desired highlights. While I rarely go out and get any type of pampering done, I feel so much better personally when I do. It is definitely an investment, so I don’t do it much, but I think that’s why it is such a treat when I take the time and set aside the money for some pampering for myself and myself only!
Enjoy a nice workout – Whether it be a walk, trip to the gym, or a run, whatever it may be for you, getting some good olde exercise in is always beneficial for the soul. Confessions: I am most definitely ONE that is the worst at scheduling in the time for a workout. That’s why, I have an OrangeTheory membership, as I schedule accordingly and loose a class allotted in my monthly plan if I don’t show up once I do schedule it. Enough of me rambling – haha! Needless to say, I always always always feel amazing when I do make the time for a workout and after I workout.
Invest in an item on your wishlist (money permitting) – Valentine’s Day is an excellent time to invest in an item on your wishlist that has remained on it for some time now. Last week, I *finally* ordered the Lilly Pulitzer Annaleese shift in Boatylicious, after refraining from buying it for months. It was low in stock at Saks Fifth Avenue, and I felt like I had hit the jackpot. Although an investment, I knew that I had been saving up a lot of my money and knew that it was time to treat myself some, too.
Reorganize your living space – Yep, you heard me right! Reorganizing pockets of your living space is such an excellent way to truly show yourself some love. Just like a workout, I ALWAYS feel reignited when I take a few moments here and there to simply reorganize my own space, given the things that I already have at home and on hand. It is free AND actually relaxing and can easily be done for a few minutes each day, too!
Cook/Bake a New Recipe in the Kitchen – If you know me, then you know that I LOVE spending some sweet time in my sweet sweet kitchen. On my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!), I consistently share the recipes that I cook, which have most recently been via HelloFresh – a worthy investment that I got my good friends Hannah and Alanna hooked on, too! I always love to cook something for myself and even have pushed myself to on many occasions when I haven’t felt like it and TRUST me, having a great meal at the end of a cooking rainbow is like hitting the jackpot!

Above all else, remember to love yourself this Valentine’s Day season. Life gets CRAZY and there are many times that we forget to take time for ourselves – we have work, families, friends, and so much more in our hands. It’s ALL valid. Self love is some of the the best love, too!

XOXO – Katie <3

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My Current Wishlist!

You may see it and like it, but you want it and have YET to get it! Sometimes, I find it SO fun to share some of the products currently on my wish list. Some of the items on my wishlist I will probably purchase over time and others I will probably not purchase at all. A LOT of the items on this list either have to do with two things – investment products for practicality that I plan to use A TON (aka the Lilly Pulitzer Market Tote, since Washington DC area has a five cent bag fee currently enact) or as a major treat yourself (Badgley Mischka pumps anyone?! They’re also my dream wedding shoe, too, so I’m probably going to wait a bit on that one) or are from me browsing and saying “oh this is so cute but I need to think on it more before committing via opening up my wallet” for my upcoming Charleston, South Carolina trip in April-May along with probably multiple beach trips this summer to Delaware. Well, enough of me rambling and let’s get to some fun browsing!

*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.*

As always, my wish list changes and alters itself over time. Now, I’m wondering what’s on YOUR wishlist?!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Affordable Pantry Organization

New year, same pantry just with a FEW updates! LOL – yep I changed up my pantry after a few months in my new apartment. As it goes for most folks, the more groceries I accumulated, the more cluttered it all got. So, I added in a few new little updates to my pantry to make it much more functional for myself and my day to day needs. However, I did NOT take any before photos because CRINGE – LOL!!

SO, my pantry pretty much looks the same since first got it – the same Dollar Tree and Amazon cubbies are present. BUT, I added in some plastic rolling drawers to fill my ever-growing wine glass collection and mug collection – brought to you by my Dollar Tree and thrifting obsessions and my several friends and family members who know how much I enjoy a *very very very* occasional glass of wine (I rarely drink nowadays) and of course my ever-evolving daily addiction to coffee -, a rolling white cart (yes, this is the white version of the hot pink cart that was on my Christmas list – written here!) to store my snacks (which, by the way had NO where else to go!), and a gorgeous grip-friendly Rae Dunn area rug fit for a kitchen. Luckily, I was able to add in some Dollar Tree platters that I bought back in the summer as great organization pieces for both my rolling drawers set and my rolling white cart. The floral bucket atop of the rolling plastic drawers is a thrifted find and one of my favorite pantry assets!

Overall, while a simple pantry update that was mostly brought to you by extra things laying around in my pantry, a thrift store/Home Goods run on a budget, and Christmas 2021 (shoutout to Dad on that one!!), it was still super fun to do and spruce up a bit, especially with several things that I already had on hand.

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The Life of Katie + My Favorite Kitchen Essentials!

Adaptation and embracing the change are my two keywords at the moment, especially when moving into 2022! In 2021, I graduated back in May from Meredith College – officially ending my undergraduate college years. Since then, adjusting to post-graduate life has been a whirlwind of emotions and changes. Needless to say, it has been tough and I had a tough 6 months, like many that are recent college graduates do when first out in the real world. It sucked. BUT, I have been striving to set goals to make amends and adapt to life in the postgraduate world as, essentially, an adult. Today’s Life of Katie! is ALL about those changes that I have been and am continuing to be making moving into month 2 of 2022.

Professional goal setting – My company PRIDES on setting goals and achieving them over time, given that they are realistic and knowing what life may bring in our personal lives. When my personal life felt like it was up in flames after graduation, it was HARD to get on my feet professionally or simply feel as if I could. BUT, professional goal setting is something that not only my company requires for every employee at the start of each year *we LOVE that*, but also something I strive for personally. When I have something to aim for in the future, that helps me be my best self and enjoy the present.
Getting back into the church groove – One of the main things that I want to do in 2022 is make attending church a regular weekly activity. I used to attend church regularly in high school and LOVED my high school church (which happens to be the same one by my house in Washington, DC!). Church was a HUGE part of my high school life and, after graduating from college, I realized how much I missed it and want it apart of my life as a postgraduate. The community, while quite different people wise from 2017, still has the same foundation that it had when I moved down to North Carolina and many of the same folks there to this day. The community there is PRICELESS. Unfortunately, due to the Omicron variant, my church going days have been a bit delayed, BUT I want to strive to make a more consistent effort to attend more in the New Year. I am also starting a class at my church on getting to dig deeper into my Christian faith, actually starting today. Perhaps, you may be reading this while I am there!!
HelloFresh – This week, I am getting my fourth HelloFresh box in the mail! If you have been following me on Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee), then you have probably witnessed my continuous sharing of my HelloFresh recipes and meals on the *well, almost* daily. I have LOVED getting to enjoy new and unique meals that are also super healthy, too. I am also a major The Bachelor fan and one of the contestants, Elizabeth Corrigan (who I am a HUGE fan of!), shared how clean eating has helped her manage her anxiety disorder (something I also struggle with on a similar wavelength). Since starting HelloFresh, I have actively seemed out better food options AND felt so so so much better mentally, too. Knowing that others feel similarly is a great feeling!
Treating myself – I have been striving to spend less and save more in 2022. However, I somehow made an effort this past week to treat myself more than ever before. I customized my Spring 2022 FabFitFun box with MANY extra treats (including boxes from my FAVORITE new tea brand – Vadham!), I shopped the Tuckernuck Sample Sale for some classic workwear and comfort staples, and *FINALLY* got ahold of the Lilly Pulitzer Analeese midi dress which I found in my size in low stock at Saks Fifth Avenue online (check out Annalisese of Southern Belle in Training rocking that new dress of mine here)! This year, I have been one to struggle with treating myself, BUT I find it as a great once in a while way to show yourself some love.
New friends & many new memories in the Washington, DC area – Since moving to the Washington, DC area just DAYS after graduating from college, it took months to process it all. Not going to lie, it was TOUGH, but now I am more than ready to get back on my feet and enjoy my brand-new city. Needless to say, I am SO SO excited to be living in the Washington, DC area and am super psyched to explore more in this area, too. I have met some great new connections through work, professional societies, and blogging. I am oh so excited to be able to make even more this year, too.

My Favorite Kitchen Essentials!

Since starting to cook more with HelloFresh, I have started to LOVE my kitchen now more than ever before. So, I am sharing ALL of my kitchen essentials – those that I use and love on a regular basis.

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