The Reality of College Friendships Post-Graduation

Flash back to August 2017. I had moved into my college dorm at Meredith College, which I am a proud alumnae of and LOVE to brag about on my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!) and met A TON of people, all of which I considered to be my besties. Overwhelmed with excitement and giddy about how fast my social life had blossomed and tremendously grown in the blink of one night in my mattress pad-covered dorm bed, I couldn’t wait to make more and more besties the next day. These besties of mine that I had met at college, whether through Facebook (yes – I was THAT girl who introduced herself to and added EVERYONE on Facebook from my incoming Freshmen class Facebook group the months before moving in), socials arranged by on-campus organizations, orientation, or simply in the dining hall, I saw myself as becoming besties with my brand-new besties and remaining besties forever. Flash forward 5 years to summer 2022. I am oh so grateful for the relationships and friendships that I have established. BUT, my list of besties from college is nowhere near what I thought it would be one year out of college.

In college, we meet ALL kinds of people. I met people from small towns in North Carolina, big cities in North Carolina (such as Charlotte, Raleigh, and Winston Salem), other Southern states including Florida, Tennessee, and Georgia, and everywhere in between. My eyes were truly open to the vast diversity of people within the state of North Carolina and the South as a whole. A few weeks after I moved in my Freshmen year, I went on a trip with other Meredith College classmates of mine to Savannah, Georgia. My Sophomore year a group of us went to Washington, DC. My Junior year, a group of us went to Charleston, South Carolina. I also studied abroad in Sansepolcro in Tuscany, Italy and London, England and even San Ignacio in the rainforest region of Cayo, Belize. I was able to see the world around me and learn from it right with my Meredith College classmates. I met several people from several different backgrounds from all across the globe. Many of those folks became my besties and played a strong role in my college experience, too.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, my college social world felt as if it was over as I then knew it. Pre-COVID-19, I hosted multiple dinner parties each month. At one point in time, I even had over 30 people and a dog in my tiny tiny tiny apartment at once on a Wednesday night. I went out to lunch, breakfast, dinner, coffee, and all of the above ALL THE TIME. I participated in ALLL the Meredith College committees, events both on and off campus, and even local Raleigh events. I even spent HOURS each week in between my classes sitting at a table in the Student Union helping to sell shirts for both class and club fundraisers as well as events, alike. I saw everyone, socialized with everyone, got pictures with everyone, and dressed to the 9’s in my good olde Katie preppy style. Life felt good and then when COVID-19 hit, it wasn’t. I had LOTS of friends that I saw day in and day out, many of which I lost touch with and grew apart from during the pandemic.

To my surprise, the pandemic was the first of many waves of distancing from many of my so-called besties. During the COVID-19 pandemic, my apartment roommate moved back home, so it was just me in our apartment. I feared being alone, but once I faced that fear, I *surprise* actually LOVE and embrace being alone from time to time. When I faced my fear of being alone, I also started to truly work on loving myself. I treated myself with better care and kindness and continue to to this day. Working on myself so much made me realize that some of those friends of mine were not truly friends of mine for the long haul. Many of my college friends would call me only to ask for favors or check-in’s (for context: I regularly checked in on college friends during the pandemic that I rarely saw) would only come from me and not from them as well. On the flip side, I had several college friends who we would only use our memories for show aka for the social media post, but not much for the friendship. Looking back on some of my college friendships, I felt stressed around some of those I’d hang out with in ensuring I got the perfect picture to post, had the perfect outfit, and went to every social outing. There was NO foundation to our friendship and many of those friends I couldn’t even think of one reason why I was their friend than for social outings and social media. It made me realize that I deserved more in the friendships that I invested in moving forward.

They say the more you work on yourself, the more people you let go. That rings true to friendships of ALL kinds. When I broke up with my abusive ex and got out of that toxic relationship and ultimately chose myself, I lost many of our then-mutual friends and those in our community that supported and admired our relationship. Only a few people stuck around and made sure I was okay after the breakup. I had a lot of support from those in my community who truly cared for me and wanted simply the best for me. The rest left and the break up truly was one of the first experiences that made me realize who was truly in my corner at ALL times. Similarly speaking, when I moved to Washington, DC post-college graduation, many of my then-friends became a distant memory. Some friends checked in and others didn’t. To some friends, I left and wasn’t coming back to Raleigh, so I was a distant friend from a past world, and to others, I was still their friend that they checked in on and wanted to see when we were both in the same city. Some of these friends just moved on like I left and never looked back. I realized that I deserved and do deserve MORE. Others made the effort to check-in and reunite when we were together. Those are the friends that I still have in my corner. We have travelled together and some have even come to visit me. They are also the ones the I see whenever I come to Raleigh. Friendships are a two-way street. I realized that if I want to maintain a friendship with someone that I deserve a friendship where both parties make an effort to keep in touch for more than just a tag in a post on Instagram.

There were some college friendships that I felt heartbroken to loose and eventually grow apart from. I grieved. I was distraught. I fought hard to keep those friendships alive even when I knew that I was better off without them. These were the people that I never wanted to loose. They were the friends that I envisioned at my wedding, baby shower, and planning college reunion trips with decades down the line. I envisioned having these friends in my life for, well, life. Looking back at some of these friendships though, a lot of the friends that I am not in touch with to this day from college, I didn’t turn to them when I needed them most. Instead, I turned to the college friends that I still am super blessed to have in my life to this day. But, I instead, decided that the friendship was not worth saving. College friendships are HARD to maintain post-graduation. When everyone is dispersed in different cities, working jobs at different companies in different industries, and simply living lives very different from one another and not within an elevator’s or hall’s reach to one another, things change. More and more effort takes place when we live farther apart from each another. It’s life and it’s NORMAL.

Although some college friendships don’t last far out of the college years, others will and others will even grow more after college, too. I’ve learned over time to focus on those that DO care for me and the friends that I DO have. There’s so much joy that I have for the friends that I DO have to this day from college and beyond. We can look back and laugh on our college memories and grow together, even when we live far apart from one another. I have also grown connections with those from college that I wasn’t as close to during my college years, especially in recent times. It’s funny how the stars align that way sometimes. Sometimes we drift apart from those that we weren’t meant to have in our lives, but we grow closer to those who are meant to be in our lives long term. Those bonds are such a special thing, too. Even more special than those bonds once there but not anymore.

While my Freshmen year college self would LOVE to see a whole wedding guest list full of my besties from college of group chats in my text messages to this day, I truly have friendships that I can focus on more so and make it worth the time and investment, too. I have grown as a person and so have all of my besties from Freshmen year of college. Remember, that while you may fear and feel sadness towards loosing some college friendships, you also will gain so much more from the one’s that will remain and are to come.

XOXO – Katie <3

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The Washington, DC Temple Limited-Time Open House

Earlier this weekend, I shared on Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!) about my family’s and I’s adventures to the Washington, DC Mormon Temple. I have personally been interested by the Mormon religious faith and have met many friendly people who are Mormon throughout my life. So, when the Washington, DC Mormon Temple had its first-ever open house in almost 50 years, we couldn’t not take the chance to visit it!

Built in 1974, the Washington, DC Temple is the biggest Mormon faith-based temple in the United States, located in Kensington, Maryland just outside of the nation’s capital. Its purpose is to serve as a temple basis for those who identify as Mormon religiously East of the Mississippi River. There are several Mormon faith-based temples across Utah such as in Salt Lake City and beyond and in Los Angeles, California. Yet, these Mormon-based temples are a lot smaller than the Washington, DC Temple that serves a much larger population of people. These smaller temples across Utah and even in Los Angeles serve their population’s needs well, too. Fun fact: over 80% of all people who religiously identify as Mormon live within 50 miles of a Mormon-based temple. It’s super cool to think that the largest Mormon-based temple in the United States is right in my own city.

Visiting the Washington, DC temple was a super neat experience. When we arrived and parked, we were immediately greeted by friendly faces all around, both volunteers of the Mormon faith from all across the country and visitors alike. We walked throughout all 6 floors of the temple with options to take both the stairs and the elevators. The stained glass along the stairwell were extremely stunning, too, and it was super cool to look down and see the Baptism tub at the very bottom of the stairwell. We also saw the Sealing Room where wedding ceremonies take place in the presence of both family and friends, with the Bride and Groom facing one another surrounded by mirrors to represent “eternity” together, and uniting their family and friends together as one. To me, it is a beautiful thing and concept.

At the same time, we saw absolutely STUNNING paintings that embody many aspects of the Mormon religious faith. Not to mention, the temple’s interior designs were recently renovated for the first time since its 1974 construction and was BREATHTAKING! Although you cannot take pictures of the interiors while visiting, which makes for a true immersion into the visitation of the temple and learning about the Mormon faith without distractions of cell phones and technology, you can view photos of it all and learn more about the Washington, DC Temple and Mormon religious faith here: https://dctemple.org/galleries/temple-interior/

Luckily for y’all, there’s STILL time to go and visit! The Washington, DC Temple is open to visitors now until June 11. ALL tickets are FREE and they are reserved by a parking or shuttle ticket, which means that yes, you can bring as many people in a car as you like. Tickets are to be reserved online in advance, though. You can reserve your tickets here: https://dctemple.org/open-house/

XOXO – Katie <3

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Preppy Memorial Day Weekend Sales Going on NOW

If you know me, then you know that I LOVE a good sale. On my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee), I occasionally share my hauls with items from several of my favorite preppy brands. This weekend, I do not plan to shop any, as I have shopped a lot in recent times and want to focus a bit more on saving. However, that doesn’t mean that I won’t be enjoy the sales at a window shopping level, instead. So, let’s begin to at minimum admire the adorable preppy Memorial Day Weekend sales going on 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.*

I am personally loving the current sales going on this Memorial Day. If I were to choose to shop this weekend, I would definitely be getting a few Lilly Pulitzer pieces (specifically from the North Carolina destination print!) this weekend for one or two or even three of those adorable tumblers at a Gift with Purchase. At the same time, I would probably get a piece or two from the Draper James RSVP collection at Kohl’s. I actually went to my local Kohl’s this past week to scope out a few of the pieces in-person. I have personally been hesitant to purchase a piece, since I didn’t know the quality of them. But, to my surprise, the items I saw at my local Kohl’s were amazing quality just like any Draper James item sold at their very own storefronts. My satin green smock dress pictured at the top of this post is Nanette Nanette Lepore and one that I got at Marshall’s. Nanette Nanette Lepore’s smock dresses are one of my favorites sold by the brand and will probably be on sale both online and in stores at local Marshall’s, TJ Maxx’s, and also online, too. And, last but not least, if you’re a Kendra Scott fan, then this is the weekend to stock up on some gorgeous jewelry finds!!

Happy sale shopping IF you choose to shop!

XOXO – Katie <3

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How I Packed for Study Abroad

I got a few questions asked on my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee) in the past few months about how I packed for my summers studying abroad back in college. So, for context, I studied abroad when I was in college for a month in Sansepolcro, Italy (a small town in Tuscany about 90 minutes from Florence), London, England (AND stayed in Kensington Square right by the home of Prince William and Kate Middleton of Kensington Palace!!!), and San Ignacio, Belize (a small town located in the rainforest region of Belize AND just steps away from the Cahal Pech Mayan Ruins). I spent a month in both Italy and London and approximately 3 weeks in Belize. That all being said, I learned A LOT about packing and how to pack for being away from home for two months at a time (Italy and London was a back to back month-by-month program) AND living out of one suitcase for it all, too.

Luggage – when it came to luggage, my Dad bought me a set of Caribbean Blue Travel Pro suitcases (a carry on and larger bag to check) when I graduated from high school. That summer after I graduated from high school, I travelled to Bulgaria and Greece for two weeks and my Dad wanted me to have a set of high-quality suitcases for my upcoming travels, as he knew that Bulgaria and Greece would be the first of many trips for me. Indeed, he was NOT wrong – haha! So, that being said, definitely INVEST in high-quality luggage before studying abroad and traveling a ton. I would suggest for study abroad bringing a large enough suitcase under 50 pounds (the challenge for sure) to check and put a smaller duffel bag in that checked bag for weekend trips which you WILL take as well as to HAUL all of the souvenirs that you buy, too – if you’re me then this is necessary. At the same time, definitely get luggage tags, too, so you can easily identify your luggage at ALL times. The same goes for passport covers since every United States passport looks the same on the outside.

Clothing – Research the climate of the place(s) that you are going to be studying abroad in and/or KNOW that you will be visiting while abroad. Study the climate for the approximate dates that you are going to be there (a basic Google search can give you information!). If you are going to London, for example, you may want to bring a pair of rain boots or buy a pair there to save luggage space. Yes, Hunter Boots and Doc Martins ARE cheaper in England than they are here. The same concept goes for leather goods in Tuscany and Longchamp bags across all of Europe. At the same time, be sure to think of some of the outfits that you may want to pack, given the sites that you will be seeing. I know for me, that I like to wear certain things to certain places (such as an elegant dress for a river cruise in Paris) or a shawl and maxi dress to cover my shoulders and knees in an Italian cathedral (as per the dress code there). You also want to bring as many pieces that can be interchangeably styled/worn multiple times and with different things (think along the lines of a capsule wardrobe). For me, that meant a lot of solid tops with printed skirts and both solid and printed dresses. Accessories can ALSO make an outfit unique and are super light, too. Luckily, most home bases for study abroad have laundry facilities which are worthwhile using while there at least on a weekly basis. The following are tips for packing clothing wisely:

  • Roll all garments – that way, you can fit more things in your suitcase
  • Use packing squares – trust me, they are my best friend when I travel and SO convenient and portable for when packing, too
  • Use zippered pouches for non-clothing items, such as jewelry – that way, they are sealed and not visible to the common eye. I usually use my Ipsy pouches, bright The Dollar Tree pouches, and Stoney Clover Lane pouches
  • Organize clothing by color, type of garment (e.g. dresses, pants, tops, etc.) – it’ll be MUCH easier to find everything when you unpack everything upon arrival
  • Pack anti-wrinkle spray and Tide To Go – so, clothing items that are prone to wrinkling during the trip abroad will be LESS wrinkly when you unpack and hang them up AND all of those wine stains can come out before laundry day approaches

Shoes – In case you didn’t hear it from me, PACK A PAIR OF COMFORTABLE SHOES!!! You will be walking a ton. Whatever those shoes may be for you, make sure they are comfortable BEFORE you leave the country. I bought a pair of Crocs flip flops that I thought would be comfortable, only to wear them throughout two Italian towns and suffering from PLENTY of blisters throughout the day. So, to my surprise, I ended up wearing my already broken in Classic Jacks Jack Rogers sandals. I also regularly wore an adorable classic pair of Elie Tahari flats – sadly, I ripped those to their inner core, but they were beautiful and already broken into while abroad.

Toiletries – This is something that you can easily purchase when you’re actually abroad. Many countries sell the same toiletries or at minimum similar toiletry products to what you can find in the United States. These toiletries include – shampoo, conditioner, makeup remover, soap, body wash, lotion, and much more. Italy has a Lush store that I bought a lot of shower essentials from as well as the grocery store in Sansepolcro and the local convenience store in London known as Boots. I did bring my own makeup products and skincare products, as my skin is sensitive. BUT, I did only bring one versatile eyeshadow palette which was an accomplishment for me for two months. I also brought my own haircare products, too. TRUST ME, all of those toiletries take up a ton of weight in your luggage, so it’s definitely worth just getting what you need while abroad instead and throwing out before you leave (definitely buy what you need for the time you’re there, too).

Technology – Make sure to bring your phone, laptop, headphones, cameras, Air Pods, chargers, cords, plugs, and all other necessary devices while abroad. As for chargers, make sure you buy at least 2 adaptable plugs to the outlets within the country that you’re going to be studying in. EVERY country is different and most outlets differ by continent. My Mom bought me two plugs off of Amazon that I use to this day. Amazon is definitely the way to go to buy, but be sure to look up reviews, too. Definitely pack all technology-related items in your carry on when you board the plane, too.

Medicine – Make sure that you have at least a 90 day supply of all needed medications before you go abroad. Trust me, you never know what could happen and you want to be prepared. I always like to keep my medications in a sealed pouch that is not clear that way nobody knows the medications that I take. At the same time, it’s important to carry a doctor’s note for all prescribed drugs that you are taking, too, because you literally never know when you’ll need it. Put these medications in your carry on when you board the plane as well. ALL 90 days. Trust me.

To read about my study abroad experiences, look no further than the following posts:

Now that you’re packed, it is the time to go live out your study abroad dreams!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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The Life of Katie!

Long time, no life of Katie. Life has been crazy since my last Life of Katie blog post. Unfortunately, my mental health has been struggling since I turned 23. Surprisingly enough, May has always been a good month for me besides it being my Birthday month (my Birthday is May 1) – I graduated from college, watched my best friends graduate from college, celebrated several accomplishments of mine and others’, moved to Washington, DC, and even got my first-ever designer Kate Spade bag (something I had DREAMED of for years before) during the month of May. But, this month has proven to be different than past years. It hasn’t been easy this month, but this month has taught me a lot, too. On the flip side, there have been some blessings this month as well.

  • Cancelled trip to Boston turned into shopping spree – So, I shared on my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!), that I recently cancelled my trip to Boston. I was planning to visit my cousin which is something I’ve wanted to do for YEARS now. The reasoning behind my trip cancellation was due to the high COVID-19 rates in the Boston area, as I live with my grandfather whom I call Papa. However, despite cancelling my trip to Boston and the disappoint that it caused me, it worked out for the better. I am planning to go back to Boston with my best friend Hannah (whose going to also visit her family up there, too!) and go when it is safer COVID-19 wise, too. We will also see our mutual Meredith College friend Miranda who is at Optometry school in Boston, too, and happened to be out of town when I was planning to be there. At the same time, I decided to treat myself over the weekend with a mini shopping spree to Home Goods, Target, 2nd Avenue thrift store, Marshall’s, The Christmas Tree Shops, Kendra Scott, and Jack Rogers. Well, maybe not a mini shopping spree – haha! Some of my finds include – Sam Edelman dress, Lilly Pulitzer cooler, Flamingo tiered basket, Flamingo basket, Washington, DC framed print, “DC is my Happy Place” decorative block, Nanette Nanette Lepore business casual dresses, J McLaughlin flats, Flamingo Tumbler, Pineapple Sprinkler (courtesy of the Target Dollar Spot!), and a floppy straw beach hat. Needless to say, it was such GREAT therapy 🙂
  • Planning 2022 road trips – For the time being, I am going to stick to road trips. In just a few weeks, my best friend from New Jersey – Amanda – is coming to visit me down in Washington, DC. Next month, my Papa and best friend Bree and I are all going to the Delaware beaches where our best friend Alanna will ALSO happen to be that same exact long weekend. Papa and I are planning a road trip to Maine and Canada this summer. This will be my first time abroad since Summer 2019 when I went to Belize, and I am SUPER excited to explore some parts of Canada that I’ve always wanted to see. As for this Fall, I have a trip to Charleston, South Carolina; Okoboji, Iowa; Greenville, North Carolina; and Raleigh, North Carolina all on the horizon (well, as of right now!). And, there will be a road trip to Charlotte, North Carolina; Annapolis, Maryland; Asheville, North Carolina; Raleigh, North Carolina; and even New Jersey in between it all!
  • Redecoration for summer – With my vacation turned shopping spree behind me, I, then, went over to do some redecoration in areas of my apartment that I had *surprise* yet decorated. My dining area needed some much needed renovations via my bar cart and dresser in the dining room. It was nice to be able to deck my place ALL out. That area of my apartment used to be CLUTTER CENTRAL & it felt SO SO SO good to be able to add some extra pizzaz to it all!
  • Loving Starbucks’ new Chocolate Cream Cold Brew – So, if you know me, then you know that I LOVE Starbucks. I mean, I spend quite a bit of money there – sorry not sorry!!! So, when Starbucks released their brand-new Chocolate Cream Cold Brew, I knew that I HAD TO try it. Turns out that I am obsessed with this drink. I have ordered it at least 4 times since it was released and I hope to even more in the coming weeks. I *even* ordered it and purchased one of Starbucks’s new oh so adorable $3 tumblers.
  • Recent thrift store haul with designer gems – Last week during my cancelled trip turned not-so-mini shopping spree, I kicked off the shopping spree with a trip to my local 2nd Avenue thrift store. In case you didn’t know, 2nd Avenue thrift store is a super thrift store chain that plays homage to several thrift stores along at least the Mid-Atlantic East Coast of the United States (there are 2 locations within about a 20 minute drive from my house in opposite directions). I haven’t been to my local 2nd Avenue since January of this year, so I was definitely due for another trip, especially with the time off! Well, I found A BUNCH of good stuff while shopping at BARGAIN prices. These great bargains include: a Lilly Pulitzer romper, Jack Rogers jelly sandals, Lilly Pulitzer vintage pants, Rabbit Rabbit Rabbit Designs chiffon midi gown, and Vera Bradley printed mug, Tommy Hilfiger business casual dress – ALLL for under $80. Needless to say, I am ECSTATIC about my scores!
  • Old Bay Goldfish obsession – Ever since I was a little girl, I have been obsessed with both gold fish (fun fact: wheat gold fish are my FAVORITE!) and Old Bay seasoning. SO, when I found out that Goldfish was launching a limited-edition Old Bay-flavored gold fish flavor, I couldn’t resist trying them! They were AMAZING!!! I even *yes even* found a recipe through my friend from college too.
Hannah’s Graduation Party with her crew!
Dinner with Shivani at Rustico in Ballston, Arlington
Pre-Graduation dinner with Bryn, Alanna, and Hannah for Hannah’s Graduation
Celebrating Hannah’s Graduation from Meredith College
Brunch with Dad in Occoquan, Virginia
My DREAM shoes!!!

With May being full of wayyyy too many hauls, including getting my DREAM Badgley Mischka heels, my FabFitFun Summer 2022 box, using my Lilly Pulitzer Birthday discount to get my Gift With Purchase pouch, and my Boston cancelled trip-turned-shopping spree, and two great weekends with my best friends Alanna and Hannah both here in Washington, DC and in Raleigh, I have felt so blessed to be able to make some great memories and enjoy the little moments in between it all. However, I am MORE than ready for June aka next week – filled with vacations, my best friend Bree moving up to Washington, DC for the summer starting June 1, my best friend Amanda visiting me, my brother Will graduating from high school, Pride in Washington, DC aka Capital Pride, and much more. Bring it ALLL on!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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My Lilly Pulitzer Gallery Wall

Be the sunshine is one of Lilly Pulitzer’s BEST mottos. And, now my gallery wall feels like sunshine 24/7! I posted on my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!) my Lilly Pulitzer Gallery Wall reveal a few weeks back. Well, I *finally* thought that I would share ALLL of the details about my Lilly Pulitzer Gallery Wall!! The best part?! I spent $0 on it and used only things that I already had on hand.

Lilly Pulitzer has been my favorite fashion brand for YEARS now *surprise!!!*. I have been purchasing and growing my Lilly Pulitzer collection for over 5 years now. My Lilly Pulitzer collection has gone with me since graduating from both high school and college, a move to North Carolina, a move to the Washington, DC area, and employment. Needless to say, I have had many great memories in the items within my ever-growing Lilly Pulitzer collection that has become super special to me. Many of my Lilly Pulitzer pieces still fit me from over the years and many also do not. Part of me could not part with getting rid of or even selling these Lilly Pulitzer pieces of mine that mean so much to me. So, I thought, why not put them on display and show them off?!

Flashback to last year when I first moved into my apartment and I decided to create a gallery wall with old photos from my college apartment down in North Carolina. Well, after about 10 months later, seeing the same prints on display from my college apartment got a bit old *confession*. However, I knew I didn’t want to spend a ton of money on so something new. On the flip side, my prints from my college apartment are apart of many memories from my college experience, including my Class of 2021 Top 10 Outstanding Seniors Award, Class of 2021 Freshmen Service & Dedication Award, Gold Star Student Leader of the Year Award, Top Student Advisor Award, Big Sis/Lil Sis painting that I made with my Big Sis at my first-ever college event that I helped host, and many many many paintings of sweet Meredith College. Don’t worry: I saved ALL of my sweet prints to have for years to come. But, I knew it was time for a change.

One of my fellow Lilly Pulitzer lovers and influencer friends Rachel (follow her @livingcolorfulilly on Instagram!) has a Lilly Pulitzer lounge in her home, which she has a gallery wall ALLL decked out in some of her many gorgeous Lilly Pulitzer collection pieces. Needless to say, Rachel’s Lilly Pulitzer lounge inspired me to deck out my own gallery wall with my Lilly Pulitzer pieces. Some of my Lilly Pulitzer pieces include: my holy grail Let’s Cha Cha shift dress, my dog printed shift dress, my flamingo printed shift dress, and my holy grail Hotty Pink First Impressions mini skirt. Most of my Lilly Pulitzer collection was bought either during one of the brand’s well-known bi-annual After Party Sales (now known as Sunshine Sales) Not to mention, I *HAD* to put my Glitter & Daisies pink bow glitter Disney ears made by my good friend Holly on display as well. At the same time, I couldn’t resist not putting my flamingo painting made by my super sweet college friend Miranda in storage. Overall, I am OH SO excited about my brand-new Lilly Pulitzer Gallery Wall, as it goes PERFECTLY with my couch all decked out in Lilly Pulitzer pillows, too!

For more preppy style & grand millennial home content, check out my Preppy Fashion & Grand Millennial Home page.

XOXO – Katie <3

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The $10 Pool Float that You Need this Summer

When in doubt, kiss a flamingo! If you know me, then you know I LOVE flamingos. On my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!), I shared A BUNCH of photos from my trip to Raleigh, North Carolina to celebrate my best friend Hannah’s Graduation from Meredith College. Hannah and her family hosted a Graduation Party at her gorgeous townhome in nearby-to-Raleigh Cary, North Carolina and invited a bunch of our mutual friends from college. And, after celebrating with cake, prosecco, and wayyyyy too much food, we all headed for Hannah’s gorgeous neighborhood pool for some fun in the sun! The weekend before I headed off to celebrate down in North Carolina, I went to Target where I found THE pool float that I think everyone needs this summer!!

*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.*

Over the years, I have ALWAYS wanted to purchase a flamingo pool float. Bloggers such as Kate from Lonestar Southern and her super fun photos over the years at the pool only inspired my desires for one. However, y’all – flamingo pool floats are NOT cheap and I rarely go to the pool, so there wasn’t a purpose for me to make the investment on one if it wouldn’t get its use in during the summer months. So, when I went to Target, I was pleasantly surprised to see a HUGE array of pool floats for $10 and under, including a flamingo float.

My $10 flamingo float was the PERFECT way to celebrate Hannah with all of our friends. Hannah was kind enough to blow up my $10 flamingo float for me and we all got plenty of use out of it, too. It was the PERFECT addition to make memories in, whether it be for photos, floating around in the pool, or for Hannah’s Dad to strike a pose in as he walked back to her townhome when we all made the trek aka walk back to her house. Overall, it was the PERFECT way to enjoy a pool day with great friends!

I have linked my flamingo float and MORE adorable floats each for $15 and under from Target to kick start your own Summer fun in the sun!

XOXO – Katie <3

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One Year Ago, I Graduated from College

Looking back, my 16 year old self would be sad that I didn’t study and have a career in fashion and currently live in New York City. My 18 year old self would be devastated that I’m currently not in a committed relationship and *surprise* am single AND fabulous. While, my 10 year old self would be thrilled that I have a beautiful closet, a dog, and travel a ton with my best friends. On Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee), I have seen so many influencers share about how their younger selves would view themselves now. I love seeing everyone’s reflections on that, too. Looking back on my life and where I thought I would be at this stage in my life now versus where I actually am are two very different stories. When I graduated from college, it was hard. Despite how hard graduating from college is, I have also adapted and grown personally in ways like never before.

I graduated from college and moved up to Washington, DC within the same weekend, it was a whirlwind of emotions. I essentially went through two big life transitions in the span of less than 48 hours. I came home to my Washington, DC area apartment and was away from all of my friends and family. I had what felt like 1,000’s of boxes filled with my college apartment belongings to unpack and arrange in the way that my own heart desired. At the same time, I also had a lot of emotions to unpack when it came to processing with my post-graduation transition emotions. I felt this deep feeling of sadness when I first graduated. It lasted for a year. I never knew just why I had felt uber sad all the time, but I did. It wasn’t until about a year later that I realized what I was feeling was grief that had yet to be processed.

After college, things change a lot, especially within the first year. When I graduated in May 2021, things were still in that COVID-19 mindset more so than they are now. I didn’t travel much the first summer after and I had moved into a place without many friends and spent a lot of time on my own not really doing much. I missed my friends from Meredith College and talked to them about every single moment of every single day. I held onto as much as I could of my college life. It went away and I moved on, though. Some of my college friends I have grown apart from and others I have grown closer to – its like a juxtaposition. It’s also a gift in a way.

Last weekend, I went to Meredith College’s graduation on campus for the Class of 2022, as my best friend Hannah graduated. It was super bittersweet and heartwarming to be back on my sweet campus that I call Wonderland. I loved getting to see some of my former professors and my Academic Advisor. I also loved getting to see friends from both the Class of 2022, fellow Class of 2021 and 2020 alums and even a few friends from the Class of 2023 and 2024. Though it was a great time to be back on sweet Meredith College grounds, I also felt as if I was beyond the Meredith College life. I loved my time at Meredith College and miss my time there dearly, but it is not where I feel I am meant to be right now as I have moved beyond my college years.

At my best friend Hannah’s Graduation party this past weekend, a lot of my friends and I discussed the things we miss and don’t miss about college life. A lot of what we missed was having all of our friends living within close proximity to us. The more than weekly dinner parties, socials, outings, and everything in between. Not to mention, we all miss having a lot of big events which are known at Meredith College as “Traditions” that we would all get super dolled up for and have wayyyy too many photo sessions. Many of us also wished we could do all of our college experiences again for the many memories that we made. At the same time, we miss living closer to one another. When people asked me how I like Washington, DC, to be honest I love where I live and do not envision myself moving back to the South at any point in time. BUT, I also miss the social life and college world a bit too – the socials that were always never-ending, the people, the professors, and the community. Socials in the post graduation world are a lot more sparse and a lot of folks that I befriended during college do not live near me. I miss it all. Though, even a year after my college graduation, I still haven’t found my community here in Washington, DC. As for what I don’t miss about college, I do not miss the consistently growing pile of schoolwork, the social drama, and the Southern way of life. The South is very very different from the North – people get into committed relationships a lot faster and it’s still extremely traditional and has been for decades in terms of its cultures and values, unlike the North. It was super duper nice to know that my friends and community from Meredith College who are also recent college graduates feel the same exact way that I do. This past weekend was needed for me, it included lots of deep conversations that were nothing other than relatable and raw. It was beautiful and perfectly the way it was meant to be for us all – needed. I am not alone and none of us are either.

There are both good things and bad things about college life and the post-graduation life. Neither is perfect. But, what I do know is that I am where I am meant to be right now in my life. As I travelled back to Washington, DC from Raleigh, North Carolina this past weekend in my little white Volvo Sedan, I spent a ton of time reflecting on the good that is to come. College days may be a distant memory for me, but my life is now just beginning. There is much to come for me and for my fellow recent college graduates in this world, too. The first few years are HARD for all of us after college and even high school (depending on the path you choose to take after high school). Entering the real world is NOT easy, and I wanted to share a peek into the raw and real side of it all – not just the pretty little pictures seen all over everyone’s social media. However, there is always good to come. As my friend Aspen and I were talking at Hannah’s Graduation party this past weekend, we both emphasized how we WILL be better off just the way we are and in stages within our lives. Things work out in the end and they always do the way they are meant to. We just have to look to the bright future ahead!

XOXO – Katie <3

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The Rain Boots I’ve Had for Years

It is hard to believe that I have worn leggings *yes, leggings* at least once since May began. It feels like the April showers have extended into May here in the Washington, DC area. On my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!), I have raved about my favorite pair of rain boots – my Hunter Boots – that I have coincidentally owned a pair of for years now. Now, I own 3 pairs of Hunter Boots in Hot Pink (featured here!), Black, and Hunter Green.

*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.*

Flashback to my high school days in approximately 2014-2016 and it to me felt like everyone was rocking a pair of adorable Hunter Boots with their North Face jackets on a gloomy day. I admired this pair of boots so much. I would see them on Pinterest styled in beautiful preppy looks, in the classroom styled with leggings and oversized sweaters, and in the hallways as I went from class to class whereas someone probably came late to class with a Starbucks latte in hand. I saw these Hunter Boots everywhere I turned and in practically every color under the sun, ranging from Black to Yellow to Red to Grey to Eggplant Purple to Hunter Green to all shades of blue and pink and everything in between. Hunter Boots also come in all sizes and silhouettes, ranging from tall boots (which are the style of each of mine!), ankle length booties, and lengths in the middle. One of my favorite bloggers and YouTubers in the fashion world at the time (and still is as she’s since expanded into primarily travel!!!) Annie Wears It (now known as Annie Fairfax) owned several pairs of Hunter Boots which only ignited my aspirations to own a pair for myself. Check out Annie Fairfax here: https://anniewearsit.com/

When Christmas 2015 rolled around, I knew that would be THE year that I purchased my own pair of Hunter Boots. I opted for the tall Black boots, since I knew that they would be a classic staple within my wardrobe for years to come. That Black Friday, I searched and searched and searched the web for a pair of tall Black Hunter Boots in my size on sale. And, somehow, I found just the pair on Amazon (which my Grandma, then, got for me as one of my Christmas gifts!!). The following March 2016, my family and I went to Chicago for Spring Break, where I styled this exact pair of Hunter Boots whether rain or shine for all of the days that I was there. I *even* wore my Black Hunter Boots for my Senior High School Homecoming game where I was crowned Homecoming Queen! Christmas 2016, my Hot Pink Hunter Boots were a sweet gift from my Grandma as she knew I practically lived in my Black Hunter Boots! And, then, I bought the Hunter Green Hunter Boots on sale when I was in London studying abroad. Fun fact: Hunter Boots is a British fashion brand!!!

Now that I have owned 3 pairs of Hunter Boots for about 4 years now and owned a pair of Hunter Boots for almost 7, I can say with true confidence that the boot has stayed consistent as my style and the fashion trends have evolved over the years. We ALLL know that fashion trends are ever-changing and it feels like one minute something is “in-style” and the next it is “out” – I am totally feeling those Heidi Klum from Project Runway vibes haha! I am also most definitely not getting rid of any of my pairs of Hunter Boots anytime soon either. The boots go great with everything, whether it be a Lilly Pulitzer top/dress, leggings, a plaid skirt, or even *yes, even* pajamas!

Hunter Boots in the Tall Boots style currently retail for $160 on the Hunter Boots website. I have also noticed over the years and more recently aka the other day that places such as DSW and Nordstrom Rack carry Hunter Boots, too. They have been nothing short of an excellent investment AND they can be purchased for much cheaper than $160 when you search or happen to simply hit the jackpot sometime as well. Shop them here: https://rstyle.me/+qyM4jS945znao-hxjqTfSQ

& a trip down memory lane!!

My Senior Year Homecoming Game
A trip to Occoquan, Virginia
Visiting The Winery at Bull Run!
Visiting Pennington, New Jersey with my friend Chris
For a blog shoot the day I announced my previous newsletter!
At the #IfThenSheCan Exhibit in March!
Styling an outfit for a campaign with Larace!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Graduation Gifts for Her

I have several friends in the Class of 2022 who I also share about on my Instagram a lot too (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!), whether they be from high school or college or even in my own family. With graduation already more than approaching for the Class of 2022, I wanted to share a few gift ideas for fellow Class of 2022 grads. For this year’s Gift Guide, I am sticking to for her, since for the men in my life who are in the Class of 2022, I am simply getting them sporting event tickets since they’re super sporty which makes it super easy for me – haha! On the same token, I have many ladies in my life who I want to honor and celebrate in the Class of 2022 that I hope I can help you celebrate those in your life as well.

*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.*

Last year, I graduated from Meredith College with a Bachelor’s of Arts in Mathematics with minors in Statistics, Website Development, and Data Science and with Honors (I am still VERY proud of my degree!!!). As someone who graduated last year, I put together two Graduation Gift Guides with a focus on those who are interested in preppy fashion/style. They are linked below for your reference:

Graduation Gifts for Her

The gifts that I put on his graduation gift guide were very intentionally put there. When I was in college, my Dad got me a Google Home that I still use to this day, and, confession have yet to add my own personalized photos to (this post may just be a reminder for me to do just that haha!). The 32 inch LG Monitor on the gift guide was something that I purchased for myself this past March to add an additional screen during my working days and may be doing again. An LG Monitor is a GREAT and super useful graduation gift for anyone, regardless of gender, when entering college or the workforce. Fun fact: my Dad bought me a 24 inch LG Monitor for my college dorm that I still use to this day. I added 3 pairs of shoes to this gift guide – the 3 which I LOVE using for work and even social outings as they’re super versatile. The first pair of shoes are my tan Tory Burch logo flats (which I also have in black and come in other colors too) which I got at the Tory Burch outlet that make for excellent all-around flats and are super comfortable. The second pair of shoes are my Vivaia Aria pointed-toe flats that I am OBSESSED with – they are super sustainably made and come in several colors, too. The third pair of shoes are my Salvatore Ferragamo Vara bow pumps in black (they also are leather and come in multiple colors, too) this pair is a splurge – retailing for over $700 – but make for an excellent investment pair for over the years. Read more about my love for my Vivaia flats here: https://pinkchickadee.com/2022/04/05/vivaia-flats-review-stylish-ethical/#/

I also linked my all-time favorite and practical tote – Longchamp Le Pilage Original Shoulder Bag in size Large – which I own in red, pink, tan (size small), coral (size small), and navy and have owned at least one that has maintained its quality and charm since 2014. My Stoney Clover Lane backpack is a favorite of mine (I got it in Bubblegum Pink – surprise!!!), especially since it has a 20 pound weight limit to help with my ongoing back issues. This backpack comes in multiple colors and is easily customizable with patches. I choose to add 3 patches to mine. One of my favorite wallets is my Kate Spade Spencer wallet – it is large and holds ALLL of my wallet necessities in a beautifully organized fashion. In terms of practicality, I *had* to add my Mr. Coffee Iced Coffee Maker and my mini Keurig machine – which both come in multiple colors – to the gift guide, as for me, coffee is a necessity, especially for either college, graduate school, or the workforce. Lastly, I added my Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer Blowout Brush which I LOVE and find perfect for the ultimate one-step glam look! Read more about my review on my Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer: https://pinkchickadee.com/2022/04/14/the-one-step-hair-dryer-that-i-love/

My best friend from college Hannah is someone that I LOVE to spoil! I actually purchased her the Cassie’s Designs monogrammed champagne flutes set in hot pink glitter and an Alice + Olivia reversible daisy printed-white bucket hat (sadly not in stock anymore) which she actually wore on the beach this past weekend and I loved seeing all of her photos (don’t worry y’all – she has already received her gift from me!!). At the same time, I gave her my pink/clear palm tree printed zip pouch from Lilly Pulitzer which came as a Gift with Purchase (confession: I ordered from Lilly Pulitzer TWICE and once from each time that this pouch was sold as a Gift with Purchase by the brand). I almost gave the Lilly Pulitzer pink/clear palm tree printed zip pouch to my best friend Alanna, but she definitely shopped the Lilly Pulitzer brand enough that I knew she could have easily already had one of her own – LOL! Like Hannah, Alanna is someone that I also LOVE to spoil. At the same time, I LOVE to spoil my best friend from college Shivani, too! I got her the “I Dissent” Ruth Bader Ginsburg-inspired t-shirt from Cassie’s Designs as well along with *of course* myself, too. If you didn’t know already, Cassie the one-woman show behind Cassie’s Designs is one of my best college friends, too, and I LOVE to support her. Read her interview on my blog about 2 years ago: https://pinkchickadee.com/2020/08/14/interview-with-small-business-owner-cassie-of-cassies-designs/#/

Now, happy graduation gift shopping!

XOXO – Katie <3

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