The Blessings of College Friendships!

Friendships come and go, but there is something OH SO special about bonds made during the college years. Just like during any another stage of life, not all friendships that are made while in college prevail outside of the college years. However, those special friendships that do last into the postgraduate years are one’s that are special and destined to potentially last a lifetime.

While at Meredith College, I was so lucky to have made several friends during my time there. The majority of those friendships do not prevail to this day and that is OKAY. I am a firm believer that although some friendships do not last a long time, they each teach us certain lessons that will carry us throughout our lifetime. Many of my college friendships that did not survive to this very day made me realize that there are blessings in now non-existent connections. They teach us different lessons about our life, whether it be knowing our self worth, enjoying happy memories, and learning more about ourselves. Whatever the lesson and case may be, that IS a blessing to have learned that lesson (or two or three!). They say that people come into our lives for a reason and that is indeed true when it comes to those who may not play an important role in our lives anymore, even if they used to.

I am lucky enough to say that I have several friendships from my college years that I am still blessed to be able to have today. We have made several memories together since our college years, including visiting me in Washington, DC (and many more who still want to come visit!!!), going on a weekend getaway to Asheville, North Carolina, celebrating one another’s birthdays and graduations and people coming from both near and far to do so, and going back to our much loved alma mater Meredith College for Homecoming Weekend to commemorate where it all began. We spend late nights texting, FaceTiming, and talking to one another from time to time and some on a regular basis. We still get one another Birthday presents, enjoy touching base, and plan our next time to see one another. We reminisce on the good times that we had at Meredith College and look towards the future. We empower one another as we kick start our own careers in this adult world that can be scary and unknown, yet exciting. We make the time to be there for each other, despite being across state borders and in different cities both hours and miles apart. We are each others’ blessings in our lives and perhaps soulmates in a friend-like manner.

My several friendships made in college are some of the biggest blessings within my own life. Last weekend, I was visiting my friend Alanna for her Birthday weekend. We got dinner with a mutual friend and my former roommate, Sophie, who happened to be in town for the weekend from medical school in South Carolina and all talked for HOURS at the restaurant. We visited the nearby old downtown of Apex, North Carolina and met up with our friend Hannah for chips, queso, and tacos. We also celebrated Alanna’s Birthday with steak and potatoes and *of course* cake with our friends Hannah and Aspen along with her parents. My week was busy and tiring before then and making the trip down to Raleigh was so so so needed. It was, indeed, refreshing and the perfect way to reconnect and refuel myself before working again the next week.

Every time I see my college friends, I feel 1000% better, *even* when I don’t feel like socializing or doing perhaps anything. To me, that is the sign of true friendship. I am SO grateful to be able to have great friends like the ones that I have from college. They truly keep me going in my good days and my bad days. To have those friendships that have stuck it out through the rollercoaster that is known as life are meant to be destined to last a long long time. And, that I am forever grateful for.

XOXO – Katie <3

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Washington, DC Spots: National Air & Space Museum

When I was 7, my Mom took me to the National Air & Space Museum’s iconic planetarium. At the time, I had a major fascination with astronomy, and my Mom wanted to allow me to explore that then-passion of mine more. While I do not have as much of a HUGE passion for astronomy nowadays, I do still have a fascination and interest in it. SO, when one of my best guy friends James and I were thinking of a place to go in Washington, DC to catch up, I *just knew* that the National Air & Space Museum would be THE ticket!!

Please note that this content is apart of my exploring the Washington, DC area series. For more information on planning your own trip to Washington DC (here), Northern Virginia (here), the Virginia Wine Country (here), Maryland (here), and beyond (here), please use the corresponding links for some recommendations and inspiration.

Getting there: The National Air & Space Museum is located on the National Mall, just alongside several other iconic Smithsonian Institution museums AND the National Monument, United States Capitol Building, and Lincoln Memorial – just to name a few. Its address is 600 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20560. If taking public transportation, it is easiest to access via the L’Enfant Plaza Metro station, located along the Blue, Green, Orange, Silver, and Yellow lines or the Smithsonian Metro station (which is what James and I did!) in the case that you want to take the more scenic route. You can also drive to the National Mall, too, but it can be more challenging and pricey to find parking there. Along with visiting the National Air & Space Museum, it is also very easy to visit the monuments, grab a bite at a food truck alongside the National Mall, and check out another Smithsonian Institution museum!

About: The National Air & Space Museum is one of the many FREE to visit & ICONIC museums located along the National Mall that are apart of the Smithsonian Institution. It is also well-known as the Air & Space Museum. This museum was established in 1946 as the National Air Museum and it displays aircraft, missiles, rockets, spacecraft, and other flight-related artifacts. They also have an iconic planetarium to this very day, just like they did when I was a kid with my Mom! The Smithsonian museum was recently updated after undergoing renovations during the bulk of the COVID-19 pandemic and re-opened to the public in October 2022. To learn more about the National Air & Space Museum, look no further than here: https://airandspace.si.edu/

Planning Your Visit: In order to visit the National Air & Space Museum, you must reserve a free timed-entry pass. The purpose is free timed-entry passes is for crowd control. I highly suggest reserving your passes at least a few days in advance or seeing if there any available the day of that morning at 8:30 or that afternoon at 12:30 via the front desk. I didn’t have a problem reserving tickets for James and I just a few days before. It’s important to mention that many items, including knives, pepper sprays, scissors, and wallet tools, etc. are banned from all Smithsonian Institution Museums and Washington, DC sites, alike. To reserve your timed-entry pass, look no further than here: https://www.etix.com/ticket/e/1029945/timed-entry-washington-the-smithsonian-national-air-and-space-museum-general-public

James and I were IN AWE at the National Air & Space Museum!! Its remodeling has made it look absolutely STUNNING! We both started off by visiting an exhibit on the Wright Brothers and their invention of the aircraft/airplane and how aviation has evolved ever since they first took off in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. As someone who went to college and has many close friends who are either from or still live in North Carolina, I LOVED getting to see an exhibit that had roots in North Carolina. It was also fascinating to be able to learn about the hard work that the Wright Brothers put into developing the aircraft and the legacy that they’ve left behind to this very day. The remainder of the exhibits that James and I saw were more focused on *none other than* astronomy (!!!). I LOVED getting to see an exhibit on the planets, space crafts that visited our galaxy – in REAL life!!!! – and learn more about how our world is connected via technology. James and I both had an amazing time.

Unfortunately, the planetarium that I knew and loved and still do was not open at the very precise moment which James and I arrived to try and take a peek inside. However, if we had thought more ahead of time, then we would have. Seeing the planetarium is definitely something on James’s and I’s bucket list for the future.

James has been a close friend of mine since high school. He has always been someone that I can count on in life and to have a GREAT TIME with. I am so so so glad that we got to spend time together at the National Air & Space Museum. As someone who frequents the National Mall and Washington, DC in general A LOT from Northern Virginia, I got James hooked on the city, too, and was very proud to have done so.

XOXO – Katie <3

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My Experience at Muse Paintbar!

As an early Galentine’s celebration, me and one of my best friends Brianna and I went to do a wine & design to commemorate the occasion. I posted about our fun experience and final product on my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!!) just last week as apart of my 14 Days of Pink fashion challenge. I had a BLAST getting to create a painting of my own from scratch with the help of a painter guide, catch up with Brianna, and enjoy some refreshments at none other than Muse Paintbar – a premier wine and design bar in the Washington, DC area.

Please note that this content is apart of my exploring the Washington, DC area series. For more information on planning your own trip to Washington DC (here), Northern Virginia (here), the Virginia Wine Country (here), Maryland (here), and beyond (here), please use the corresponding links for some recommendations and inspiration.

I have ALWAYS been a sucker for a Wine & Design type of experience! A fun fact about me is that I planned a Cupcakes and Canvases wine and design-like experience when I was in college on my then-dry college campus my Freshmen year of college. It was *actually* the first-ever college event that I planned. I have many many many fond memories of my Cupcakes & Canvases event, especially the painting part of it and the openness for pure creativity, so I *HAD* to take on the opportunity to do another wine & design event when Brianna suggested it!

About Muse Paintbar: Muse Paintbar strived to become the place to go for painting and sipping upon opening their first location back in 2012. There is an open bar at EVERY studio for you to enjoy drinks and food as you paint. One thing that I LOVE about Muse Paintbar is that it is a female-led business that currently employs over 300 creative-minded individuals. A quote that I just adore from their website is: “while we’re passionate about bringing art to our communities, we don’t take ourselves too seriously around here. No matter if you’re hanging with us virtually, or in our studio, we will be there for you every step of the way.” Currently, Muse Paintbar has public classes on their website that people can sign up for with others in their local communities along with the option to host a private event/party there, too. In 2020, Muse Paintbar launched virtual painting classes to generate more access to all, especially with COVID-19. And, Muse Paintbar invites their guests to get creative and unplug from their day-to-day lives. Also, if you decide to frequent Muse Paintbar, you can sign up for their Rewards Program to earn points. Read more on their website here: https://www.musepaintbar.com/

Muse Paintbar Locations: Currently, Muse Paintbar is primarily located along the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. They have locations across Virginia, the National Capital Region/Washington, DC area (there are around 5 near me!!), New York, and New England. If you don’t see a location in your city, then look no further than their virtual classes where painting supplies get sent to your house your scheduled painting class. See ALL locations here: https://www.musepaintbar.com/locations/

As for planning our Paint & Sip experience, Brianna and I headed to the Muse Paintbar website to pick out a design. On the site, you can select the Studio of your choosing and pick a design that you want to paint given a date and time that works for you and your crew. Since we are Washington, DC area locals who are both SUPER girly, we picked the cherry blossom trees along a foggy scenery. It was such a girly and perfect addition for both of our apartments, too! When you register for your Paint & Sip Experience, you pay upfront per person and can specify your group of people that you’re attending with to help the studio staff out and others that may register at different times than you in your crew. Brianna had been to Muse Paintbar before and spoke VERY highly of her experience, so I knew I was in for a treat!

When Brianna and I arrived to our local Muse Paintbar studio, we were greeted by one of the staff members who checked us in and sat down in our pre-assigned seats. Each group had a section of their own upon checking in (this is something that you can specify via your group members when you register for your event!). We, then, grabbed some refreshments as we got there a bit early – all Muse Paintbars open to the public pre-events about 30 minutes beforehand! – and grabbed our aprons and got ready to paint. The studio had paintings done by the studio guides – most of whom are artists themselves – and GREAT music playing. A fun fact about me is that I am a sucker for art, specifically paintings, so it was fun for me to admire all of the artists’ creations!! I LOVED the music and the atmosphere, as the entire studio was simply good vibes ALLLL around.

As for the painting part of it, I found it to be fun and open to interpretation for each person who was there. I LOVED how interactive the experience was and fun our studio guide was. I was able to be creative and have fun in my own way. At the same time, I really enjoyed being guided through the process by someone who has an artistic background because, well, I lack artistic ability (LOL!). My studio guide Taylor actually mentioned that she has her own shop, too, where she sells her artwork! My favorite part of the whole painting experience was getting to add the petals to my cherry blossom trees, as it was ALL THINGS PINK.

I am SO excited as I am adding some more wall art to my walls to add my brand-new canvas to my wall. Not only does this canvas take a pretty place on my apartment walls, but it also commemorates a fun night with a great friend and great vibes all around. In the future, I definitely would love to attend another event and perhaps even on a solo date, too!

XOXO – Katie <3

 

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14 Days of Pink Recap!

If you follow me on Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!!), then you probably have seen over the first 14 days of February that I was doing my own fashion challenge: 14 Days of *none other than my favorite color* PINK!!! *Just* in case you didn’t know, my favorite color is PINK, so I had to do a fun fashion challenge to kick off the days leading up to Valentine’s Day wearing all things PINK!

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

For my 14 Days of Pink challenge, I wore PINK every single day during the first 14 days of February leading up to Valentine’s Day. As a mega lover of the color pink, this fashion challenge was not challenging for me to find 14 days worth of pink outfits to wear, rather it was fun to be able to style 14 different outfits with pink in it for 14 different days. Those 14 days involved: lounging around the house, working in the office, a Galentine’s party, networking dinners in downtown Washington, DC, and an evening out at a painting bar. So, it was fun to incorporate pink into each of my outfits given the current day’s ongoings. The pieces I wore were ALL shopped directly from my closet which was FUN to “shop” in, too (and, well, my wallet enjoyed it as well!).

Although I did shop my closet for all of my 14 Days of Pink looks, some of the pieces that I wore are still available online AND I have linked them here:

Happy rest of February to y’all!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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I Hosted my First-Ever Galentine’s Party!

Just about 2 years ago, I moved back to the Washington, DC area to start my post-college life. I had a GREAT job at an incredible company working with some pretty incredible people on some pretty incredible things, a GREAT place to live with my Papa and dog Rosie, and a GREAT city to live in. The months leading up to my move, I was SO excited to move back to the big city filled with so much excitement yet reside in the suburbs where it’s peaceful and I can hear the peace of birds chirping in the morning. However, my move to the Washington, DC area was anything like what I thought it’d be when I first moved. I was starting all over in a brand-new place. And, well, ALL I wanted to do was host a gathering with others.

Flash forward to Winter 2023 aka now and I have plenty of great friends to invite for a gathering based in the Washington, DC area. Though this wasn’t my very first social gathering inside my apartment, as I had a few high school friends whom I invited over during Summer 2021 for a Housewarming Party after I moved in and am lucky to still have to this day. Nowadays, I feel beyond lucky. The best part?! I got to host my first-ever social gathering in my apartment since 2021 (which is constantly being redecorated with what I have LOL!): my Galentine’s Party!!!

In the meantime, read more about my Housewarming Party back in Summer 2021 here: https://pinkchickadee.com/2021/07/20/my-housewarming-party/#/

Now, onto the fun stuff …. the details of my Galentine’s Party!!

I sent out my invitations through my favorite site for YEARS to invite others: Evite. Via Evite, I can get a free account, and I use the option to enter in my guest’s phone numbers, so they get a little text to brighten their day with something to look forward to. Your guests do not have to have an Evite account themselves, either in order to receive your invite. Since adulthood requires lots of advanced planning, I usually send out my invitations through Evite at least 4-6 weeks in advance. At the same time, I always ask a few of my friends that I plan to invite whether or not certain dates I have in mind work for them. It helps to have a few sets of eyes looking over my proposed gathering dates when it comes to date selection. My calendar always fills up fast at least 2-4 months in advance, so it is nice to have something sent out to give others a heads up, too.

For my party, I decided to invite ALL of my best gals in the Washington, DC area. I asked that everyone bring a dish (or two!) if they wanted to for a potluck and a friend. At the same time, I provided some La Marca prosecco, lemonade (which goes AMAZINGLY with prosecco!), popcorn, Crumbl Cookies *of course*, and frosted animal crackers. My Kate Spade green and blue tumbler sets of 2 (got 3 of them!) from FabFitFun were PERFECT for my guests to enjoy a drink of their choosing. My Rae Dunn “Heart” plate and antique stainless steel tray both served as the perfect platters for my gathering. I also used my pink flamingo pitcher to serve some delicious butter popcorn (courtesy of Wegman’s!) for my guests. And, as for my plates, napkins, and cups, they all came from *none other than* …. Target! Last but not least, my balloons came from Target and were purchased and saved in previous years. Everything that came together, whether it be the decorations on my end or the time together or the food from everyone including myself, was all done so so so perfectly.

The BEST part of my Galentine’s Party?! Getting to hang out with each of my friends and watch them interact and become acquainted with one another!! It is such a blessing to be able to have each of these incredible women as friends and some of my many Galentine’s this year in my life. I LOVED watching my friends connect with one another. I have a few other gatherings that I plan to host this Spring and I’m excited that many of my friends are looking forward to hanging out with others again (including those who weren’t able to come over the weekend to my Galentine’s gathering) soon, too. It is nothing short of a blessing!

Here’s to many more gatherings in 2023 and beyond!

XOXO – Katie <3

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My Washington, DC Area 2023 Bucket List!

*JUST* in case you didn’t already know, I am a Washington, DC area-based blogger! While I do travel frequently especially to where I have family and friends in Delaware, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey and love every minute of my adventures, I LOVE LOVE LOVE getting to explore my Washington, DC area backyard, too. On my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!), I am ALWAYS posting about my local adventures which I am SOOO blessed I am able to do close to home. Every now and then, well every year at this point since I moved LOL, I have shared a Washington, DC area bucket list, so here we go for 2023!!

Read my Washington, DC area bucket lists from the past two years’ past here:

Looking back at my Washington, DC area bucket lists from the past few years, I am lucky enough to have completed several of the items that I had desired to do. One of the highlights of my time in Washington, DC was dining at the bar at Old Ebbitt Grill – the oldest saloon in Washington, DC at least and a former boarding house for former President McKinley during his time as a Congressmen – which I will be dining at *yet again* for my birthday weekend (!!!) at the end of April. I have also enjoyed a gorgeous few strolls along Georgetown’s Waterfront Park and the food scene many times in nearby Arlington, Virginia. Touring the historic Tudor Place, National Cathedral, and Library of Congress have each been highlights of my own, too. My best friends and I enjoyed ice cream, sailing, and strolling in Annapolis, Maryland – a highlight of mine from when I first moved! Overall, looking back at both bucket lists, I feel beyond blessed that I have been able to do many of the things that I have previously desired to do.

Before I get into my Washington, DC Area 2023 bucket list, I do want to share that it is always likely that not all items will be completed in a year. Luckily for where I stand with where I want to go in my career, I will not be leaving the Washington, DC area anytime in the near-term future or even the next few years. More adventures to come both near and far!!

My Washington, DC Area 2023 Bucket List

  • See the cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin at sunrise
  • See a performance of The Nutcracker
  • Check out Cafe Georgetown
  • Visit the Renwick Gallery
  • Go mini golfing at Puttery
  • See Aladdin at National Theatre
  • Explore City Center
  • Enjoy pizza and/or Thursday night trivia night at The Winery at Bull Run
  • Tour the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland
  • Explore downtown Leesburg, Virginia
  • Visit the DAR Museum and Library
  • Take a day trip to St. Michael’s Island, Maryland
  • Try Ralph’s Coffee for the first time-ever at Tyson’s Galleria
  • Have a picnic at The National Mall
  • See The Lion King at The Kennedy Center
  • Visit an embassy for a free event/exhibit
  • See the orchid display at the United States Botanic Garden
  • Explore the Dupont Circle, Adams Morgan, Capitol Hill, U Street Corridor, and Shaw neighborhoods
  • Eat at The Point in Washington, DC
  • Admire the flowers at Greenspring Gardens in Alexandria, Virginia
  • Explore downtown Fairfax, Virginia
  • Enjoy a warmer weather evening at Fairfax Corner
  • Explore Shirlington in Arlington
  • Visit the Meadowlark Botanical Gardens
  • Watch the sunrise or sunset from Lincoln Memorial
  • Take a walk along the Tidal Basin not during cherry blossom season
  • Attend a blogger meetup
  • Try Cameron’s Coffee & Chocolates in Fairfax, Virginia
  • Go mini golfing at The Perch
  • Try LeBon Cafe
  • Dine at a restaurant in Chinatown
  • Tour The Carlyle House
  • Eat at Ambar
  • Try Chateau de Chantilly Cafe
  • Enjoy coffee flights at Loud’n Roasted Coffee Roasters
  • Visit a Basilica
  • Visit the Dumbarton Oaks Museum
  • Go back to Tatte Bakery & Cafe
  • Visit The Crossing at Clarendon *yet again*
  • Try 54
  • Try Breeze Bakery Cafe
  • Go to another National Gallery of Art After Hours event
  • Go back to the Library of Congress
  • Tour the Hillwood Estate
  • Visit the newly-updated Air & Space Museum
  • Visit the Old Post Office Pavilion

Here’s to MANY more adventures in the Washington, DC area!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Northern Virginia Spots: Virtue Feed & Grain

Growing up, my family and I have enjoyed many meals at Virtue Feed & Grain in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. Not only is it an easy walk from Metro and *just* a block away from the iconic King Street, but it also has served many great memories, meals, and scenic Washington, DC area views for me and many others over the years. On my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!!), I have posted a bit about my GREAT experience a few weekends ago having brunch at Virtue Feed & Grain. And, today, I am going to share some more about Virtue Feed & Grain!

Getting there: The address for Virtue Feed & Grain is 106 South Union Street. Virtue Feed & Grain is located in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia just miles South of Washington, DC. Old Town Alexandria is a popular spot for many Washington, DC tourists and area residents, alike. It’s easiest to get to Virtue Feed & Grain by either driving or taking the Metro to the King Street station which is on both the Blue line and the Yellow line. From Metro, it is about a 30 minute walk to Virtue Feed & Grain, however, DO NOT FRET as it is an easy AND scenic walk directly on King Street and then a block over to South Union Street. You can also drive there and park at one of the parking garages alongside King Street and near the Old Town Alexandria’s well-known Torpedo Factory, which will usually come at a price tag that may be hefty. Personally, I choose to Metro to Old Town to get in some extra steps and avoid the rather stressful-to-me driving through King Street.

About: Virtue Feed & Grain is named after its roots – an 1800’s feed and grain warehouse. The warehouse has since been transformed into what it is today: an iconic Old Town Alexandria restaurant located along the Potomac River waterfront. My best friend Haley and I recently dined upstairs and could see the iconic Potomac River waterfront, with views of nearby Washington, DC and National Harbor, Maryland and the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, from our seats. Virtue Feed & Grain is a two-story restaurant and bar with its interiors offering an exposed wood backdrop and the menu remains true to its local Washington, DC area digs while adding in an eclectic charm. One unique fact about Virtue Feed & Grain is that its interiors represent its history as an 1800’s warehouse along with recent times’ history as it has high-water stains from Hurricane Isabel back in 2005. Currently, Virtue Feed & Grain is led by Executive Chef Aldo Avilez. For more information on Virtue Feed & Grain, look no further than here: https://virtuefeedgrain.com/

In recent times, my best friend Haley and I dined for brunch at Virtue Feed & Grain. She got the french toast and I got the Chesapeake Benedict. For me to stay that the food was delicious would be an understatement! I also have LOVED the vibes of the interiors of Virtue Feed & Grain. The service was great, too. Not only do you see iconic waterfront and Old Town Alexandria views, but you also get to enjoy the historically gorgeous interiors. I was in awe at the gorgeous interiors of this restaurant and *of course* snapped a few photos!

When going to Virtue Feed & Grain, I definitely suggest making a reservation as it can get busy on the weekends. When I booked Haley’s and I’s reservation the day before we went, there was only one time available on Saturday morning (aka the jackpot for us!). And, after your time dining at Virtue Feed & Grain, I highly recommend enjoying and wondering the gorgeous streets and shops of Old Town Alexandria. To me, Old Town Alexandria can sometimes feel like a hidden gem in the midst of all that Washington, DC has to offer. It is a place that I have been learning more about most recently and striving to visit more.

Here’s to many more memories being made in an iconically historic restaurant!

XOXO – Katie <3

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My 2023 Reader Survey + Favorite New Set!

At the beginning of each year, I do a reader survey to further position my goals for my platform for the coming year. As my followers here at The Pink Chickadee, I LOVE to hear from each of you to know how to better serve y’all for the upcoming year. If you follow me on Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee if not!!), then you have probably seen me post about my survey!

*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.*

My Reader Survey will be open from February 1, 2023-February 15, 2023. You can take my Reader Survey 2023 here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeMR6I2bAZeNSzjyRA_TO9-rqRAulGiskIgEw8ZEeIar17l3w/viewform?usp=pp_url

Purpose: My Reader Survey is a chance for you aka my fellow followers and readers to share what you’ve enjoyed seeing here on my platform and what you want to see moving forward on my happy corner of the internet. It also allows me to collect data on my fellow readers’ demographics, including age range, gender identity, cities in which they live, and where content is viewed. At the same time, I can collect feedback on what content my readers aka y’all like, don’t like, and want to see in the coming year. Year after year, my platform grows and I love to see how my readership has evolved and grown with the times. Knowing all of this information allows me to best serve y’all and, furthermore, best craft my 2023 blogger goals to serve y’all.

As a woman in STEM and more specifically a woman in data science, I LOVE LOVE LOVE getting to collect and analyze data on y’all and use it to none other than y’all’s advantage. This is a moment for me to seriously nerd out over y’all’s responses – LOLLL! I mean, it is SO MUCH FUN to be able to look through each and every one of y’all’s responses and see how I can best serve you. In the data science world, it is ALL about taking a set of data and transforming it into actionable insights that can be best used to serve a purpose. In this case, that purpose is to best serve y’all and develop goals for The Pink Chickadee for 2023! At the end of the day, my blog is only apart of your own world, and I am here to best serve YOU and what YOU feel inspired to find from me and my platform.

As always, thank you so much for taking the time to read and support my platform. Whether you have been here since I started blogging back in early 2020 or started following along just this week, it means the world to me that you have found and taken the time to visit my happy little corner here of the internet. As someone who has become passionate about creating content spreading my confetti wherever I go, I am always happy to share it with y’all: my readers. Now, it is YOUR TURN to share what you want to see moving forward in 2023 and beyond.

To nerd out over ALL of your survey responses, I will be enjoying a nice cup of coffee, watching Netflix in the background with a nice candle all lit up, and wearing my gorgeous and brand-new Silk & Salt Staycation Sweat Set! This sweat set is gorgeous, super comfortable, and great for work from home and lounging or perhaps both. Silk & Salt’s Staycation sweat set was *even* initially a bit out of my style comfort zone, but I am glad I gave it a try. Spoiler alert: I LOVE it!!! Use my discount code KATEFRANCES20 for 20% off your Silk & Salt order using the following link here: www.shopsilkandsalt.com/KateFrances20

Don’t leave yet! You can take my Reader Survey 2023 here until February 15, 2023: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeMR6I2bAZeNSzjyRA_TO9-rqRAulGiskIgEw8ZEeIar17l3w/viewform?usp=pp_url

Survey analyzer assistant Rosie is reporting for duty!

Thank you all!!! Much love :)))

XOXO – Katie <3

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