Five years ago, I hit “post” and posted my first-ever blog post. I was terrified, but I did it. That night, I hosted a launch party for my *very own* dream blog that I was, well, terrified to start and keep the momentum going on. In January 2020, I was scared to put myself out there, scared of what others would think of me, and simply scared of failing myself and my dream of becoming a fashion and travel blogger. Five years later, I can confidently say that I am a successful fashion and travel blogger who despite her initial fears of putting herself out there and failing at this has curated a strong community and following of likeminded people and a blog to call my own. Five years into blogging and I am proud of myself for what I have created and self-coded and what I will continue to do.
In September 2019, I suffered my first big college heartbreak. It was a situationship that lasted on and off until a few years later. September 2019 was the first of many tough heartbreaks and realizations when it comes to love and dating. At first, I was in utter denial, but I was also upset. At that time, though full of great sadness for what could have been, I knew that I wanted to do something for myself. I vividly remember posing for a photo with a cookie on a trip in college to Charleston, South Carolina (here) and excitedly revealing to somebody in college that I was starting a blog while feeling so sad on the inside due to that heartbreak. But, saying “I am starting a blog” aloud truly gave me hope that there was more to life beyond the utter heartbreak that I was experiencing via the dating world. And, that is when and how The Pink Chickadee was born.
On January 15, 2020 when I first hit “post,” I was extremely self-conscious as a person. Like I said before, I was terrified in all ways at the idea of putting myself out there and full unfortunately of self-hatred and loathing. Fear was my best friend. I even took a break from posting consistently not once but twice in 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic was keeping us in lockdown. My mental health hit an all-time low. Until, I took a Summer 2020 website development course and willingly pulled a few all-nighters to re-code my entire website. I got my logo redone and re-designed. And, I started to continually post consistently over on my social media platforms. My social media, then, looked a lot different than it does now. But, The Pink Chickadee was my saving grace during the COVID-19 pandemic days and my relationship and breakup and beyond.
Flash-forward to today and I am full of gratitude, confidence, self-love, happiness, and joy. I am fully confident to say that being the one woman show behind The Pink Chickadee is a BIG reason for my success and personal growth over the past five years. I have had the pleasure to work with several brands, including Virginia Wine Pass (now Reserve Pass), OPI, Shop Navy Bleu, and Panera Bread. I have been featured on Starbucks, Redfin, and Jack Rogers. And, I have curated an incredible follower basis and community and friends in YOU. Needless to say, I feel so thankful, grateful, and blessed to have made that decision on the evening of January 15, 2020 to hit “post” and remain consistent in doing so over the past five years.
I have fallen in love with being a blogger! I love getting to curate content that resonates with you and connect with you all. I love getting to collaborate with likeminded brands and share content with likeminded creators and communities. While my platform and my goals associated with it has evolved over the past five years, the one thing that remains the same is my love of being here. I love getting to be here!!
Through it all, THANK YOU for being here along for the ride. Cheers to five years (read past years’ blog-aversary posts here, here, and here!) and more than five more years of opportunity, growth, prosperity, confidence, and happiness. Cheers!!!
XOXO – Katie <3
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