How I Spice Up My Work from Home Routine

With the COVID-19 pandemic transforming the workplace now more than ever, working from home is becoming more commonplace now more than ever. I have been working from home since I started my job at the end of July and will continue to do so until the beginning of 2022 and most likely beyond. Working from home may not be ideal for some, but it is essential especially with the Delta variant and the safety and health risks that COVID-19 brings to us all. Even beyond this ongoing pandemic, working from home will continue to be a common thing. Today, I am going to share how I spice up my own work from home routine in a variety of different ways.

How I Spice Up My Work From Home Routine

  • Coffee Breaks – As someone who is addicted to coffee, I take many many many coffee breaks throughout the day. Recently, I have become *obsessed* with iced coffee and purchased the Mr. Coffee Iced Coffee Machine (read my review of it here). It takes just about five minutes to prepare and make my own iced coffee, and it is most definitely worth it. Not only does a coffee break allow me to fuel up before I get back to working, I also can take a mini mental break away from the screens.
  • Dog Walks – I have a Shepherd-Chihuahua mix named Rosie, and I have loved being her Dog Mama! Rosie is very high maintenance and LOVES her long walks. When I have time in between meetings and necessary work correspondence, I like to take her for walks around the neighborhood and simply hang out with her in the front yard where she LOVES to sit all day. Taking a dog walk allows me to truly clear my mind and get a fresh start on my work tasks, too!
  • Wearing ACTUAL Work Clothes – Yes, everyday for work even Zoom work, I wear actual clothes. When I mean actual clothes, I mean clothes that are actually deemed appropriate for the work environment that I am in. Those clothing items do not include pajama pants and a nice top or dress. I go all in and out and put on makeup, too. Personally, I feel that I am more productive when I dress up for the day, so I do. However, I know that others can be just as productive if not more when they wear what they choose, no matter what it is. On the same token, my company does not have a dress code for the most part, but I do prefer to dress up than not either way.
  • Pre-Work Coffee Chats – In the morning, I like to drink a cup of coffee brewed freshly from my Keurig and chat with my Papa and hang with my dog Rosie. It’s nice to wake up and chat and simply get my mind running before I even crack my work laptop open for the day. It’s a nice way to be able to wake up, but also not simply rush into the structured work day behind the Zoom cameras and computer screens.
  • Meal Prep – If you know me, then you know I am a sucker for a good meal, especially cooked by me! I love cooking and find it a blast. Meal prep has become one of my favorite ways to whip up a delicious lunch and have it ready to go so I can work through the lunch time that I had allotted for myself on a given day. Some of my favorite meals include: sandwiches, leftovers from a previous dinner, pasta, salad, and soup. Not only does meal prep allow for an easy and convenient way to eat through the work day, but it also saves me money, too.
  • Making My Bed – One of the best ways to kick off my day involve making my bed! My Mom always tells me that if you didn’t feel like you accomplished anything on a given day, if you made your bed, then you accomplished something. Everyday after I get ready, I make my bed and get on the grind. Making my bed makes me feel great, and it allows for me to get all of the pillows off of the floor – hah – and crawl into bed that night in a freshly made bed, as well.

Working from home can be a challenge, but there are pretty great aspects to it too. Getting the opportunity to work from home allows me to have the flexibility to work from wherever and doing my work whenever I can, meetings and schedule permitting is super great and has been a major perk to it all. Not to mention, I enjoy walking my dog and seeing her during my breaks 24/7. COVID-19 may have had its downfalls, but it also has its ups, including the benefits of working from home. But, I am excited, above all else, to go back into the office when I can.

XOXO – Katie <3

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How I Dress for Work When there’s NO Formal Dress code!

A couple of weeks ago, I was on a walk with my friends Haley and Violet. I was telling them all about my job, and they were wondering with gleam as to whether or not I would be dressing like a starting out woman in a glam pencil skirt circa any early 2000’s New York City-set movie featuring a female starting out. Their expectations of my work dress code were anything by accurate. My job, in fact, has NO dress code! Just a mere 5 years ago, this may come as a shock to many to even think of setting foot into your office doors without even considering a workplace dress code. But, with the COVID-19 pandemic’s onset expansion of work-from-home and folks wearing sweatpants and pajama pants over trousers, no dress codes for work have become the norm.

Before I get into how I dress for work without a particular dress code in mind, I need to throw out there that there are times where I do have to abide by a certain dress code. These instances may be when I am presenting, in a meeting for a particular topic/occasion/even a person, or an event. On the same token, it is important to note that when most offices, including my own, do not specify a formal dress code, it is important to dress to the environment that you are working from. If everyone is in suits and ties, then you may consider a pantsuit. The same goes for t-shirts and jeans, well, if that is your cup of tea. Similarly, it is extremely vital that one does not show up just as if they were to have gotten out of bed to go into the office or hop onto a Zoom meeting with their video camera on. No matter if you’re in a t-shirt or a blazer and blouse, the way that you present and carry yourself goes far and will reflect on you in the workplace.

HOW I DRESS FOR WORK WHEN THERE’S NO FORMAL DRESS CODE

  • Adding in my own flair – Since I do not have a formal dress code protocol that I have to follow day by day, I can seriously add my own flair to my work outfits as much or as little as I want to. I can truly be Katie and show it with my work looks. I have always been one to love seeing how people spice up their work looks, whether on social media, in movies, or simply in the office. Inspiration comes from a variety of different angles for me, and I love to add my own twist to something that someone else did as well.
  • Dress in the way you’ll be the most productive – You may have heard the saying “dressed for success”. Indeed, many of us feel as if we can take on the world when we get all dressed up and feel the most confident in how we look, in order to get the job done. Personally, this rings true to me! I am more productive when I am dressed up rather than in leggings and a t-shirt and/or hoodie. However, that does not mean that when it’s Friday, I may wear just that! I know some folks would much rather be comfortable in a t-shirt and sweats than all dressed up and that’s great, too. However you’re the most productive with what you wear is how you should go about doing it all.
  • Dress according to the environment – One of the best ways that I have gauged how to dress in the workplace is simply by what others are wearing. In the few times that I have been into the office, I have noticed that people are more likely to get dressed up than not. So, I replicate that concept for myself too.
  • Overdressed >>> Underdressed – being overdressed can be mortifying in some situations, such as walking onto a school bus in an elegant floor length gown, but in the case of going to work it is not. Though I would not advise wearing a floor length formal gown to work, wearing something that is a bit more overdressed than others (such as a blazer/suit) is always a bonus. Especially when you are starting out on the job, dressing up a bit more than your coworkers allows you to make a good impression and show off your best self, too!
  • Be YOU and have fun! – Above all else, be YOU! Add hints of yourself into your work wardrobe. Actually, right before I started my job, I put together a rolling rack of outfits to pull from for my first few weeks. I still use it, and it’s a fun way to put together a variety of outfits from pieces that I may not normally wear which at the moment for me are my Lilly Pulitzer Kristen flounce dresses. The persona that I wanted to portray about myself through my work wardrobe is that she can get business done with a sprinkle of confetti! That being said, I pulled from a lot of my J Crew Factory scalloped shifts, Ouges dresses that I got for a steal off of Amazon, Lands’ End shifts and maxi’s, and even added some of my favorite brand Lilly Pulitzer into the mix. Through it all, I even wore a t-shirt, *yes* a t-shirt to work from home, too!
  • Be mindful of your schedule and work-related events – Dress code or not, being mindful of your work schedule and the correspondence that may be coming from it is key. If you are in a meeting or attending an event which may require that you dress in a manner that does involve a dress code, then it is imperative that you do so while adding a bit of personal flair in a different way than a typical day, too.
  • Have some business causal clothing on-hand – Yes, despite not having a workplace dress code on the regular, I still have some business casual clothing items on hand. Business casual clothing items being a blazer, trousers, little black dress, little grey dress, tweed jackets, pencil skirts, etc. is an important thing to note. I found a lot of my favorite business causal pieces at Lands’ End and J Crew along with Marshall’s/TJ Maxx. While I don’t need to wear them on a regular basis, I still try to put them into my wardrobe here and there and where I need them, too.

What you wear to work is apart of your day to day life. In fact, it plays a more important role in our lives than we can even imagine! I mean, we get dressed and we set off on our days from there. Why not make that time into something that can add to your confidence and comfort, especially within the workplace?! I surely have and I hope you can as well.

XOXO – Katie <3

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Bright Work from Home Essentials

Working 9 to 5! Work is probably the most productive and time consuming part of our days. When working, it can be pretty tiring to spend the 9 to 5 timeframe doing solely work, yet it must be done. Since having to do most of my Senior year of college in a virtual setting, I am going to be sharing some of my work from home essentials – most of which I used during my virtual “Zoom University” days!

As always, I will share where I got some of my work from home essentials, and where you can get these essentials too! Please note that not all of these items will be the exact item that I use on a day to day basis.

*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 Work From Home Essentials!

Pouches & MANY Pouches! – I use them for a variety of purposes, ranging from carrying pencils, pens, erasers, pencil lead, etc., feminine products, toiletries, caffeinated Crystal Lite, and makeup. Shop some of my most recently purchased and primarily used pouches below:

Coffee Mugs – Yes, coffee mugs are my ALL DAY EVERYDAY essential. There is NO WAY that I could kick off my days without a good old cup of Keurig-brewed coffee. It is, indeed, the only way I will wake up and put my all into my work. Mugs are also a super fun way to show off some personal flair. I have a massive mug collection and a coffee section in my apartment simply dedicated to my mugs and *of course* Keurig. You can shop some of my favorite mugs linked below:

Hot Coffee & Iced Coffee – If you can’t tell by now, coffee is my holy grail work from home essential! I always enjoy both a freshly poured Keurig-brewed cup of coffee each and every single morning to kick off my work days. Then, by the mid-morning-afternoon, I enjoy a cup of iced coffee, too. My favorite brands for K-Cups include: Kripsy Kreme, Folgers, and The Original Donut Shop. Personally, I get whatever is cheapest at the grocery store of those 3 and whatever is one sale *ballin’ on a budget am I right?!*. I regularly and loyally used Delight’s Fat Free/Sugar Free Carmel flavored creamer. Meanwhile, for iced coffee, I always go with Delight’s iced coffee in either the Carmel or French Vanilla flavors! I get all of these items at my local grocery store.

Caffeinated Crystal Lite Packets – Likewise to coffee and iced coffee, I also have another favorite caffeinated drink of mine – Crystal Lite packets! My mother introduced me to these and I was hooked! Yes, Crystal Lite has caffeinated packets that you can put into your favorite water bottles or tumblers and stir in/shake once you add some water to it. These Crystal Lite packets are extremely low in calorie AND are caffeinated. They come in 2-4 different flavors and are great for a nice refresher that is on the go and low in costs and calories, too. The boxes are around $2.50 each for a box of 10 packets which is about 25 cents/drink and can be found at your local grocery store where I get mine weekly – take that Starbucks!

Tumblers – Now that you know I have an addiction to iced coffee and Crystal Lite, then you must know that I also have an addiction to adorable tumblers that I drink my addictions out of! My tumblers have been an excellent way to show off my personal flair, very similar to a coffee mug, but with a super fun straw, too. You can shop some of my favorite tumblers linked below:

Fun Notebooks – Since starting my new job, I have become an avid notetaker. I honestly feel like a brand-new intern in Grey’s Anatomy at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital with my pen and notebook frantically taking notes but make it on Zoom – haha! Call me first day intern Meredith Grey I guess!! Anyhow, on another note, I have linked a few of my favorite notebooks that I have enjoyed using:

AirPods – Recently, I decided to take the plunge and *finally* invest in a pair of AirPods! Let me just tell y’all – these are a GAME CHANGER! They’re great not only for working at home, since they’re super easy to use and charge, but they are will be great for when I have to go into the office as well.

Erasable Pens – Let’s just say that erasable pens are literally my new hero! Confessions: the concept of erasable pens is SO cool to me to the point of where I literally write things just to erase them – hah! In high school, I was always that girl with the color coded notes and notebooks, so now having the luxury to erase with my pens is an extraordinary plus! Shop them here: https://rstyle.me/+LxykNqypcuLTggpujT2klA.

Planner – If you know me, then you know that I am an Enneagram Type 3! For those who don’t know much about Enneagram Type 3’s (confession: I seriously only read up on my own Enneagram Type and Wing – I’m a Type 2 Wing! – whoops), we are extremely planner-focused, future-oriented, and always always always productive. I use both digital planners and a paperback planner and have tried both the Lilly Pulitzer planners of the large and jumbo sizes (jumbo size is my favorite, though) and the Erin Condren planner. Personally, Lilly Pulitzer’s planners work best for me practically speaking than the Erin Condren planner. Though, I will note that the Erin Condren site has a customizable option for planners and a wider array of stickers than offered on the first pages of the Lilly Pulitzer planner: a trait that some may prefer than not. Digitally, I use the app Evernote (free version) on both my phone and laptop, but primarily my laptop and LOVE it. Since some planners work best for different people, I will link both the Lilly Pulitzer and Erin Condren planners down below:

Throw Blankets – Throw blankets are honestly my holy grail!!! They have been getting me through these long long long days made up of Zoom. Throw blankets have been an excellent way for me to stay comfy and cozy while still being productive. Typically, I purchase mine from Home Goods (specifically the hot pink or flamingo printed one’s) or Vera Bradley in the clearance section or at their outlets. I will say, though, that Kate Spade has some pretty incredible huge throw blankets that are great, too, and they’re usually always on the shelves at any local Home Goods storefront in all colors and a few prints (mine is in hot pink *surprise!*).

TI-84 Plus CE Calculator – This may just be a Math major thing, BUT my TI-84 Plus CE calculator has become a vital part of my working days. I use it for a variety of things, whether it be simple math problems/calculations (because y’all us Math majors don’t just know the multiplication tables in our heads at the click of a mouse) or for budgeting and other adulting things. It’s really nice to have right there and handy and not have to Google up a calculator when I need one.

Mason Jars – I found that there is so much benefit in having Mason jars right there at your workplace front. Mason jars are an excellent use for storage, especially for desk essentials. I use mine to store pens, pencils, highlighters, scissors, and even old motivational quotes that I wrote on sticky notes. All in all, mason jars are a pretty handy and photo pretty way to store your desk essentials. Not to mention, mason jars are pretty affordable too and can be found in packs for under $10 at Walmart or Target or even $1 each at none other than The Dollar Tree.

Working from home may not be ideal for some, but having the right essentials at one’s fingertips can make it much more bearable and perhaps even fun!

XOXO – Katie <3

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From Small Business Owner to Medical School: Interview with my Roommate Sophie

My roommate Sophie is one of my best friends and blessings that Meredith College has brought me. At the same time, Sophie has also restructured her life to aim for the stars in ways like never before. From an entrepreneur in high school to a med school bound college student, I bring to you an interview with my fabulous roommate!!!

Tell me a bit about yourself!

Current senior at Meredith College who is going to medical school in July!

What is your major at Meredith and what are you involved in on campus?

I am a double major in Biology and Psychology and a minor in Chemistry. I am an officer of both the Angels for Disability Advocacy and Meredith Advocates for Young Children as well as a member of other clubs on campus. 

Did you ever anticipate that you would select the major that you did looking back at your high school years?

Not at all. I started out coming into college wanting to be an engineer. When I actually saw and learned about what an engineer does, I realized I wanted to do more medically. Also, I further my love for children when I took my first class at the Meredith Autism Program and absolutely loved it! So, I decided to also be a Psychology major!

So, in high school, you and your sister had a brand called PinkyGirl. Tell me a bit about PinkyGirl!

It was a monogramming company on Instagram. We were international!

What made you and your sister want to start PinkyGirl?

Honestly, we started it just by chance of setting up an Instagram page! It took off by word of mouth.

I know PinkyGirl took off when you were in high school! Tell me about life as a female entrepreneur!

I was definitely busy, but I loved meeting my customers and the people and scientists involved in Susan G. Komen– we developed a partnership with Susan G. Komen.

How did you balance your high school life with running PinkyGirl?

It was a lot, but I had help from my family (Mom and Dad and of course my sister) and a few employees. We got so large that we had to move into a manufacturing facility and hire employees!

There are many highs and lows when it comes to running a business. What were some of yours?

Lows were keeping up with monogram orders, especially during the holidays. Sometimes, it felt like we were drowning. Highs included meeting customers and building meaningful relationships!

What were some of your favorite memories from PinkyGirl?

I absolutely loved having a booth at A Shopping Spree for being awarded “Entrepreneur of the Year!”

I know you went to Washington, DC as a result of your hard work with PinkyGirl. Explain to me a bit about that awesome experience of yours!

 I was flown to DC in order to be recognized for winning a young entrepreneur scholarship. I spoke with Thom Tillis and others about the importance of young entrepreneurship.

You do not run PinkyGirl anymore. Ultimately, you decided to pursue your dreams of becoming a doctor #FemalePower!!!! Tell me a bit about what made you decide to make that switch!

I have always had a passion for helping others, and I also loved learning, especially biology. At some point, I just realized that I wanted to do more with my life by directly helping people using my biology knowledge. The business route just wasn’t what I wanted to do with my life.

What piece of advice would you give to someone who is looking to start their own business?

Find a passion and stick with it, even if it is not the most popular at the time. Also, be unique!

I know you came in at Meredith wanting to pursue an engineering degree. What made you make the switch and realize that your dream is to become a doctor?

 I knew engineering was not for me when I truly got to experience what engineering would be like. I have always loved helping others, and I just did not get that direct sense with engineering. I wanted to do more and make a larger impact in people’s lives.

What would be your dream area specialization as a doctor?

Pediatrics or Family Medicine

You also are a Psychology major and have spent a ton of time working in the Meredith Autism Program (MAP). Explain to me about that amazing experience of yours at MAP!

I work as a teacher for children with autism to enhance learning age-appropriate academic and social behaviors. My duties are to implement behavior plans, analyze behavior data, perform discrete trial training, and communicate results. I earned my NC license as a Registered Behavior Technician. My time in this role has been monumental for my clients and me. Spending several years working one-on-one with children with autism has allowed me to develop my passion for helping others, especially young children.

Along with your work and involvement at Meredith, you also babysit a ton. Has babysitting helped affirm your decision to become a doctor?

Most definitely! It has influenced my wanting to become a pediatrician because I love working with children.

Explain to me the process of medical school applications

It’s a complex one that goes over my head! It was a lot–glad it’s over! So, you begin applying about a year before you want to start medical school. Also, you have to make sure you get the prerequisites fulfilled by junior year if you plan to go straight into medical school without a gap year. With this, you also have to plan out when you will take the MCAT and how you will study for it. Once everything is complete, it is basically just a waiting game of hoping to get an interview and then an acceptance. 

How have you successfully completed the medical school application process and what pieces of advice would you give to somebody who is wanting to or about to go through it themselves?

I would just say to start everything early and plan out! Have places in mind that you want to work at to gain clinical hours and also have some volunteering that you like to do and stick with it (even if it is just once a month for a few years).

As a fellow Woman in STEM, what is one thing that makes you proud of the STEM degree that you are about to accomplish?

I love knowing that I am able to use my STEM degree to make a true difference in the world!

What are the next steps in your journey to becoming a doctor?

Well, I still am waiting to hear from some other medical schools. Then, I will decide where I will be for the next phase of my life. Right now, I am really liking West Virginia where I just got accepted into!

Lastly, if you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?

To just know that everything will work out how it is supposed to. Don’t stress. (This is so hard to remember when you are in the midst of your busy, chaotic life!).

Through it all, Sophie has aimed for the stars and she will reach them in ways like never before moving forward!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Tips for New Bloggers!

The blogging world is new, exciting, and also intimidating! When I first started blogging a little over a year ago, I had NO idea what I was getting into. I was extremely intimidated, nervous, and anxious. At the same time, I took a few breaks from blogging before restructuring and kickstarting The Pink Chickadee – all within the spam of a year. However, I have found a way that works for me and I have been super successful since my initial start. Today, I am sharing some tips for those who are looking to start their own blog!

Discover Your Niche

When creating your own blog, you most definitely need to discover what your blog’s niche will be. Need help finding what your blog’s niche is? Then, use these questions listed below to help you find out what your blog niche will be.

  • What is the ultimate purpose of your blog?
  • Who are you targeting to come and visit your site?
  • What type of content do you want to share?
  • What are the goals of your site?
  • What do you want to get out of starting your blog?
  • Is your blog personal (friends and family) or are you reaching a wider audience?

Once you have figured out the answer to these questions, then you will be better able to discover your blog’s niche and what content you want to share and how you want to reach others.

Get Inspired on Social Media

Once you have discovered your blog’s niche, then it’s time to hit your favorite social media platforms to get inspired by other bloggers who are in your niche. Even now, I love going through other influencers’ Instagram pages and saving their photos that inspire me into a gallery titled “Blog Inspiration”. I use my “Blog Inspiration” gallery as, essentially, my own Instagram Pinterest board. I use “Blog Inspiration” to see what content I like from other influencers, what content I would like to share myself in my own unique way, and what content they share in ways that have effectively reached their following. One of the ways that I have looked to other influencers is to see what hashtags they use – hashtags are an effective way on social media to reach and connect with other influencers, whether we realize it or not. Another way that I get inspired by others is to look for fun photo ideas to replicate in my own way. Looking to other influencers, I have been able to see what works for them and use their content ideas in similar ways on my platform. Overall, as a blogger, it is important to always be creating new and fresh content that will entice your readers and following.

Create Blog-Only Social Media Accounts

While this is a subject up for debate, I have found that creating your own blog-only social media accounts is the best way to go. Personally, I like to keep my personal social media accounts private and share more personal things on there that I may not want to share on my blog – like a ton of memes. On the same token, I know that many of my followers on my personal account may not be as interested in my blog content, since it is not of their interests which is OKAY. That being said, I have created a blog-only Instagram, Facebook page, and Pinterest accounts.

When creating your blog’s social media pages, it is important to have them be business profiles. Personally, I totally forgot how to do this – I did it once and never thought about it again! With a business profile, you are able to see insights on your blog’s accounts as it pertains to your followers, followers’ demographics, and your profile’s growth. Statistics are very important when it comes to blogging – whether we realize it or not!

Connect on Social Media

Once you have created your blog’s social media accounts, then it is time to have some fun! Social media is an excellent way to connect with others, especially those who are in your niche. Follow others in your niche and take the time to connect with them, whether it be commenting on their posts, replying to their stories, and interacting with their profiles as much as you can. I highly suggest interacting with your fellow blogger cohorts as much as possible! Through interacting with other influencers, I have been able to make many friends within my niche and beyond. Today, I definitely can say that I couldn’t imagine my life without my influencer friends – they’re the BEST!!!!

Be Consistent

However you choose to do it all, consistency is KEY! When I restructured my blog in July 2020, I decided to post content on my blog every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday (occasionally, I don’t post one of those days but it is rare). Each day that I post content on my blog, I advertise each post on my Instagram Story (with direct links via my Instagram bio) and as a Facebook post on my Facebook page. At the same time, I post content on Instagram daily and find ways to engage with my followers through icebreaker questions and ways to interact with my followers. Every Sunday, I share an icebreaker on my Instagram Story that’s a different question each week and share my followers’ responses. At the same time, everyone’s way of being consistent is not the same. Whatever works for you is what you should do!

The Website

There are several various ways to start your blog on a site. Personally, I have used WordPress and I have a plan where I purchased my own domain name and was able to code my site using CSS. There are other options out there, too. These options include Squarespace, Blogger, and Wix. Whether or not you choose to purchase your own domain name and code it yourself to your liking or select a free plan, as long as your site is made to your liking then that is ALL that matters. I know a lot of bloggers whose websites are not the fanciest on the block and that is OKAY. One of the reasons that I chose to recode my site using CSS is because I have acquired the skillset as a Website Development minor and have a passion for the subject. What matters is that your content is what your readers want to see and that your posts are consistent on social media and on the blog.

Schedule Content

With my constant mentioning of consistency, the best way to be consistent is to schedule your content in advance. I schedule my content for my blog a 3-6 weeks in advance and my Instagram content the week before. I use a spreadsheet to schedule all of my content in Google Sheets (I LOVE a good spreadsheet!!!). Whenever I take photos, I schedule the photo shoots that I take, too and make arrangements with others to take my photos if needed accordingly. My way of planning is all digital, but if you love a good planner or notebook or have another way of scheduling content, then do whatever works for you!

Be YOU & HAVE FUN!

Most importantly, it is important to remember to be yourself. Through it all, there is only ONE YOU – everyone else is taken! Be yourself and make yourself known in the most unique and you way that there is. Lastly, remember to HAVE FUN!!!!

Blogging is hard and it does take a while to get it all down, but remember to do it your way and have a blast!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Interview with Photographer Destiny of Destiny Eudy Photography

Hey y’all! Ever since starting The Pink Chickadee, I have LOVED getting to interview strong women and men about their life experiences in some way or another, whether it be running a business, sharing their talents, or personal experiences. Each and every one of us has something pretty extraordinary to bring to the table. Today, I am interviewing a classmate and friend of mine – Destiny. Along with running her small business Stickers By Destiny, Destiny is an extremely talented photographer who photographs some magnificent images and shares them with others. I have had the pleasure of getting to work with Destiny a bit while being a Staff Writer for Meredith’s Oak Leaves yearbook and seeing her around campus photographing students on Meredith’s campus. I hope y’all enjoy getting to know Destiny just as much as I have!

So, tell me a little bit about yourself!

Hello, I’m Destiny Eudy, and I’m a junior in the class of 2022 at Meredith College studying Mass Communications.

Where are you attending college and what is some of your involvement on campus?

I am attending Meredith College. This is my second year as the co-Editor for the Oak Leaves yearbook, and this semester will be my first semester as a section leader for the Meredith College Choir.

You’re the co-Editor in Chief of the Meredith College Oak Leaves yearbook, what has been a highlight of that role for you?

My favorite part of being an Editor for the yearbook is knowing that I have a hand in collecting and keeping the memories of each year alive.

Beyond life at Meredith and your photography work (feel free to drop your Instagram handles!), I know that you have a sticker business called Stickers By Destiny, tell me a little bit about it!

My sticker business started this past summer during quarantine as a fun way to make a little extra money. I started off by just making monograms and other vinyl decals with my cricut machine. I then began designing and making stickers as a way of learning how to use Adobe Illustrator for my new job. I have designed 32 different stickers since August including everything from everyday designs to holiday specific ones. My instagram handles are @stickers_by_destiny and @destiny_eudy_photography.

Now, tell me a bit about your photography work! What made you choose to get into photography?

I began falling in love with photography back in highschool. I also volunteered to take pictures for my nephews birthday parties, but it wasn’t until I joined yearbook in 11th grade that I realized how much I love photography. My school had a few cameras that we were allowed to check out to take pictures at games and events, and so every Friday I checked out a camera to take pictures at the football games. I loved the thrill of taking action shots of the players and the crowd, being out on the field where only having a camera in your hands would allow you to go, and capturing the moments that would forever be memorialized in the yearbook. In highschool it was the games that I loved to photograph, but after graduating that wasn’t much of an option anymore. It wasn’t until a trip to Black Mountain, NC during the summer of 2019 that I found my love for nature photography. On this trip I brought my camera and while my parents went into a store I followed a little bee around with my camera trying to get the perfect shot. 

What made you want to share your photography work with others?

I have always considered my instagram as a place to document my life. I started posting some of my photographs there, but realized that I had so many that it would just be easier to create a separate photography account to document and keep track of all my pictures. Sharing them with others is just a plus.

What are some of the inspirations behind your photography works?

It’s hard for me to actually pinpoint a specific inspiration. One of my favorite things to do is to go on a photography walk. I’ll go out walking around and let everything around me become the inspiration. Every season and place has its own unique beauty and I just try my best to capture it.

With your experience as the Oak Leaves Editor in Chief, what has been your favorite event(s) to photograph?

My favorite event that I have photographed as the Oak Leaves co-Editor is Alice in Wonderland. I loved getting to capture such a special and unique event.

One of my favorite projects that you did was photographing and sharing stories of women with PCOS. Tell me a little bit about that!

This project was for a class here at Meredith called Photography and Social Change. For my final project I wanted to tell people about PCOS, what it is, how it affects people, and share the stories of women that I know with the condition. The goal was to educate others through the stories and photographs of the women. In the pictures I wanted to highlight the beauty of these women with PCOS and not just the condition. If anyone wants to read the stories you can find them at https://cysterstories.blogspot.com/.

Beyond your roles at Meredith, what have been some of your favorite subject matters/areas of photography?

I love to photograph nature the most of all, and especially animals. I love taking pictures of squirrels, birds, bugs, and any other animal I come across. However with the abundance of squirrels on campus, I have found a real love in trying to take as many pictures of the squirrels as possible. 

I see on your photography account that you love to photograph nature and towns, etc. What has been one of your favorite place/thing to shoot?

My favorite place to shoot has to be Black Mountain, NC. My family has always called it a Hallmark town because of the adorable small town vibes that give you the feeling that you are stepping into a Hallmark movie. This town is also down in a valley so every direction you look there are beautiful mountain scenes.

My favorite image that you have shared is of two grey cats snuggling with one another. Share the story behind that image!

So the two cats in question are my cats that adopted me. I say that because they started out as feral cats that chose my backyard as their new home. They have been sleeping on the back porch for about three years now and I doubt they will ever leave. Their names are Socks and Pete and one day when I was outside taking pictures of the flowers around my house I saw them hanging around and thought why not give them their own little photoshoot. Snuggling and nuzzling their heads together is something that both of them are always doing, and every picture I took of them explains their personalities so well.

What do you envision that some of your future photography projects will look like?

I’m not really sure what types of projects I’ll do in the future. Majority of the pictures I take aren’t planned until I see the thing I am photographing. I’ve learned that it’s just easier for me to carry my camera around when I am going out and to just capture whatever is happening in the moment. I have however started paying attention to the moon and movement of the planets more and have been attempting lunar and planetary photography.

For someone that wants to get into photography what would be one piece of advice that you would give them?

Some advice that I would give to somebody starting out is to take at least one photography class or watch tutorials, and don’t worry if you don’t have a digital camera because a smartphone works just as well.

Lastly, what is something that you wish you could tell yourself before starting to share your photography with others?

I wish I could go back and tell myself to post pictures in the order they were taken. I made the mistake of just posting whichever ones I came across first and now they are out of order on my instagram.

As stated up above, each of us has something amazing to bring to the table! Destiny’s gift and eye for photography has taken her places both on Meredith College’s campus and beyond and she will continue to do just that!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Interview with Small Business Owner Cassie of Cassies Designs

Hey y’all! Spread some confetti in the air, because, today, I have a very special post with a real special friend of mine: Cassie of the Etsy shop Cassie’s Designs. As of right now, we are doing a SUPER FUN monogrammed champagne flute set and $15 Target gift card giveaway on both of our Instagram pages ALL WEEK! Cassie and I met while interviewing for the Honors Program at Meredith. She was, in fact, the first friend that I made at Meredith. Over the past three years, we have grown closer as friends who share a love for our sweet school Meredith College and both have their own side hustle’s. Through it all, she has truly been a special friend and more importantly a blessing in my life. I hope that y’all enjoy learning more about Cassie’s story to becoming the one woman show behind Cassie’s Designs and can gain a bit of wisdom from this strong sister of mine!!!

Tell me a bit about yourself!

My name is Cassie and I am the one woman show that operates Cassie’s Designs. I am from a small town in North Carolina called Walnut Cove. I graduated from Meredith College in 2019 with my Bachelors of Arts in Criminology and minors in Sociology and Pre-Law. Go odds! Currently, I attend Wake Forest University, where I am obtaining my Masters Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. My ultimate goal is to open a therapy farm for at-risk children and adolescents. When I’m not crafting, or schooling, I enjoy taking my pup on long walks, reading, watching The Golden Girls on Hulu, and cooking. 

Share three words that describe yourself!

  1. Creative
  2. Empathetic 
  3. Humorous

What products do you sell?

I sell t-shirts, dog bandanas, wreaths, face masks, wine glasses, champagne flutes, hoodies, ornaments (essentially anything that is customizable).

What made you choose to start Cassie’s Designs?

  1. I actually started Cassie’s Designs in my closet in 5th grade. Ha! In addition, I attribute the founding of Cassie’s Designs to my late Nana. She would always encourage and inspire my creativity. No project was too big or too small for her, she did whatever it took to help make my dreams come true. 
  2. Moreover, I’ve always enjoyed making items and giving them to people. More recently, I bought a Cricut Cutting Machine for my time as a Resident Assistant at Meredith. After dabbling with the machine, my desire to craft grew and I realized that my ideas and items could be utilized by everyone.

Where do you get inspiration for the merchandise that you sell?

I’m inspired by everything. Ha! I’m inspired by my family and friends. I’m in a lot of online groups that give me ideas for new projects. I draw inspiration from books, TV shows, Pinterest, you name it!  In addition, sometimes I just buy materials with no ideas in mind, but as I begin crafting, it all comes together.

What are some of your goals within Cassie’s Designs?

  1. Gain a mass following (not only to sell items, but to promote social justice).
  2. I want to learn how to sew and do embroidery. I have a sewing machine, it’s just learning how to use it, that’s the challenge. 
  3. I want my Etsy shop to be successful. I’d really like it if the majority of my sales came through there.

What are your career goals outside of Cassie’s Designs?

My ultimate goal is to open a therapy farm for at-risk children and adolescents. I firmly believe in the power that animals have on our ability to cope with challenging situations in life. I feel that I’ve always had this gift where people feel safe and open up to me more than the average person. We never know how our words impact others, so it’s important that we make every word count.

How did founding Cassie’s Designs help you achieve your goals?

It’s really important to me to be a strong and independent woman. Running Cassie’s Designs is all me. I pride myself on being someone that others can look up to. Having my own business makes me feel a sense of independence and pride that no one can take away from me. It also aligns with my ultimate goal in life which is to help people. 

Is there any product you would like to release/sell?

I really want to make and sew custom pieces of clothing. As a woman in the plus size community, I feel there are not enough viable options for bigger women. The clothes are always overpriced and aren’t made well. I’d love the opportunity to make others feel beautiful and to love their bodies just the way they are.

In times where you feel like you’re just going to give up, what helps you to keep going and preserve?

I always just feel this spark of optimism anywhere I go. Ever since I was a child, I’ve always held the mentality that tomorrow is a new day and if plan A didn’t work, there are 25 more letters in the alphabet. Sweet Red wine from Aldis is also a nice pick me up after a long work day!

If there’s one thing you could say to somebody looking to start their own small business, what would it be?

Make sure to have variety in your products. You want to appeal to a wide variety of people, so there is something for everyone. And always, always, always take pictures of your work!

Lastly, share the first thing you want to do once quarantine is over!

Okay, so 2 major things I want to do. One, is to go to all the concerts that I had lined up before Corona hit. Two, I want to go out to a bar. Ha! Since my birthday was in the height of Corona, I never got to experience that 21st birthday bash.

Feel free to follow Cassie’s Designs on social media and shop her super adorable designs!

Lastly, enter our giveaway on both of our Instagram pages!

XOXO – Katie <3

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