Reflections Archives - Page 3 of 9

2023 Reader Survey Results & Upcoming Blogger Goals!

Just a few months ago, I sent out a reader survey (look NO further than here) to survey y’all on my blogging platform here via The Pink Chickadee, what y’all LOVE seeing, and what y’all want to see moving forward. Every single year, I strive to host a reader survey along with a $25 Target gift card giveaway (the winner will be announced at the end of this posting!!!) to one lucky participant and this year is my 3rd year ever doing one. I used to work primarily in data analytics, so doing these Reader Surveys are a bit of a fun passion project for me. And, at the same time, I LOVE getting inspiration from *none other than* y’all – my readers – on content to share moving forward.

To be frankly honest, this 2023 year, I have been prioritizing taking rest and time for myself. And, with doing so, I am writing a bit less here on the blog and sharing bigger postings that are more meaningful to me in terms of memories to look back on in the future, such as my monthly DC Dining posts where I write a round-up of different restaurants that I dine at in the Washington, DC area each month (read my most recent DC Dining’s blog postings here and here). And, in the midst of ALL my time resting and being busy busy busy, I simply missed getting to write and share my 2023 Reader Survey results from the survey I shared with y’all earlier this year. I will say that this year’s Reader Survey had the highest volume of responses that I have EVER received in the past and that is all thanks to YOU. THANK YOU <3

Survey Results

Before digging into my survey results, it’s important to note that this survey includes my followers on social media, readers of the blog, and those who may do both. This survey was also voluntary and all responses are anonymous upon submission and will remain anonymous.

Demographics:

The majority of my readers are within the 25-34% age range (64.7%) and 35-44 (17.8%) and 18-24 (14.5%) follows as the second and third largest age range populations. Most of my readers are women (approximately 85%). The majority of my readers live in the East Coast or Southern regions of the United States, with Florida, Virginia, and North Carolina as the most popular states. The Midwest and California (a surprise to me!!) is another popular area in which my readers live, as well. More specifically speaking, the Washington, DC, New York City, and Raleigh-Durham metro areas are the most popular cities in which my readers and followers and viewers on social media reside. On the other hand, not many of my readers live outside of the United States.

As for who YOU love to read and follow on social media, y’all’s favorite bloggers and influencers are a variety of different people. I was super super super pleased to see some of my favorite accounts pop up, such as: my fellow Virginia residing friends and influencers Kystle of @thevirginiahypegirl and Annaliese of @miss_alk on Instagram and my favorite influencers Courtney of @abyersguide on Instagram, Angela of The Thrifty Pineapple (now @angelamdarnell on Instagram), and Amy of @amylittleson on Instagram. One of the few accounts that came up that I had not heard of except for in passing was Artistic Director Clare Waight Keller (@clarewaightkeller) on Instagram. I *had* to follow her and am obsessed with her feed (!!!) so thanks y’all!! At the same time, many of y’all don’t have a favorite or favorites influencers/bloggers and that is OKAY.

Where Y’all Follow Along & Favorite Content:

I was surprised to see that Facebook was slightly the most popular site for my fellow readers to follow along! Instagram and simple visits and even a subscription to get updates on ALL my blog posts via my website were the second-most popular ways for y’all to follow along. Over 97% of y’all have read a blog post as well. I also noticed that a smaller yet mighty percent of my readers follow me on both Shop LTK and Pinterest. And, as for content, y’all LOVE Instagram Reels and Facebook posts, hence, y’all’s love for Facebook which I LOVE, too. Y’all also *of course* love static Instagram posts (meaning NO reels/video content in a posting) along with Instagram/Facebook stories. At the same time, I was ecstatic to see someone post that they LOVE seeing posts of my Papa and dog Rosie – SO SO SO sweet!

As for content, y’all love seeing things pertaining to fashion (specifically preppy fashion and secondhand/thrifted fashion), travel, the authentic life of Katie (including the good and the bad and more specifically with a focus on mental health), home decor, and Washington, DC area life and things to do. Y’all’s favorite topic to read up on is travel along with adventures in the Washington, DC area and more specifically on starting out in a brand-new city. At the same time, y’all LOVE reading and seeing photos pertaining to preppy fashion and learning more about different small businesses. The second-most popular topic areas were: secondhand fashion/thrifting, Dog Mom adventures with my dog Rosie, my daily outfits of the day, and home decor. Needless to say, I LOVE that y’all love reading what I have strived to show and coincidentally LOVE sharing the most.

Overall, y’all aka my fellow readers seem to LOVE following along on my social media, whether it be Facebook or Instagram. I LOVE that y’all find my content authentic and fun and just love watching me simply be me.

And, as always, I LOVE hearing what YOU have to say as y’all are THE BEST:

Thanks for being you!
I admire all you do on your blog and you are the best sister ever! Keep being you my friend and never change! <3
Thank you for sharing your personality and style! & taking readers along for the journey

2023 Blogger Goals

Continue exploring the Washington, DC area more and share local favorites. I feel so so so beyond lucky to live in an incredible city with SO MUCH to do both inside and outside of the city. The Washington, DC area has A LOT of great things to do and I LOVE taking advantage of it all. I have been following and continue to follow a lot of other fellow Washington, DC area and Virginia bloggers who provide me with so much inspiration for places to go, content, and things to do. SO, as always, I plan to continue to share more Washington, DC area content!
Share more authentic content. Whether it be content pertaining to self growth, self empowerment, mental health, career, or all of the above, authenticity is key in my eyes. I find it SO important to be authentic, especially as an influencer. While it can be a challenge at times, I love seeing that my content resonates with others aka YOU and I want to continue to do just that.
More fashion. I want to share more preppy fashion finds, whether it be in my stories via an outfit of the day (OOTD), while on an adventure, or just a simple Instagram post. I always get excited before any day to put on a cute outfit, whether it be to lounge or work from home or to go into Washington, DC for the day for a brunch or dinner. I intend to continue to do just that!

Thank you all for all of your love and support here on my platform. Your support means THE WORLD to me. And, as promised, the lucky 2023 Reader Survey participant and winner of the $25 Target gift card is ….. Amber Dengler!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

May 30, 2023December 29, 2025

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What I Wish I Knew About Self Love Sooner

I went to an all-women’s college in North Carolina for my undergraduate years. While it was one the BEST decisions that I ever made in my life, it also brought up a lot of struggles of mine that were to come. One of the biggest struggles that I faced in college was watching many of my classmates date and get engaged and eventually married and start families of their own while in college. I remained single for most of my college years and yearned for a college love story of my own. I dreaded the idea of dating after college and even started to resent those of mine from college who happened to find somebody great for them during their college years. I had dreamed of going off to college, meeting my special someone, and then starting our lives together after we graduated. That is what 18 year old Katie wanted so so so bad. However, that is FAR from what 23 year old Katie got 2 years post-college graduation. However, 23 year old Katie today has learned A LOT about self love when it comes to dating that I truly wish I had learned and listened to others saying to me sooner.

Currently, I am single AND fabulous!!! I am *almost* 24 years old and praying that I do not end up in a quarter century life crisis LOL and striving to be a good friend, coworker, family member, Dog Mom, and much more. That is my ultimate goal at this moment is to better myself for myself and myself only. Now, that does not mean that one day I won’t date or end up married. In fact, I would LOVE to ultimately get married to the love of my life someday, but it is something that I feel takes time and is not something I am rushing or searching for. At the end of the day, I am content on my own and can support myself through thick and thin, whether or not I am in a relationship.

I live in a big metropolitan area – *just* outside of Washington, DC to be exact – and, well, every time I close my front door and head towards the city, I overhear a group of girls my age discussing some sort of dating issue in their lives. Every time. I used to be that girl, too. I wanted a relationship so so so bad. I tried the dating apps, dating friends, and dating classmates from college. However, none of them worked out in me meeting the love of my life. A quest to find love for myself usually ended up in LOTS of heartbreak and sadness in what I had hoped I would have. And I remember getting REALLY irritated during those times of heartbreak when those around me who love me would simply say “focus on yourself”. As annoyed as I was then, focusing on yourself is one of the most important things that you can do for you in the long run.

Seemingly happy couples getting married and having kids and embarking on homeownership and celebrating huge milestones on our social media feeds pretty often, the constant bombarding of ads for dating apps including success stories of couples who met on the app and the apps trying to get you to make an account, dating shows showcasing unconventional ways to date/get married (yes, I am *even* alluding to my favorite The Bachelor in this category), and family and friends getting engaged and married before us makes it SO easy to just want a relationship. The desire for a relationship 10000% makes us lose sight of pretty great things in life, including ourselves and what we want. In recent times, I have been working a lot on myself and trying to work through some things that cause me pain to only make me into a better person. I am also becoming more and more content with who I am as a person. I am falling head over heels in love with myself. And, the more I am loving myself, the less I am worried about dating and relationships.

There are also some people in my life that I know would make great life partners for someone else or have even been interested in me. In the past, I used to want to pursue someone for the sole purpose of them wanting to pursue me. Because, *surprise* I really wanted a relationship. Now, as I work on myself and love myself, the more I want someone else who checks all of the boxes off on my mental list of what I want in a partner. And, when I refer to a mental list of things that I want in a partner, I am NOT talking about stupid things that are nit picky, but rather big things and aspirations in my life that I hope my future spouse is on the same page with, too. And, the more I work on myself, the more I realize that while I may be attracted to someone and vice versa, that does not mean that they are the right person for me in the long term. As one of my coworkers says “the less forced a relationship feels, the more right it will be”. Indeed, that is true the more I work on myself and realize that wanting a relationship REALLY bad with fear of being alone or not being content with yourself or able to be on your own and content with it is a red flag from anybody. It’s one thing to want a relationship but know you can live without it, but it is another to feel like you have to have it and cannot be single and alone. Enjoy time with yourself and be content with yourself. Never lower your standards for someone else either!

The more I work on myself and focus on my own needs and desires, the more I am aligning myself with meeting the right person for me, even if ultimately that person is me. The fear of being alone is a real and scary fear that I have felt, but is the most liberating fear to overcome. Along with working on loving myself and striving to manifest the right person for me eventually, I am also manifesting my own incredible tribe of friends who are also my soulmates in their own unique ways. Dating isn’t everything at the end of the day. Our friends and family will always have our backs in our quests to find love within ourselves and those around us. It’s a gift that I treasure being that relationships take all sorts of beautiful forms.

XOXO – Katie <3

April 25, 2023December 29, 2025

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3 New Empowering Things I Am Doing This Spring

Spring is time for a fresh start. Whether it be the longer days, warmer weather, or fresher air, Spring days are some of the best days in my mind! Spring can also be a great time to try some new and empowering things. Today, I am going to share 3 new empowering things that I am doing this Spring. New season, more self growth, love, and empowerment!

***All photos from a recent solo outing to the US Botanic Garden, which offers several floral displays and gardens practically year-round.

1 – Solo outings: Sometimes, one of the most empowering things that we can do is to do things on our own. The other night, I was meeting my friend Shivani for dinner and drinks in Arlington around 7:30pm after she got out of class. In the week leading up to Shivani’s and I’s meet up, I kept seeing photos of the tulips at the US Botanic Garden right by the US Capitol Building EVERYWHERE on Instagram. And, well, my first thought was: why don’t I go see the tulips …. by myself?! It can be daunting to do something on our own at times, but it was such a nice feeling to simply get outside and do something for me and only me. I genuinely wanted to see the tulips alongside one of our nation’s most prominent monuments, so I did it! At the same time, I happened to catch the tulips and the US Capitol Building at golden hour which was STUNNING. The next day, I hung by a local pond near my house for an hour – it was so nice. I definitely want to plan more nights like the one I just had and will!

2 – Saying “no” to things I am either genuinely not interested in or it simply would take away from my time to recharge: One of the most powerful things that we can do as humans is to simply say “no”. In my high school and college years, I used to say “yes” to everything. Saying “yes” back in those days for me meant that I would be more so pleasing others and in the end maybe not even pleasing myself. My best friend Haley does something super incredible and I have given her kudos for it too: she says no to things because she is not interested or doesn’t want to spend money on it. How empowering is that? I look up to Haley in SO many ways, but the way she sets herself up to do what she wants to do with her time is such an incredible thing. The other day, I told my friend James that I did not want to go to Old Town Alexandria with him one night. I did not go because I needed the night off to recharge NOT because I didn’t want to go or see him, as James is a great friend of mine. I simply needed the time off to recharge. I’m proud of myself for setting that limit and I got nothing but applause from James. He is a blessing to have as a friend. Saying “no” is needed at times and is such an empowering thing to say.

3 – Not feeling bad for doing things that make sense for me and only me: I sometimes feel guilt if I accept a more social-related work invite but decide ultimately not to show. Somedays, on the day of those events, something else pops up in my personal or professional life or I simply need the time to recharge/am feeling “off” mentally. To myself and to you: there is NO need to justify or feel bad for any of those things. Life happens – that is just that. At the same time, I sometimes would feel sad if I’m single now when I could attempt to go on some dates or try a dating app or feel I’m missing out on social opportunities by living with my Papa as opposed to my peers. However, the fact that I am choosing to be single and work on myself makes the most sense for me right now. Does that mean I won’t ever date somebody or get married in the future? Not at all – the possibilities are endless. The same idea goes for living with my Papa. I LOVE living with my Papa and the time we have with our loved ones is limited, no matter their age. I would prefer to savor those special memories with Papa. And, guess what?! It makes the MOST sense for me. Doing what makes sense for me may not make sense for somebody else. That is OKAY. I’m going to choose what makes sense for me today and tomorrow and moving forward.

It is SO empowering to be able to create a new and empowering mindset this Spring. I always feel like I have a fresh mindset when Spring approaches, but this year I feel so empowered, too.

XOXO – Katie <3

April 13, 2023December 29, 2025

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10 Hard Truths I Wish I Knew Sooner

Today, we are getting DEEP. Personally, in recent times, I have been doing a lot of processing about some hard truths and thinking about them. These hard truths, while some took time to accept and process, I am glad I know now. And, I *indeed* wish I knew each of these hard truths sooner! Gee, it would have saved me A LOT of pain and struggles over the years. But, through it all, I am glad I know these things now.

Lessons learned in life are some of the most valuable things to have. No one can take away what we have learned in our lives, whether it be in the classroom, workplace, or this so-called thing known as life. Grateful, thankful, and blessed are the names of the game. The lessons that we learn in our lives help shape us into the people that we are meant to become moving forward.

10 Hard Truths I Wish I Knew Sooner:

1 – It’s your life and not anyone else’s, so don’t look at whether or not others around you are getting married, dating, promotions at work, having kids, traveling the world, moving out on their own, getting graduate degrees, adopting dogs, etc. and think you need to do the same. Sometimes, I think I should move out on my own, because many of my peers in my city are EVEN with me being extremely happy living with my Papa. The same goes for thinking I should be in a relationship like many of my college classmates when I’d rather work on myself and am happy single and all. Just because your peers are doing those things does not mean that you need to too. Take the time to reflect on what you want to do and whether or not it is feasible for you. Do what makes sense for you and when it does.

2 – Self-comparison is toxic. Stay in your lane and focus on your goals, aspirations, etc. and don’t focus so much on what others are doing. No one’s life markers are your own markers and benchmark for what you should follow. I sometimes look at others and where they are career-wise, relationship-wise, etc. and think oh my goodness I need to be at their level. We will ALWAYS find something that we see in someone else that makes us look worse than them in our own eyes. But guess what?! YOU have some admirable traits too that others admire in YOU. Someone else may look at you and say they wished they had certain things that you have and offer to others that they may lack. Focus on those and what you want to do. Someone else’s goals and aspirations and interests are not your own.

3 – It’s a waste of time to care what other people think about you. Likely, believe it or not, most people don’t care THAT much about what we’re doing. Likely, most people don’t think about us nearly as much as we envision that they do – we ALL have our own lives to live filled with responsibilities, worries, and much more. Do your thing and always be you. Would you prefer to read on a Friday night than go clubbing like your twenty-something peers?! Who cares – stay home! Do you just LOVE a style that’s, perhaps, considered … “cheugy”?! WEAR IT and wear it well! Sometimes, I think well my sense of style is not the mainstream style and I *even* had a college classmate tell me my love for Lilly Pulitzer that is STILL going strong will be “just a phase”, but it is me. That’s what matters. So, I keep doing me. Whatever the case may be, carry yourself with confidence and do things because you want to do them not anyone else. You’re irreplaceable. Don’t let others’ opinions of you steer you in the wrong direction.

4 – Not everyone will like you and you will not like everyone and that is OKAY. We are all human. We have our likes and dislikes when it comes to food and, well, people are no different (we just don’t want to say it). Some people, we are meant to clash with more than agree on certain matters. Sometimes, it’s best to admire and root for people from a distance, even if we do not like them. At the same time, we must always treat people with respect and not with hurt. I had a former classmate say she didn’t like me, but that she wished me the best. While not pleasant to hear, I 100% respected her comment as it did not come with ill will. I feel the same for her and know there are others like her in my life. We also have the ability to root for and wish the best to others that we may not like personally. Choose to do that. Don’t wish ill will on anyone. You will have so much peace when you wish others well, even if they may not be in your corner or have even hurt you in the past.

5 – Your career – your choice. Career paths are not linear. Many people go back for second degrees or switch career fields all together. What we think we want today may not be what we want 3 years down the line in our own careers. I felt heavily influenced by my parents as to what major and career discipline I was to choose. And, well, I initially went for a career in data science and realized that I did not like it. I now work at the same company in health policy and data visualization (with company support!) and am a lot happier. I am glad I took the time to explore data science, as it got me to where I am today. I was proactive in my career and that is important. Always be proactive in achieving your goals. Learn more about you, your passions, and always uplift your teammates. Don’t be afraid to make a chance, like I did switching from data science. It’s all about learning.

6 – Take time to self-reflect on your own personal triggers, likes, dislikes, etc. and work through the things that you can. Take the time to process things and learn more about yourself. We NEED that time as humans to be able to process and sort things out emotionally and personally in our lives. While painful at times to process things, we need to feel the pain. No day is perfect by any means, but we need the time to process things on our own. Being alone allows us to recharge, reassess, and repeat. I am also a big advocate of therapy and have been proudly going for 4 years now. Therapy also helps me process thinks with someone who is always in my corner and willing to lend a helping hand. And, the more we process our own personal triggers, the better we will be moving forward.

7 – Being alone is better than being in the wrong company. Actually, being alone is good for the soul and important for our minds to grow and process things and recharge. We learn more about ourselves when we are alone than when we are with other people. Spending time with yourself and only yourself allows you to learn more about you and love you. Personally, being single for a longer time than previously envisioned is much better than being in a relationship and even in a marriage with the wrong person. When I dated my ex, I spent so much time hoping for what wasn’t instead of learning to enjoy being in my own company. In early college, I was SO afraid to eat and do things alone. Now, there are times I prefer to be alone and LOVE it.

8 – Not everything is in our control. Sometimes, we have to set back and let God (or whatever upper spirit if you believe in one) or life take the wheel. All we can do is our best each and every day. I had a health scare in December of 2022. Being in the waiting room sucked, as I was waiting to hear my results. But, I was proactive with my health, advocated for myself, and did all that I could. At the end of the day, that is all we can do and that is that.

9 – You’ll find your tribe with the radiant energy you spread. Many of my friends from high school and college are not my friends today. In high school and college, I was at a very insecure place in my life. I did not have as much self value placed on myself than I do now. Now that I have worked on myself, I have found many others who are more confident in themselves and radiate positive energy more so than those in my high school and college days. I have grown closer to some of my high school and college friends, while others I have not. That is OKAY. You will find your tribe in due time. Your tribe will be FILLED with people who love, hype, and accept you for you. Don’t accept anything else just keep doing you.

10 – Dating apps are not worth your time. Learn to love yourself and focus on your own goals and passions, rather than focus on finding a partner. The more you love you, the more attractive you’ll be to the right person for you, as you’ll radiate confidence and your love for yourself will shine. Find a hobby, go on that trip to Italy you’ve been wanting to take, or take some time to volunteer. When you light up and are in your element is when you will find somebody on the exact same wavelength as you. Trust the process and enjoy living and time with you!

XOXO – Katie <3

April 11, 2023December 29, 2025

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My 101 in 1001 Bucket List 6 Month Update!

I have ALWAYS been a sucker for a bucket list! Back in September 2022, I *finally* started my own 101 in 1,001 days bucket list. The 101 in 1,001 bucket list is *surprise* a bucket list where one completes 101 goals in 1,001 days. Today, I am sharing my first-ever update into completing my 101 goals in 1,001 days. Needless to say, I am very proud of how much I have accomplished since kicking off my 101 goals just 6 months ago. Here’s to accomplishing many more goals until June 2025.

Start Date: September 22, 2022 (aka the FIRST Day of Fall and a year post-my undergraduate college years!)

End Date: June 19, 2025 (I’ll be 26 and 4 years post-my undergraduate college years)

Career:

Attend a leadership seminar
Be making a certain salary
Attend an in-person healthcare-related conference
Reach a certain level of leadership within my projects
Join a healthcare-related professional society
Attend a Women in Technology Leadership Awards Gala
~~Volunteer at STEM For Her Day/other STEM For Her events in relation to promoting company exposure~~ – Ongoing
Host a meet and greet or event with my company and my alma mater, Meredith College
~~Continue to network within my company and beyond~~ – Ongoing
Attend the Women in Data Science at the University of Virginia conference again
~~Continue to maintain and create connections with both my coworkers and clients~~ – Ongoing

Education:

Start the part-time MBA application process
Complete a technical writing-related certification
At least plan out when I want to obtain my PMP (Project Management Professional) certification
Complete my company’s Human Centered Design certification – approved to start in October 2023

Personal:

Start attending church more, whether it be Wednesday night activities, Sunday services, or special events
~~Work on reorganization within my apartment~~
~~Vote in-person in an election~~
Donate blood
Finish watching Gilmore Girls
Paint my dresser hot pink
~~Decorate a statement book shelf~~
Buy a new laptop
Adopt a rescue Yorkie
Participate in a local charity walk
Watch a play at my local high school
Watch The Crown on Netflix
Paint my family’s antique lamps
~~Decorate my apartment with family antique pieces~~
Start scrapbooking
Start investing and continue to do so
Open a Poshmark shop
Make more intentional purchases when shopping
Read a devotional
Buy and read Reese Witherspoon’s Whiskey in a Teacup
Try Korean BBQ

Relationships:

Visit a vineyard with family
Host a dinner party
Have a fondue night with Papa
Host a Christmas Holiday Tea
~~Treat my Papa to dinner at The Capital Grille~~
Host a White Elephant gift exchange
~~Attend a Meredith College Cornhuskin’ as an Alumnae~~
Go to a happy hour at a nearby restaurant with friends/coworkers (not planned by my company)
Host a girl’s weekend for 4+ of my friends at my apartment
Host a s’mores bonfire
Plan a family crab feast in Annapolis
Go see a Taylor Swift concert with some of my best friends
Meet up in real life with my fellow influencer/small business owner friends Holly and Lindsay
Join the DAR
Attend a DC Bloggers Event/Meetup
~~Meet up with DC-area-based influencer friends of mine in real life~~
Meet up with my cousins Jack and Laura
Reunite with my family and friends that I spent childhood summers up in Maine with
Visit my coworker’s nail salon
Tour the Library of Congress with my Dad
Go to The National Christmas Tree with Papa and Aunt Amy
~~Decorate Christmas cookies with my friend Sarah~~
Have a DIY fancy picnic with friends

Travel:

Visit two new-to-me countries
Visit two new-to-me states – 1/2 complete visited Kentucky in March 2023 and visiting California in September 2023
Visit a new-to-me Canadian Province
~~Plan a girl’s birthday weekend away for my birthday~~
Visit Charleston again
Explore Uptown Charlotte
Go back to New York City at Christmas time
Attend another one of Papa’s family’s reunions
Visit Papa’s family in Carlisle, Pennsylvania – happening Tuesday 3/28!!!
Visit The Biltmore at Christmas time
Plan a weekend away from our respective hometown’s with my bestie Amanda
Drive myself to visit family and friends in New Jersey/Pennsylvania
Visit my cousin Sabrina in Boston
Visit Natural Bridge State Park, Virginia
Go to New York City for the day with my Aunt Sherri
Take a trip with my bestie Shivani
Visit New Bern, North Carolina
Visit my friend Cassie in her hometown of Winston Salem, North Carolina
~~Explore my friend Alanna’s hometown of Chapel Hill, North Carolina~~
Visit St. Michael’s Island, Maryland

Washington, DC:

Attend Capital Pride with my company
~~Go to a Library of Congress Happy Hour~~
Visit Georgetown at Christmas time
Explore 3 new-to-me Washington, DC neighborhoods
Picnic at The National Mall
Go on a Potomac River Cocktail Cruise
Go to a National Gallery of Art’s After Hours Event again
Tour the Old Postal Office
Enjoy a High Tea
Tour the White House
Visit the DAR Headquarters/Museum
Visit City Center
Tour Mount Vernon again with my Dad
~~Eat at Old Ebbitt Grill~~
Visit MGM National Harbor
Eat at Tupelo Honey
Visit the SCOUT Bags Flagship store on a weekday
Eat at Primrose DC
Go on a Georgetown Canal Cruise
Visit another Embassy (I went to the Jamaican Embassy as a kid!)
Explore Dupont Circle again – happening Sunday 3/26
Experience the Tidal Basin Cherry Blossoms at sunrise

Total Complete/Ongoing: 16

Total Partially Completed: 4

XOXO – Katie <3

March 23, 2023December 29, 2025

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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

February 1, 2023December 29, 2025

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3 Years a Blogger!

Flash forward to Summer 2019 and I was dreaming of starting my own blog. I had followed some pretty incredible bloggers (some of which I am friends with today!) that helped inspire me to start my own journey as a blogger. Three years later, I am proudly sitting here today having been a blogger here on my The Pink Chickadee platform since January 15, 2020. Since that January 15, 2020, I have been featured on the social media pages of the likes of Starbucks, Scout Bags, Stay Arlington, The DC Blogger Union, Visit Lewes, and Stoney Clover Lane. I have been lucky enough to have collaborated with Panera Bread, Shapermint, Glitter & Daisies, VIVAIA, Reserve Pass, Shop Navy Bleu, OPI, Exlura, The Inspiration Co, and MANY MORE! At the same time, I have been thankful enough to call some of my fellow preppy fashion influencers, bloggers, and small business owners alike some of my best friends. Sitting here today in January 2023, I did not expect any of this to have happened with my platform. I am beyond grateful, thankful, and blessed to be where I am today. And guess what?! YOU have helped make all this magic happen here at The Pink Chickadee. So, thank YOU!

Confession: I had my own blog called Katie’s Runway Report/The Chic back in middle school and high school, another one called Tales of a High School Fashionista in *surprise* high school (!!!), and *yet* another blog called Katie’s Closet Blog in my later high school/college years. However, although I had dipped my toes a bit into the blogging world, I knew that I wanted to start from scratch and create my own rather long-term blog and platform to have that would be solely mine. I had suffered a major heart break back in the early Fall 2019 semester which really compelled my interest in having my own blog. I wanted something that was only mine. In North Carolina where I was for college, many of my classmates were falling in love and finding even their now-husbands and wives. It was rough, but I knew that I wanted something of my own for the long-term haul.

When I started The Pink Chickadee, I was beyond anxious to put myself out there as I had been on social media. It was scary. I was then a Junior in college who was well-known amongst my classmates and in my college community, as a committee member on multiple committees, my Lilly Pulitzer outfits on a regular occasion, and my big social circle (which has evolved since graduation). I had a launch party for my platform on January 15, 2020 and I remember my blog launching 4 hours before I had planned it to due to having my WordPress platform set to British timezones – LOLLLL!!! I was SO nervous when my blog had launched and was just jumping into the blogger world. Read more about my launch party here: https://pinkchickadee.com/2020/01/18/the-pink-chickadees-launch-party/

Flash forward to today and I have come A LONG WAY. I have coded and re-coded and re-coded my website on many occasions and created a platform here on The Pink Chickadee that I am proud of. In the past 3 years since I started blogging, the world of an influencer/blogger has changed like crazy and has become quite overwhelming at times. However, through it all, I strive to be myself and share what I want to share and keep it at that, whether it be the types of content that I share and content. Through it all, I think it is SO important as a blogger to just do YOU and always be YOU. 3 years in the making and I am SO excited to see what is to come here on The Pink Chickadee!

***A special thanks to my best friends Alanna, Bree, Chandler, Claire, Hannah, Kearra, and Rachel for coming out on my Blogaversary to celebrate me and 3 years of The Pink Chickadee!! Without y’all’s and many more friends’ and family’s support, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

Thank you all for your tremendous support over the past 3 years. And, the best part is?! The best is yet to come! Here’s to many more years!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

January 17, 2023December 29, 2025

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My Highlights of 2022!

Winter (January-February):

My 2022 started off with a BANG and a HUGE snow storm. I remember waking up bright and early on the first Monday of 2023 to the Lilly Pulitzer Sunshine Sale online and a bunch of snow. Needless to say, I was psyched! Then, just a week later, we celebrated my dog Rosie’s 1 year Gotcha Day with balloons and lots of doggy toys and treats. Rosie was pissed that she had to pose for the camera on a chair – LOL! I celebrated 2 years as a blogger at a gorgeous vineyard (Potomac Point Winery) down in nearby Stafford, Virginia, which I’d love to visit again sometime in the warmer months. As January progressed, I spent much time indoors due to the chilly weather and the still then-prevalent Omicron COVID-19 variant. However, my social life started to excitedly kick in when I met up with my good friends Brittany and Brianna for brunch at Farmers Fishers Bakers at the Georgetown Waterfront in Washington, DC for DC Restaurant Week. And, our friendships began to bloom!!

February was a month ALL about self love. It was PERFECT for Valentine’s Day! Having recently celebrated 6 months in the workforce, I had been able to finally meet up with a friend who I had connected with through my company and we had a blast. My best friend Bree also came to visit for a long weekend and we went to see Louis Tomlinson in concert at The Wharf’s The Anthem, which Bree was in heaven the entire time for! We, then, explored Bree’s old neighborhood in Herndon, Virginia and the gorgeous Reston Town Center in Reston, Virginia. And, we ended the weekend with a day in Washington, DC (mainly the National Mall, though, with food truck hot dogs and ALL!) without a plan. The following weekend, I got to visit Hannah and Alanna down in Raleigh, North Carolina to celebrate Alanna’s 25th Birthday – Lilly Pulitzer-themed!! I got to see our friends Caroline and Jasmine, too. However, the end of February was tough as my brother got into an accident that totaled his car, leaving me to give him the family car that I drove so he could get to school (I work from home), and, thus, putting me on the market for a brand-new car.

Spring (March-May):

My March kicked off with all-things car shopping and the stress that comes with it all. After a stressful few weeks, I found my now-car Daisy on a whim and it was THE BEST decision that I ever made – she is a little white car with safety features aka the only standards I had for my first car! During that time, I went on a fun outing with my friend Brittany to Foggy Bottom in Washington, DC and Pentagon Row in Pentagon City, Virginia and we had a great much-needed time. A week after getting Daisy, we went on our first ever road trip to Charlottesville, Virginia where I got to attend a work conference at the University of Virginia and visit with my Aunt Lisa, Uncle John, cousin Mary, cousin Joey, and cousin Matthew for some special family time. Also, I got to visit the iconic #IfThenSheCan exhibit – honoring Women in STEM at the National Mall twice – once with my best friend Shivani and the other time with my coworkers (Shivani tagged along on that outing too LOL!). The iconic Cherry Blossom Festival also kicked off and Shivani and I spent LOTS of time enjoying ALL that Washington, DC has to offer, including the monuments, Tidal Basin, and the Opening Ceremony at Warner Theatre.

Late Spring 2022 was a fun one! The Cherry Blossom Festival continued, Papa and I visited a local yet new-to-us historic mansion aka Gunston Hall, and I got to see The Bachelor Live at Warner Theatre with a coworker. My best friend Wyatt and I visited the iconic National Gallery of Art during their Spring-themed After Hours Party that’s FREE at the museum on a Thursday evening. My Birthday festivities started soon after a lovely Easter with family, including Georgetown Cupcake, lemon drop martini’s, seeing family friend Amy Wright at Bitty’s & Beau’s on Opening Day in Georgetown, getting flocked (thanks Mom!!!), and lunch with Dad in the gorgeous historic town of Occoquan, Virginia. Soon after the Birthday festivities ended, I road tripped with Daisy down to Raleigh, North Carolina to celebrate my best friend Hannah’s graduation from Meredith College. It was a blast yet bittersweet getting to visit my sweet alma mater one year post-graduation. Afterwards, we had a huge potluck with Hannah’s family and friends AND a pool party. Many more friendships bloomed which led to us all taking a super fun trip to Asheville, North Carolina that August. While late Spring was a tough month on me mentally despite all the excitement, there were so many blessings as mentioned above!

Summer (June-August):

Summer 2022 was a fun one! My best friend Bree started her internship in Ballston, Arlington, Virginia in June and moved to her old neighborhood of Herndon, Virginia for the summer. Bree and I had A TON of summer adventures in the Washington, DC area, including: a rained out Halsey concert, a visit to Washington, DC’s Georgetown neighborhood, a stroll through the National Mall at night on a rainy and foggy Friday, a day trip to Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, and a walk through Old Town Alexandria. We had A BLAST!!! My best friend Amanda also came to visit me from New Jersey and we tried a mega bucket list restaurant item for me – The Hamilton – and it was GREAT. I took Bree and Amanda both to The Winery at Bull Run aka my favorite vineyard. Bree and I also visited my Dad and Step Mom at their home in Bethany Beach, Delaware and it was an epic adventure. On the same token, we also went to Charlotte, North Carolina to visit our best friends Allison, Alanna, Hannah, Sarah, and Drew for a Big Time Rush concert. As we were heading back, we sadly got stranded for 5 hours at a North Carolina gas station due to an accident which I had sadly gotten in a few days before heading to work via being rear-ended just minutes away from my office. At the same time, I got to attend a super-fun work function at a Washington Nationals game and meet many other coworkers that I hadn’t been able to meet due to the virtual work environment. I also got to meet some of Bree’s coworkers as her Plus One to a work happy hour event in the gorgeous Washington, DC Dupont Circle neighborhood. So much whirlwind of adventures – haha!

In August, I got to take my first-ever week off from my 9-5 job to hit the road with my Papa and dog Rosie for Maine. We had the BEST time!!! We stopped in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, saw the Portland Head Light, visited my family reunion favorite stop of East Grand Lake, took a day trip to Canada, and drove up the top of Cadillac Mountain at Acadia National Park. My vacation was much-needed and a few days later I set off for North Carolina to celebrate my best friend Kearra’s Birthday. Me, Aspen, Hannah, Alanna, Rachel, and Kearra and I all had an amazing time together as we saw The Biltmore, made candles, enjoyed gorgeous mountain views, and explored The Biltmore Village. Asheville has been on my bucket list for YEARS, too!! However, as we were driving home from Asheville, I got the call that my grandad who I called Deedat had passed. I was super sad and ended up taking off from North Carolina early to be with family and grief.

Fall (September-October):

September was a tough month at the start. It started off with me and Papa having to cancel our then-planned road trip to Iowa and South Dakota due to Deedat’s passing. I, then, ventured off to Delaware to be with my Dad and my Step Mom for Labor Day weekend at the beach and Deedat’s funeral to follow. While a rough time and sad for us all, it was great to be able to spend time with my Dad’s family and relish on memories with Deedat’s loved ones. My friends Brianna and Brittany and I met up recently after the funeral, too, and we were all going through rough times. It was nice to meet and know that NONE of us were and are ever alone. But, at the same time, the Lilly Pulitzer Sunshine Sale and shopping in-person at The Pink Crab in Annapolis gave me a lot of much-needed sunshine. I remember talking to my boss and we both agreed that we were ready for a brand-new season, so, bring on Fall!!!

Fall 2022 was a fun one!! It started off with a trip to see my best friend Bree at her college East Carolina University and meet up with our besties Hannah and Alanna for the East Carolina University VS Naval Academy game. I loved getting to see Bree’s campus and meet some of her college friends that she’s talked A TON about. Papa and I visited two pumpkin patches along with our annual visit to Shenandoah National Park’s Skyline Drive to see the iconic Fall Foliage. I got to see Hamilton live on a solo date at the iconic Kennedy Center. My best friend Haley and I also visited our bestie Violet who is a Nursing student at Philadelphia’s Drexel University. Philadelphia is one of my all-time favorite cities, so it was GREAT to be back! I also got to meet up with my bestie Amanda who lives in the nearby New Jersey suburbs for dinner in the city. I ended Fall with a trip to my alma mater Meredith College’s iconic Cornhuskin’ Homecoming tradition to experience it all as an Alumnae with Papa and Rosie. I saw SO many great friends from my college years and it was such a special time!

Holiday’s (November-December):

Once Papa, Rosie, and I got back from Cornhuskin’, we started to get into the Christmas spirit! Brianna, Brittany, and I visited this adorable cafe/bar called Virginia’s Darling in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. The following weekend, my best friend Hannah came to visit for her conference in Washington, DC and we did ALL the things, such as: the Downtown Holiday Market, Old Town Alexandria’s King Street, Old Ebbitt Grill, the White House (with a preview of The National Christmas Tree), The Willard Intercontinental Hotel, and *of course* Shake Shack. It was a great way to kick off the holiday season before Thanksgiving, which included great family time, seeing Frozen Live by the National Symphony Orchestra with Brianna and Brittany, and a trip to Leesburg, Virginia to see the Lucketts Store Holiday House. I, then, had a bit of a health scare during early-mid December as I got really tired and had to miss out on some work networking events along with Hannah’s Birthday weekend in Raleigh. While disappointing, everything worked out health-wise and I am thankfully OKAY. Luckily, I got to spend some time with my Dad and meet their newly adopted rescue Yorkie Ginger and snuggle with her as I processed it all. The same goes for time with Papa, too. However, when I got the GREAT health-related news, I went out on the town to the Library of Congress’s Late Night Live at the Library for a fun time with Brianna and Brittany. The year closed with some quality family time, including an outing to the US Botanic Garden’s Season’s Greenings Display with my Mom, dinner with my Papa at National Harbor with espresso martini’s, and visiting Enchant with my bestie Stephanie.

One of my other holiday season highlights was getting to help plan and be the social media point of contact for STEM For Her’s first-ever STEM For Her Day! STEM For Her is a nonprofit organization focused on facilitating interest in STEM and teaching girls about career paths in STEM. They focus on empowering the next generation of women in STEM with an emphasis on underserved communities. Needless to say, at STEM For Her Day, I got to meet some incredible people, like: WUSA 9’s Kaitlyn McGrath, PillowTalk Derm’s founder, two IF/THEN ambassadors, and Toni Townes Whitley. It was A BLAST and such a needed day. STEM For Her Day also ignited my passion for empowering the next generation of women in STEM!!

Highlights!

Ringing in the new year with Starbucks in-hand.

Here’s to MANY more adventures in 2023! Happy New Year!

XOXO – Katie <3

December 30, 2022December 29, 2025

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Kicking off My First-ever 101 in 1001 Bucket List!

I am a big sucker for bucket lists!!! On my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!), I am ALWAYS visiting new places, whether near or far. I have many many many bucket lists. The other day, I got inspired by my fellow blogger friend Annaliese of Southern Belle in Training who just completed her first-ever 101 in 1001 bucket list. SO, as someone who LOVES reaching for the stars in her own magical and confetti-filled way, I knew that I had to jump on this bucket list idea and start it TODAY!

The 101 in 1001 bucket list is a bucket list for people to complete, which allows them to complete 101 of their own goals in different categories within 1,001 days (or a little less than 3 years). Being out of college for a year now with a stronger mindset of what I want to with my life post-college graduation, I feel as if I am in a place where I can work to achieve both my career goals and personal goals. Personally, I hope to remain in the Washington, DC area and grow my career here, too. At the same time, I have professional goals within my current company that I would like to achieve which additionally involves getting a graduate degree. I also plan to provide periodical updates on the goals that I’ve achieved over time. NOW, let’s get into it!!!

Start Date: September 22, 2022 (aka the FIRST Day of Fall and a year post-my undergraduate college years!)

End Date: June 19, 2025 (I’ll be 26 and 4 years post-my undergraduate college years)

Career:

Attend a leadership seminar
Be making a certain salary
Attend an in-person healthcare-related conference
Reach a certain level of leadership within my projects
Join a healthcare-related professional society
Attend a Women in Technology Leadership Awards Gala
Volunteer at STEM For Her Day/other STEM For Her events in relation to promoting company exposure
Host a meet and greet or event with my company and my alma mater, Meredith College
Continue to network within my company and beyond
Attend the Women in Data Science at the University of Virginia conference again
Continue to maintain and create connections with both my coworkers and clients

Education:

Start the part-time MBA application process
Complete a technical writing-related certification
At least plan out when I want to obtain my PMP (Project Management Professional) certification
Complete my company’s Human Centered Design certification

Personal:

Start attending church more, whether it be Wednesday night activities, Sunday services, or special events
Work on reorganization within my apartment
Vote in-person in an election
Donate blood
Finish watching Gilmore Girls
Paint my dresser hot pink
Decorate a statement book shelf
Buy a new laptop
Adopt a rescue Yorkie
Participate in a local charity walk
Watch a play at my local high school
Watch The Crown on Netflix
Paint my family’s antique lamps
Decorate my apartment with family antique pieces
Start scrapbooking
Start investing and continue to do so
Open a Poshmark shop
Make more intentional purchases when shopping
Read a devotional
Buy and read Reese Witherspoon’s Whiskey in a Teacup
Try Korean BBQ

Relationships:

Visit a vineyard with family
Host a dinner party
Have a fondue night with Papa
Host a Christmas Holiday Tea
Treat my Papa to dinner at The Capital Grille
Host a White Elephant gift exchange
Attend a Meredith College Cornhuskin’ as an Alumnae
Go to a happy hour at a nearby restaurant with friends/coworkers (not planned by my company)
Host a girl’s weekend for 4+ of my friends at my apartment
Host a s’mores bonfire
Plan a family crab feast in Annapolis
Go see a Taylor Swift concert with some of my best friends
Meet up in real life with my fellow influencer/small business owner friends Holly and Lindsay
Join the DAR
Attend a DC Bloggers Event/Meetup
Meet up with DC-area-based influencer friends of mine in real life
Meet up with my cousins Jack and Laura
Reunite with my family and friends that I spent childhood summers up in Maine with
Visit my coworker’s nail salon
Tour the Library of Congress with my Dad
Go to The National Christmas Tree with Papa and Aunt Amy
Decorate Christmas cookies with my friend Sarah
Have a DIY fancy picnic with friends

Travel:

Visit two new-to-me countries
Visit two new-to-me states
Visit a new-to-me Canadian Province
Plan a girl’s birthday weekend away for my birthday
Visit Charleston again
Explore Uptown Charlotte
Go back to New York City at Christmas time
Attend another one of Papa’s family’s reunions
Visit Papa’s family in Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Visit The Biltmore at Christmas time
Plan a weekend away from our respective hometown’s with my bestie Amanda
Drive myself to visit family and friends in New Jersey/Pennsylvania
Visit my cousin Sabrina in Boston
Visit Natural Bridge State Park, Virginia
Go to New York City for the day with my Aunt Sherri
Take a trip with my bestie Shivani
Visit New Bern, North Carolina
Visit my friend Cassie in her hometown of Winston Salem, North Carolina
Explore my friend Alanna’s hometown of Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Visit St. Michael’s Island, Maryland

Washington, DC:

Attend Capital Pride with my company
Go to a Library of Congress Happy Hour
Visit Georgetown at Christmas time
Explore 3 new-to-me Washington, DC neighborhoods
Picnic at The National Mall
Go on a Potomac River Cocktail Cruise
Go to a National Gallery of Art’s After Hours Event again
Tour the Old Postal Office
Enjoy a High Tea
Tour the White House
Visit the DAR Headquarters/Museum
Visit City Center
Tour Mount Vernon again with my Dad
Eat at Old Ebbitt Grill
Visit MGM National Harbor
Eat at Tupelo Honey
Visit the SCOUT Bags Flagship store on a weekday
Eat at Primrose DC
Go on a Georgetown Canal Cruise
Visit another Embassy (I went to the Jamaican Embassy as a kid!)
Explore Dupont Circle again
Experience the Tidal Basin Cherry Blossoms at sunrise

Now, to get going on my bucket list!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

September 23, 2022December 29, 2025

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Lessons I Learned from Heart Break

This is a part that I have hidden from my blogging world for the most part. If you have been following with me on my blogging journey for a while and more specifically on Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!), then you probably know that I had a rather short-lived relationship my Senior year of college. Along with that relationship, I had a few potential relationships that never came to be during my college years. I have always been a sucker for a good love story, and am obsessed with many romantic comedies and those of Disney movies. However, the world can be a lot less magical when it comes to the world of heart break.

Top: Thrifted
Shorts: Stoney Clover Lane x Target
Handbag: Stoney Clover Lane (shop patches) – https://rstyle.me/+wqC-ValQQYiuHICjiObURA
Necklace: From a trip to Mexico
Sandals: Jack Rogers – https://rstyle.me/+fUVdCjLvtSc6O8PYiVxU8Q

A little back story: I was in a relationship my Senior year of college for a few months. The most ironic thing about this relationship was that it started and ended in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic and right before vaccines became widespread and distributed to the general public. My ex-girlfriend lived in a North Carolina city a few hours away from me in Raleigh, North Carolina (where I was at the time for college). We made an effort to see one another between our two respective cities during those times. In North Carolina and especially within my Meredith College population, it is very frequent that people will get married in their early-mid 20’s. People committed to one another at a young age (sometimes even middle school sweethearts) and get married soon after their college years end. The pressure to commit was REAL in college. During that relationship, there was definitely immediate talk about commitment and marriage. I had intended to stay in North Carolina to be close to her and started doing my job search there, too. Along with the pressure to be in a committed, long withstanding relationship, I started to realize that the person I was putting my all into was not giving me that same all in return. She had taken advantage of me in different ways, too. I was bending over BACKWARDS to give her my all with barely anything in return. Needless to say, when I called off the relationship and chose to break up with her, I did so for me and only me. I knew that I deserved and was worth more than anything she could give me, especially when I was giving 100% and getting only 5% in return. The break up was not received well on her end. I lost multiple. I repeat multiple friends over this break up. I definitely realized then and there who would stick around and who didn’t. There was a vague blog post about the break up after it happened, as I was filled with so much self love and empowerment when I chose to break the relationship off. Read it here: https://pinkchickadee.com/2021/02/21/sunday-scaries-starting-out-single/

Throughout my college experiences, I had multiple romantic interactions with others, whether it be flirting in the Instagram or Snapchat DM’s, in-person via passing, or many peeks to one another at events. I began to gravitate towards them and some I developed a crush on. Many of them that I crushed on I had hoped for a relationship with, some more than others. One of these folks that I had encountered with with on and off more so in a crush-like way for multiple years. At one point in time, my friends and I definitely thought that the two of us were going to start dating. BUT, that ended up being far far far from the case. It was a wave after wave of heartbreak versus excitement. A lot of interactions and flirting throughout the years, yet a lot go distance too. Through it all, I just hung onto the hope that it would all magically work out in my romantically favored mind for the long run. Today and tomorrow and everyday after, that is far from the case. However, due to varying reasons, no relationship was ever pursued with any of my so-called college crushes. This is something that I have never shared, yet still pertains to the ways in which I cope and have learned from dealing with heartbreak and feels raw to me to this day.

I have even *yes, even* tried the dating apps. BUT, I could never seem to be on a dating app for more than a week at any given time. I have talked to others and even had phone calls with others via dating apps, but the idea of meeting someone on a dating app and meeting someone for the sole purpose of dating them is something that makes me uncomfortable to no end. I have tried and tried dating apps from time to time again. But, overtime, I have come to the conclusion that they are not the right path for me to eventually enter into a relationship. The funniest part is that the last time I used a dating app, I forgot that I even had it and kept forgetting to use it. Read more on that here: https://pinkchickadee.com/2021/11/14/relationship-sundays-why-i-dont-use-dating-apps/

The truth is: heartbreak HURTS. It is painful. It is raw. And, it makes us more vulnerable than we sometimes ever want to be. Though, at the same time, heartbreak makes us all stronger and prepares us for the right person that we are meant to be with. It also allows us to give ourselves grace, admire ourselves for who we are, and love ourselves through thick and thin for the imperfect person that we are.

When I moved to Washington, DC, I decided to for the sole purpose of having the chance at a fresh start. I would be able to focus on myself, my confidence, and go after my dreams. These dreams that were MINE and not even thinking about keeping someone else’s in mind. Carrie Bradshaw says in Sex and the City that “women move to New York City for two things: labels and love”. Not going to lie, I partially felt that way about my move to Washington, DC – I could live just steps away from ALL the beautiful high-end preppy boutiques along with their respective outlet stores AND have a better shot at loving myself and, when I’m ready, someone else. In my Junior year of college – one of my WORST years for heartbreak – I kept envisioning myself living it up in Washington, DC post-graduation. I am glad I am today.

Lessons I Learned From Heartbreak

You ALWAYS have yourself – You probably have witnessed one relationship come and go or a hopeful romance fade away. But, at the end of the day, you have yourself to fall back on. Your mind. Your thoughts. Your self worth and how you view it. We live in our thoughts day in and day out. All of those things are with you whether or not you’re dating somebody. When heartbroken over someone else, our self worth could feel diminished. But, our thoughts and mindful thinking are always with us. Be someone you can turn to in the good, the bad, and the ugly. Be proud of yourself and do things for YOU. People come and go. At the end of the day, we always have ourselves to turn to.
We are not meant for this person – This has always been a HARD pill for me to swallow. Hey, we may have just been rejected by someone else romantically and that SUCKS. For whatever reason, this person that we had so hoped to date has chosen to either break up or not date us at all. We may have EVEN envisioned a lifelong future with this person. We picture this person as the perfect person for us. It sucks when we are let down. But, surprise, we are not meant to be with this person, no MATTER how great for us they may seem. My cousin once told me this and I will tell you, too: try just try to picture and list out AS many reasons as you can as to why this person is not right for you. Overtime, you’ll realize it too.
Self love is the BEST love – Through it all, we must continue to work on loving ourselves. Admire the progress that YOU made. Be proud of you. And, most importantly, take care of yourself. Take a walk, find a hobby outside of work, go to therapy, or cook a nice meal. Hold yourself accountable. Perhaps, find an accountability partner, too (mine is my bestie Shivani and my Mom!!!).
Contentment comes from within – We cannot fully be content based on what others think, say, or do. Contentment must come from within. And, a lot of that contentment comes from working on loving yourself. My ex-girlfriend told me that she had “never been happier than with me” and that she was depressed before we dated. That is a scary truth. Happiness does not come from another relationship, no matter who you are with. You must find that joy and happiness from within yourself first.
All of this heartbreak is preparing you for the right person – Yep, you heard me right – all of the heartbreaks and all that you’ve survived are preparing you to meet the right person for you. Deciding NOT to settle for someone who isn’t right for you is only allowing you to make that UPGRADE to the person who is. Now, when I say the right person for you, remember that they are not going to be perfect by any means. They may not even be who you perfectly envision yourself being with either and even anything but. But, they WILL be right for you and you WILL see it when the time is RIGHT for you both. And, it will be great. They say that all of the frogs come before you kiss your Prince. That is the reality with all things dating and relationships. Trust me, you’ll be better off having known your worth, loving yourself, and continuing to work on YOU when it comes time to meet and fall in love with your perfect one.

Now, to, shop for labels and focus on self love!

XOXO – Katie <3

June 4, 2022December 29, 2025

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