30 Gift Ideas that are Experiences

It can be SO easy to think of Christmas gifts as a tangible item, a gift card, or simply writing a check. BUT there is so much that we can give others that is an experience that they’ll remember for a long time. Today, I have rounded up a few gift ideas that are rather about the experience and not the item!

Gift Ideas that are Experiences

  1. Professional Society Membership
  2. AirBnB or VRBO Reservation
  3. Sports Game Tickets
  4. Wine & Design Art Class
  5. Performance Tickets
  6. Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner River Cruise
  7. Cooking Class
  8. Spa Day
  9. Wine Tasting at a Vineyard
  10. National Parks Annual Pass
  11. Indoor Sky Diving
  12. Pottery Painting
  13. Handlettering Book
  14. Airlines Gift Card
  15. Board Games/Card Games
  16. Professional Photography Session
  17. Museum Tickets
  18. High Tea
  19. Brewery/Distillery/Winery Tour
  20. Puzzles
  21. Theme Park Tickets
  22. Night(s) in a Hotel
  23. WordPress Subscription
  24. Build your Own Planner at an Erin Condren Store
  25. A Balloon Ride
  26. Horseback Riding
  27. A Massage
  28. Subscription box (e.g. FabFitFun, Ipsy, Birchbox, Hello Fresh, etc.)
  29. Ferris wheel Tickets
  30. Dinner at a Steakhouse
  31. A Trip to Get a Custom Made Garment

There are SO many gifts out there that it can be hard to choose what to get someone. Experiences are a way to allow them to not only look forward to the near future, but also make a memory while doing so.

XOXO – Katie <3

thepinkchickadeeLeave a comment

Relationship Sunday’s – Why the Timeline Doesn’t Work

Back in my high school days, I used to picture myself meeting my true love in college and waltzing ourselves away into the postgraduate years married and living happily ever after. While my high school envisioning for myself is the reality for some, it is not the reality for myself and I am completely okay with it and happy that it isn’t. For us single folks, I know that having a timeline can sometimes provide satisfaction and a place of contentment to knowing when our perfect partner will come into our lives. BUT I am here to tell you today that NO timeline works when it comes to dating and potentially marriage. It just doesn’t.

When it comes to dating, it is easy to dream up what you want in a potential partner and strive to make it happen. On the flip side, dating is not something that I see as something that is one and done. It takes time to form a meaningful connection with someone else, whether it be a significant other, friend, coworker, or even a new pet. ALSO, I have noticed that when I spend time furiously searching for new connections in my life, whatever they may be, that they don’t seem to show up. In those moments on wayyyy too much searching for something I perceive as missing in my life, I will ALWAYS miss out on what’s in front of me in my life right then and there. What we are looking for, in fact, ends up coming into our lives when we stop searching for what we’re desiring and simply being content in the moment. This same concept goes for dating. It all happens when we least expect it.

Things happen when we least expect them to. It’s true. BUT it is SO hard to just sit back and relax and let it happen at times. AND that is OKAY! I have always been a worrier and tend to worry more than I should, especially about when I think and want things to happen. It’s HARD y’all and sitting back and letting things happen and enjoying where you are in life as much easier said than done. Indeed, it is something that I strive to work on everyday. I mean, my 10 year old self would LOVE to see where 22 year old Katie is now and I wish she could see it – she would be SOO excited!

Timelines are so not ideal when it comes to our lives. I know I love a good plan, but that’s not how life goes. Life takes its own twists and turns and it’s amazing in its own way. When we put timelines in our own lives especially when it comes to dating, we force things into our lives that aren’t right and ready for when they are meant to happen. With dating, I have always seen it to be a delicate thing that shouldn’t be rushed anyways. When we do try and rush dating and specifically dating into marriage, we miss out on the great moments along the way within our relationships and just life in general. You wouldn’t want to force yourself to finish reading a 300 page book in a day, so why would you with a relationship?!

Above all else, remember to focus on YOU and what YOU want in this life and not WHEN you want it in your life. If it is meant to be, it will all come into your life the way it is meant to. Life is so short anyways, so why spend it worrying and overthinking?! Things come the way that they are supposed to come into our lives and they will all be beautiful in the ways that they are meant to be. Personally, I love to travel and make memories together with my friends and family and dogs. Those are the memories that I want to focus on and NOT the time I spent worrying about what was next to come, as it will come when it does. It’s so hard to do and easier said than done, but it is also so rewarding, too.

The only timeline that matters in this world is our own. The timing in our lives is made in perfection for ourselves and only ourselves. Remember that.

XOXO – Katie <3

thepinkchickadeeLeave a comment

Relationship Sunday’s – Why I Don’t Use Dating Apps

The other day, I was watching a YouTube video where a YouTuber was emphasizing how she used dating apps to try and find her person or what I like to denote soulmate or partner for life. Moreover, this YouTuber was essentially putting herself out there to find the one soulmate for herself on the format of online dating. While I know that this YouTuber used online dating apps for a while and I think eventually found success on it, I know that online dating is just not for me.

***Disclaimer: Before I get into the meat of this blog post, I do want to point out that I know many people who have used dating apps and had success. I have seen some of my best friends and family members find their significant others online and had success with it. In fact, one of my good friends recently got married to someone that she met online, and I couldn’t be happier for them both. Furthermore, just because I do not use online dating apps does not mean that it may be the right path for you to use when dating.***

Now, you may be wondering why I don’t use online dating apps. I will be the first to admit that I have used them in the past, but it only has been for under a week or 24 hours and for the sole purpose of seeing what is out there. One time, I actually had a chat with someone from a dating app, which is when I knew that I was not comfortable with the whole dating app experience. During that experience, I felt extremely uncomfortable with the idea of meeting someone that I had never seen before in real life and attempting to date them. In fact, I ended up frantically talking to my therapist about it afterwards, thus, realizing that dating apps were not for me. In more recent times, I have used apps such as Her and Bumble to meet friends and only friends within their friend sections of the site so that others who wanted friends would do the same and did not feel the ways that I was on a dating app. On the contrary to dating apps, I actually loved using both Her and Bumble’s friends sections on their apps and found it FUN! Because I am super busy with work, I ended up recently deleting my friend meeting accounts, since I solely didn’t have the time to commit. Though I have to say, I am personally glad that I ended up giving dating apps a try so that I could know what I liked and didn’t like when it comes to potential relationships and meeting others to potentially date.

A few weeks ago, my friend and I were talking about dating apps. While she uses them for fun, we both wholeheartedly agreed that we probably would not want to use dating apps for any sort of serious relationship. Rather, we saw dating apps as a method for none other than causal dating and hookups. While it is the case that many dating apps’s users are looking for something not very serious, it also has its benefits for those who do desire casual dating experiences at the time that they use the dating app. Personally, if I were to use a dating app at this stage in my life, it would solely be for fun and nothing more than that. However, I really value having a personal connection with those that I may date, rather than just one online. I like to know who I am dating and what I am getting into when dating this person beyond what you can see in a few perhaps photoshopped photos on an app.

Recently, I have watched “Love Hard” on Netflix – a movie about a woman who writes a column about her disaster dates via dating apps under an alias. She, then, proceeds to meet this guy she really liked and thought was the right guy for her and flies across the country to see him, only to discover that he had used photos of his old and who he perceived as better looking than him middle school friend. Even though “Love Hard” is extremely exaggerated, it does make the point that people can and will not tell the truth on dating apps. Hence, the millions of episodes on MTV’s “Catfish” that involve catfishing via meeting on a dating app.

Back in August, one of my friends suggested that I start dating and maybe even create a dating app profile. To that friend’s despair, I decided that I would not do that. Nor did I even want to try to date online. Personally, I am pretty content being single and do not want to try and date within an online format. Rather, I would prefer to be single and shine my own bright light that way. I truly believe that one day my person will come into my life at the right timing, whoever they may be. But, right now, I would rather enjoy my single years free of the stress of dating apps and simply shine!

XOXO – Katie <3

thepinkchickadeeLeave a comment

Relationship Sunday’s – Being Thankful for your Single Days

The other day, my friend sent my friend group chat a Tik Tok of a woman who made a “Deck the Halls” parody about being single. While it was funny and each of us within the group chat agreed that it was, it also brings up the idea that being single, especially being single during the holidays, does have its pluses. With the holidays approaching, being single during the holidays can sometimes be tough. However, there is much to be thankful for within our single days on this Earth.

My mother told me that she wishes that she had enjoyed being single and simply let things happen. Naturally, many of us worry that we’ll be single forever and want to rush the process of getting into relationship and into the wedding and then marriage – which we intend to be a lasting commitment of love between us and our future partner. My mother rang true to that concept, despite the fact that the excitement of her wedding day came one day, too. It will for each and every one of us once we simply let go – believe it or not!

Personally, I like to wonder about who I will end up with. What they will be like – whether they like theatre, sports, travel, etc.? How we will meet – will it be through mutual friends, work-related conjunctions, online, or maybe even someone that I already know? What will their family and friends be like? What are their dreams and aspirations in this life? What if’s can go on and on and on. BUT, it’s fun to wonder and it’s totally VALID to do so, too. While I do love to wonder about what my future spouse will be like (and so does my Mom!), it’s important to enjoy your time as a single person on this Earth. We are single on this Earth at this time in our lives for a reason, so we must embrace that time that we have just to ourselves and ourselves only. I like to use my time to develop my own goals, grow in my career, do things that I want to do for me, shop until I drop, and grow as a human being. I hope you will, too!

Being single sometimes is daunting, especially as the holidays are approaching. I mean, some of us do get vacuum cleaners over engagement rings during this season – hah! It is not the end of the world to be a single person, even during this holiday season. One day, you will probably meet someone pretty great. In fact, that person may become “the one” aka your soulmate in your book. You two may get married and perhaps start a family together. You’ll plan a great wedding, make plans for the future together, execute those plans, and live happily together. It WILL happen – trust me! On the same token, that time is not right now. In the moment, being thankful for where you are in life is important, as just a few years ago your past self would be envious of where you are today.

Above all else, remember to be thankful, grateful, and oh so blessed EVEN yes, EVEN as a single person!

XOXO – Katie <3

thepinkchickadeeLeave a comment

How I Budget for Christmas

Whether we like it or not, Christmas time is upon us! That being said, many of us are placing an emphasis on budgeting for Christmas. Personally, I have always spent a little extra if not more than a little at the holiday’s. What can I say?! Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year!

  1. Make a list – whether it be activities, dinners, hostess gifts, putting together a gathering, cards, apparel, decorations, gifts, or all of the above. Anything and everything that you could even think about spending money on during the holiday’s is worth while to put on that list.
  2. Check that list twice – Like I always say, you have to check ALL the details! 9 times out of 10, we always miss something when we look over things yet again. I know I do! The same idea goes for making a list as to what you may purchase during the holiday’s.
  3. Set a budget overall – Overall, it’s important to set a limit for how much you can both afford and are willing to spend on Christmas. Setting that budget overall will then help you to categorize everything else from there, too. At the end of the day, having a budget overall will give you peace of mind as to how much you are planning to spend this holiday season and allow you to budget for other things whatever they may be accordingly.
  4. Set a budget for each person and prioritize – When it comes to gifts and activities and everything else in between, it’s important to prioritize who and where your Christmas money will go. That way, you can set limits and budget accordingly. While it is hard to sometimes set limits as to who gets allotted how much and what they may get, it’s important to remember that those closest to you are most likely the priority and the one’s you will probably be spending the holidays with. Though gifts are a part of the Christmas holiday, they are not everything and friends and family value quality time (and probably food – say a home cooked meal that they don’t have to cook) over anything else.

Christmas is an amazing time of the year. It is a time of giving to others and ourselves and celebration. Most importantly, Christmas is a time of love and quality time to celebrate the birth of Christ. While not all of my readers are Christians, it is key to mention that Christmas is a true testament to love and giving all around – no MATTER what you believe. Whether you have a lot to spend at Christmas or not, simply spending time with those you love is what’s most important.

XOXO – Katie <3

thepinkchickadeeLeave a comment

How I Stay Sane During the Holiday’s

Holiday party apparel on – check. Curling up in a blanket on the couch thanks to exhaustion – check. Drinking wine out of an old coffee mug – check. Christmas happens to be everywhere around me – check. The holiday’s can be INSANE y’all. With 2020 bringing about a lot less holiday parties and in-person gatherings of all sorts, this upcoming 2021 holiday season will be bringing about a much much much crazier holiday season than ever before. Not only will we be adjusting to in-person festivities yet again, but we will also be dealing with the holiday craze like never before. Nevertheless, the holiday’s make staying sane anything but possible. Well, until today’s blog post, which I hope will help you a bit!

How I Stay Sane During the Holiday’s

  1. Start early – There’s nothing worse than it being one week until Christmas time and you have yet to decorate the tree, wrap the gifts, decide what casserole to make, and to bake that batch of cookies. Yes, we all know that it can be a lot at times, but it always helps to start early. You know what they say, the early bird gets the worm!
  2. Make a list of EVERYTHING I aspire to accomplish this holiday season – Decorating the house, buying the presents, baking the casseroles and cookies, hosting that holiday party, and wrapping all those presents. There’s A LOT that we have to do for the holiday’s in general. The holiday’s are a crazy time of year, and it is oh so easy for everything that we aspire to and need to do this season to get all jumbled in our minds. That being said, it most definitely helps to see in writing what you aspire to accomplish this holiday season. When you see it all out in the open, then you can conquer it in increments, especially when starting early!
  3. Check that list twice – Before we find out whose naughty or nice, we gotta check our holiday to do’s list again and again and again. Usually, there are so many things that we need to do that we do not even realize that we need to do until later. That being said, checking our list twice helps us accomplish what we need to do and aspire to do and even more.
  4. Make a budget – Let’s get this straight: the holiday’s are expensive! That being said, making a budget is key to success when it comes to the holidays. There are so many expenses that come with it all and to be able to set your limits early and not via a hefty credit card bill come January is the key to financial success during this crazy exciting season.
  5. Stick to that said budget – Now, the hardest part of it all is actually having the discipline to stick to that budget. To be honest, I struggle with this one the most out of them all, but despite the struggles, sticking to a budget is oh so rewarding and worth it in the long run.
  6. Do tasks on your list in increments – When accomplishing and tackling the holidays, do it all in increments. As previously mentioned, the holidays is indeed a crazy *overwhelming* time of year. So, doing what you can to get what you need to get done little by little will help keep you sane and be successful, too.
  7. Take time to soak up some holiday cheer! – Most importantly, through it all, take some time to sit back, relax, and enjoy some holiday cheer. Enjoy that glass of Egg nog, that Peppermint Mocha, and that Shot of Bailey’s and everything in between! Take the time to admire the Christmas decorations all around, time with friends and family, and give back to those around you. But, take the time for YOU too.

The holiday’s are a crazy time of year, but they can also be a super exciting time of year. Through it all, be sure to soak in ALL of the holiday cheer. Get a dose of Christmas spirit and take it everywhere you go, too!

XOXO – Katie <3

thepinkchickadeeLeave a comment

Relationship Sunday’s – Falling in Love with Yourself

Relationship’s come in all shapes and sizes. There are relationships that we hold with friends, family, coworkers, neighbors, and our significant others. Through it all, the most important relationship that we have is the one with ourself. As cheesy as it sounds, I LOVE to talk about falling in love with yourself as the leaves are falling off the trees right before our eyes – see that pun HAHA! But, in all seriousness, falling in love with yourself creates a formative framework for anyone to fall in love with somebody else.

Surprisingly so, how we treat ourselves will rub off in our relationships with others whoever they may be with. We must be able to care for ourselves before we care for others. There are many ways that falling in love with ourselves can occur and one of those ways is by simply taking care of ourselves. Through it all, we NEED to be able to care for ourselves and prioritize our own needs amongst all that we’re going through day by day. Some of the ways that caring for ourselves can include:

  • Reading a book and/or writing in a journal before bed
  • Watching a movie or TV show, whether an old favorite or a new exciting film
  • Drinking a cup of coffee or tea each morning before each day’s craze
  • Practicing a favorite hobby of ours
  • Taking breaks when NEEDED and when we CAN
  • Treating ourselves (on occasion and budget-permitting)
  • Enjoying a nap or bubble bath
  • Getting in a good workout

Along with self care, we must also treat ourselves well. At the same time, falling in love with ourselves requires a good look into ourselves and how we perceive ourselves. Believe it or not, the widely-used quote “you are your biggest critic” is nothing but far from the truth. We indeed are our biggest critics. 9 times out of 10, we criticize ourselves much more than we criticize others, sometimes in ways that we do not even realize it too. One of the best ways to look into ourselves is to examine how we talk to ourselves – are you using positive or negative self talk or maybe a mixture of both? Are there some aspects of your life that you’re more kind to yourself about than others? Whatever the case may be, taking the time to think about these things when they appear is important and a great way to care for yourself. Most importantly, you’ll think yourself and love yourself for it, as well!

Thinking back throughout our lives, most of our impactful experiences that we remember happen as a result of someone’s actions towards us and/or how we reacted to them. Typically, how we felt about someone else’s actions is what we remember the most. The majority of the time, the experiences that we have shape us into how we are right now and who we are to become. Every single one of us has both happy experiences and not so happy experiences. Usually, the not so happy experiences in our lives – the ones that cause us potentially a lot of pain are what surprisingly hurt us the most. In the cases of these experiences, we must look back into the root of the pain of those experiences and simply feel that pain from time to time. Experiences such as being bullied by someone else, a not so positive friendship or relationship, or past trauma can be events that are holding us back from loving ourselves in the fullest way possible. As time goes on, the pain will lessen and we will be able to love ourselves, despite it all.

One of the most impactful ways that we hold ourselves back from falling in love with ourselves is through the simple action of caring about what others think of us. In this situation, I am not talking about our Bosses or Project Managers liking the work that we are doing and progressing within our careers. I am talking about how others in our lives – our friends, family, neighbors, classmates, etc. – think of us. While it is hard to fraternize over how others see us, it only hards us in the long run to think about it all. In the end, how we see ourselves is the most important thing. Indeed, we are the one’s living within our own bodies each and everyday and no one else is.

Falling in love with yourself is a process that is ongoing and much easier said than done. Throughout this entire post, I mention ways that we can care for ourselves and fall in love with ourself over and over again. Each of these ways is difficult to do overnight – they each take time and it’s vital to remember that. How we treat ourselves is what reflects in our day to day lives and will reflect onto your relationships of all kinds with others too. Don’t you want to have a loving relationship with yourself?

XOXO – Katie <3

thepinkchickadeeLeave a comment

Relationship Sunday’s – Starting Out & Moving While Single

When my Papa graduated from college, he got married and was whisked away into his married life for years to come. That was in the 1960’s. While the 1960’s days are far behind us, many still envision starting their lives out with a significant other by their side. I know of many couples who either get married or are committed upon graduating from college and choose to move in together upon graduating from college. Needless to say, it can be daunting to move and start out on your own as a single person, but it is also empowering.

Personally, I moved from North Carolina to Washington, DC upon graduating from college in the Southern state. I knew that I wanted something different after being in college and living in North Carolina for four years. Before even graduating from college like a few years beforehand, I knew that I wanted to live in Washington, DC and start out there. My mother started out in Washington, DC and tells me about all of her fond memories of her time in the nation’s capital. The same goes for my Dad. Once I found a job opportunity in the Washington, DC area, I knew I had what I needed to achieve my Washington, DC dreams!

When I was in the beginning of my college years, I had always envisioned moving in with a partner that I had met in college, whatever city it may had been. I probably was hoping that I had been able to move to a city beyond Raleigh, too, as I have an adventurous spirit. As time went on, I ended up dating somebody that I thought had the potential to be the one. It was my Senior year of college when I started dating them, and they lived in North Carolina in a different city than my college town and did not want to leave. Many of my connections for post-graduation jobs are in the Washington, DC area where I wanted to and now live. Needless to say, I became very stressed out looking for jobs in a place that I had not wanted to live in, but rather felt pressured to live for the life that I had hoped I would have. During those relationship days, I missed being single and having the freedom to move around without worrying about anyone else. We ended up breaking up after 2 months, and it was one of the best decisions that I had made, especially for my future.

Starting out single was not in my plan for my life. Yet, starting out single was what was best for me, despite me not anticipating it. It can be hard and is hard moving to a brand-new city without a significant other in sight. Some of the challenges with starting out as single and making a move include:

  • The Moving Process – Let’s get this straight: moving can be a challenge. Most specifically, when you’re on your own, it can be difficult to move and move on your own, too. I was fortunate enough to be able to move close to family and have family help with both moving out and moving into my new city. The moving process is daunting – the moving trucks, the moving fees, the heavy lifting, and the packing/unpacking. Even with family help, it took me almost 2 weeks to unpack all of my belongings and fully set everything up in my new place. However, if you are doing it all alone, there is no reason to not utilize help from others. If you’re moving to the Las Vegas area, then Muscle Movers LLC Las Vegas can do all the heavy lifting for you! Not only can they help you move your belongings on move-in day only, they can also help you with packing and unpacking into any type of place, whether it be residential or commercial. At the same time, if you’re living in Las Vegas and moving across the state, to another state, or even overseas, these long-distance movers in Las Vegas can provide ALL of the facilitation regarding your move – find details here.. All in all, Muscle Movers LLC Las Vegas is a great way to allow others to help you with your move, especially if you’re moving on your own as a single lady (or gent!).
  • Lack of Connections – Moving can be a struggle, especially when you do not know a soul in your new town. It can be tough when you do not know anyone beyond your coworkers, apartment mates, or even the mail man. It essentially feels like as if you are a new kid in high school in a new city. But this time, it may be without family and friends. Case in point: if you went to college and lived in a dorm in a place different than your hometown, then you probably didn’t have an established social network when you left. However, for most of us, you developed that social network, academic network, and professional network while in college. You did it during those university days, and you will do it again, but this time, within your brand-new city. You WILL establish a vast social network, grow professionally, and grow personally, too – right in your own new city!
  • Not Having a Go-To Person Nearby – When single, it can be quite difficult to move when you do not have a go-to person right then and there, such as a significant other. There’s a lot of emotions that pop up when moving – stress, excitement, sadness, happiness, etc. It can be nice to be able to go through all those emotions with someone else. At the same time, it’s also nice to be able to have someone right by your side who can go explore and get to know your new town with, too. When single, not having someone who is right then and there to do things with can be difficult. But, on the flip side, when doing things on your own and independently creates confidence and allows you to grow and expand your network in a whole new light than if you were in a relationship. In fact, you may even meet your person while expanding your network while single!

Overall, moving while single can be remarkably challenging, but it has its perks, too. You can meet a bunch of people on your own timeline and have the flexibility to move on your own without worry about anyone else. Nevertheless, you get to expand your network on your own terms and only yours.

XOXO – Katie <3

thepinkchickadeeLeave a comment

Relationship Sunday’s – Traits I Look for in my Future Spouse

Hey y’all! Welcome back to another one of my Relationship Sunday’s series. Personally, I have always been an utterly curious person. In fact, I like to joke that I have the mind and energy of a toddler, which I think my friends who know me in real life can probably attest to – LOL! Many times, my mind of a five year old wonders about who my future spouse will be, and my Mom has too: it’s so sweet that she does! Although I try not to place too much emphasis on that person in terms of certain features, I strive to place my focus on who they will be and the traits that I desire them to have. That being said, I am going to share some of those traits.

Traits that I Look for in my Future Spouse

  1. Compassion – One of the biggest things that my family told me is to watch how the person that you’re dating and could eventually marry treats those working in customer service. If they treat them with kindness and compassion, then they will with no doubt be the same way with you too. I want to find somebody who has compassion not only for themselves, but for others too. I have always seen how somebody treats others as an indicator of how they will eventually treat me.
  2. Adventure – Ever since I was little, I have always been a go-getter and somebody who was ALWAYS down for a good time, whatever it may be. My future spouse should have that same energy in them, too, and want to join me on my adventures as well. I want to share a life with somebody who desires adventure and is willing to put on their hiking boots to go for a hike, flip flops to go to the beach, and get out their camera for many pictures along the way! Whether near or far, I am all about bringing together some great experiences and even greater memories from those experiences.
  3. A desire to travel – This one goes off of the last one a bit but is more specific. If you know me, then you know that I LOVE LOVE LOVE to travel! I, indeed, have my own hashtag – #KatiesConfettiAdventures – just dedicated to my travels. I have been fortunate enough to travel to 13 different countries and 25 different states in my lifetime, and crazy enough, I want to continue to add to my running list of places visited with my future spouse. I’m SUCH A PLANNER, and I have dreamed of taking super fun couple’s trips with my future spouse, especially when we need time to get away from our potential future children. Some of the places that pop up in my head at the top of the list include – Paris, France; New York, New York; Venice, Italy; the Greek Islands; and Hawaii. Wherever we go, I want to make memories with my future spouse and look back many decades later at all the memories we made both near and far and will continue to for the decades to come that we have together.
  4. A willingness to serve – Going off of being a compassionate person, I desire for my future spouse to have a willingness to serve others. Whether it be through involvement in a club/organization, sports team, charity, work, or all of the above, taking the time to leave a lasting impact on others is an admirable trait. I have always served others, especially at my college as a student leader and I desire for my future spouse to have that same wavelength going for them too.
  5. Christian faith – Although I am accepting of other religions and LOVE learning about them and those who practice them, I ideally would like to marry somebody who is also a Christian. My Christian faith has always been an impactful part of my life. In fact, I went on 3 mission trips in high school with my local church and did some service on other capacities with my church, too. My faith in God has shaped me into the woman that I am today, and I pray that my future spouse’s faith in God has shaped them into the person that they are today and will become.
  6. Acceptance – This is a HUGE one! Simply being accepting of other people, regardless of who they are is something that I have always strived to do. Regardless of somebody’s race, gender, sexuality, gender identification, political views, religion, ethnicity, abilities, and more, I have always viewed acceptance of others as one of my core values. For me, having a future spouse who shares those similar views of acceptance and striving to understand others’ perspectives will only strengthen our bond.
  7. Driven – Whatever my future spouse may be passionate about, I surely am excited to see their drive for it and watch them excel in it. I have always found it so admiring to watch someone’s passions be ignited. It is a beautiful thing! Having a future spouse who has a similar drive to me, but most likely in different areas of focus (aka not Data Analytics) will allow me to not only broaden my horizons, but watch them excel in the best way possible.
  8. Humor – Personally, I like to think of myself as a funny person – HAHA! But, I also hope that my future spouse is someone that I find to be a funny person and vice versa. My Aunt Sherri always finds a way to bring some laughs into our lives, whether we’re in a situation where we’re all thriving or a situation where it is a bit trying. Aunt Sherri ALWAYS knows how to make us all laugh, and I want to channel my inner Aunt Sherri with my future spouse as well.
  9. More laid back than me – For those who know me in real life, you will know that I am an Enneagram Type 3 who is a non-stop working person and a major major major planner. I am always productive and I am always probably stressing about something – yes, I will be the first to admit it. Though I have worked on taking a step back from being productive 24/7, I do know that I hope my future spouse is a bit more laid back and less of a planner than I am. I hope that they can add a bit of spontaneously fun times into the mix!
  10. Physical attraction – This is most definitely the least important item on this list for me. Inner character is always much more beautiful than however someone appears to look on the outside. However, this is still something that I need to mention. While we like to say that we will fall for someone based off of their personality only, there still needs to be some physical attraction of sorts added into it all – the sparks seem to really fly with it added into the mix. Physical looks may fade away as the years progress, but the sparks will still fly! At the same time, I have found that someone who has a strong moral character – including compassion, adventure, a desire to travel, a willingness to serve, Christian faith, acceptance, a drive, humor, and a more laid back nature than my own – makes someone ALL that more attractive!

Everyone’s personal desires for their future spouse are different. Above all else, it is important to remember that NOBODY is perfect, and neither will your future spouse be. But, we should look to admire others’ imperfections as they can do the same for us too. If you so desire, comment below what trait or traits that you look for in your future spouse!

XOXO – Katie <3

thepinkchickadeeLeave a comment

Is FabFitFun Worth It?!

A few weeks ago, I was out with some friends when the topic of the well-known FabFitFun subscription box came up. As a loyal FabFitFun subscription fan, I sometimes think that everyone knows just how awesome it is like I do. BUT, I was long and behold WRONG. By this time, most of us have heard of FabFitFun from somewhere along the rainbow. At the same time, many of us may not know what it is exactly and decipher whether or not it is worth it to buy. Many of us fellow influencers LOVE and know FabFitFun. For others, it may be unfamiliar territory. So, I will be breaking down all the facts about the FabFitFun subscription box. Hopefully by the end of this post, YOU can decide for yourself whether or not FabFitFun is worth it for YOU!

***Now, before I get into ALLL the details, I wanted to disclose that this is not a sponsored post. All opinions within this post are mine and mine only. Additionally, I am a loyal FabFitFun lover and subscriber. Although I will probably continue to share my love for FabFitFun throughout this post, it is important to note that a FabFitFun box or even subscription may not be for everybody. Everybody has a different financial situation and/or desires for the products that they want to try, too.***

What is FabFitFun and how much does it cost?

FabFitFun is a subscription box that is customizable to its customers. It is a seasonal subscription box that delivers right to their customers’ doorsteps four times a year – Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. The products within each box are full-sized and only come at a cost of $45-$50/box (depending on which plan you choose). There is also an option to add-on as many items as you so choose at an additional cost: one that is approximately 50%-70% off the retail price of the item. At the same time, the FabFitFun site also offers year-round flash sales where all members can purchase new items at up to a whooping 70% off!! As a member, I also get updates all the time on the latest and greatest when it comes to FabFitFun, whether it be brand-new flash sales, sneak peeks at items to put into my customizable seasonal box, or customer surveys to help determine what items should be options in future seasonal boxes.

FabFitFun has a variety of plans that their members can choose from. Personally, I chose the Seasonal subscription where I get billed $50/box. I get 4 customizations per box and up to 8 products. The Annual subscription, on the other hand, allows for one’s entire box to be customized with up to 8 products, but one is billed on an annual basis at $180 which is $45/box. With both plans, one must pay for their Add-on’s separately and at each seasonal billing period.

What brands does FabFitFun offer?

Y’all are going to probably get a major feel for who I am as a person when I say this, BUT I purchased my first-ever FabFitFun box last Winter 2020 when they featured a Lilly Pulitzer mug set. LOL – yes, I purchased a whole entire FabFitFun box just for the Lilly Pulitzer mugs! Luckily, I ended up loving the FabFitFun box anyways. As for the brands that FabFitFun offers, I have listed some of the many brands that I have seen FabFitFun carry products in, either as add-on’s or a customization option within their boxes below:

  • Lilly Pulitzer
  • Rae Dunn
  • Kate Spade Home
  • Summer & Rose
  • Nanette Lepore
  • BCBG
  • Alice + Olivia
  • Frye
  • Draper James
  • Quip
  • & MANY MORE!

I will say that, brand-wise, there is most definitely something for everybody!

Why do I LOVE FabFitFun?!

As an affordable and budget-conscious shopper, FabFitFun allows me to try out and purchase products from those name brands that I LOVE at a fraction of the price. Essentially, guilt-free shopping! Well, maybe not fully guilt-free shopping, but essentially Black Friday FOUR TIMES A YEAR!!!! I love that I can pay $50/box and get 8 items that are full-sized and at a fraction of the price. Not to mention, I am obsessed with the artwork on each FabFitFun box! It is super fun to be able to receive the box each time and see all the fun artwork on it – they are oh so photogenic (that may be the influencer in me talking, though!). Moreover, FabFitFun allows one to buy and try some super fun products related to each season that it is in at a fraction of the price. Most definitely worth it all!

Now, onto to BIG question of this post – is FabFitFun worth it to YOU?! Only YOU can say! However, If the answer is YES (which I hope it is), then check out the plans here.

XOXO – Katie <3

thepinkchickadee1 Comment