My Highlights of 2021!

This is my first full year as a blogger and it has brought about a whirlwind of emotions – both good and bad. Through it all though, I have had an extraordinary community here at The Pink Chickadee that has only flourished in this year. Earlier this week, I shared my Blogging Highlights of 2021 and a favorite outfit from each month (you can read more on that here); however, today’s blog post will solely focus on a peek into my personal life aka The Life of Katie!!

Winter 2021 (January-March):

In Winter 2021, I kicked off my new year in what I thought would have been the beginning of forever for me – I was dating somebody that I envisioned spending the rest of my life with. I came out as apart of the LGBTQ+ community here on my blogging platform, even though many of my friends knew about my sexuality before in fact years before I shared it publicly. I began to make many more connections thanks to my coming out here on this platform and am oh so grateful to have witnessed nothing but support from it all! Though I had high aspirations for my then-partner, I started to realize many red flags when dating them that for my own sanity I ended up breaking off the relationship in February. I became a victim of a mentally abusive and exhausting relationship, which I realized after breaking it off after a few months of dating them and thank goodness I did! While dating this ex of mine, I wished to be single more times than I did enjoying dating them. So, when the break up came about, I truly felt nothing but liberated.

Right after my break up, I truly began to change up my search for a job in my dream post-graduation life city: Washington, DC. My ex insisted that I live in North Carolina, in order to be close to them, where I barely had any luck finding a job in. On the flip side, I was starting to get some luck with some of my many connections in the Washington, DC area. My networking search continued to grow most specifically in the Washington, DC area. I was so excited that I ended up visiting the area where my Mom and Papa live for Spring Break. With a friend of mine, we stayed at my Papa’s house where I got to meet his dog Rosie who is now proudly mine too for the very first time. And, I went ALL around the city, even during the COVID-19 pandemic and pre-vaccination era, including: The National Mall, Nationals Park, the Jefferson Memorial, Clifton in the Virginia countryside, Old Town Alexandria in Virginia, and National Harbor in Maryland. Needless to say, it was an amazing time and I, then, decided to solely continue to search for a job in only the Washington, DC area via an announcement on the blog! The best part?! I was SINGLE and more than ready to start out on my own.

Spring 2021 (March-May):

Since announcing my move to the Washington, DC area, things started to only look up from there. My Papa has a basement that doubles as an apartment, which he graciously was excited to allow me to move into at a much cheaper than Washington, DC area rent cost. So, I had a place to live. I started to network even more which landed me an incredible job that I am still at today in the Northern Virginia area. So, I had a job. And, Papa had Rosie – a Shepherd Chihuahua mix from Puerto Rico who has since become my dog, too, and has made me a Dog Mom. So, I had a dog. All of this post graduation life excitement was in the city of my dreams. Needless to say, my life was looking pretty great when it came to my life after college!

During the remainder of my Spring 2021 semester, I had classes all online except for one – Public Speaking. Public Speaking was all about female empowerment and was indeed the best class to wrap up experiencing the in-person aspect of classes. I see that class as God’s way of giving me closure to my academic career for the time being. At first, I was super upset that I had an in-person class, but looking back, it was a great gift to have! At the same time, my college opened up the opportunity for many more in-person events. We had a Senior class parade, Alumnae Induction Ceremony, Graduation Ceremonies for the Class of 2020 (which I volunteered as a Marshall for), and a Freshmen class dinner which I also volunteered for. Most importantly, I got to help plan an in-person event called Class Day with my friends Maggie and Miranda (read more about that here!) and had an in-person graduation ceremony in the courtyard of my beautiful campus! I celebrated my achievements by being awarded 4 awards across my campus by my professors, classmates, and staff. Meanwhile, I got to celebrate my 22nd Birthday in-person, my friend Chandler’s 21st Birthday in-person, go to Ocean Isle, North Carolina with friends as a pre-graduation trip (read about here), take graduation photos with my friends Chandler, Addy, Miranda, Hannah, and Sophie (see those here – shoutout to Hannah and Quinn for the amazing photos!), celebrate my graduation with a Grad Party courtesy of my mother, and many dinners and lunches and brunches in between! It was a hectic yet super special time.

Since graduating, I immediately packed my bags into a huge U-Haul and Papa’s truck and made it with Rosie who is by the way NOT a lap dog on my lap to Washington, DC. Papa and I enjoyed some pizza that night and began to unpack the next day. The rest of my month of May consisted of me unpacking and getting settled into my brand-new home.

Summer 2021 (June-August):

My Summer 2021 was kind of a bummer. I didn’t have any trips except for a few weekend trips away and it was starting to hit me that I was not living with all of my friends just a few doors down. It sucked for a while, but I managed. Fortunately enough, my best friends Hannah and Alanna came for the weekend of July 4th and my best friends Caroline and Cassie came at the end of August. It was so much fun to be able to visit my new town with some of my best friends. At the same time, I also took several day trips in my new town – the Washington National Cathedral, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Georgetown, the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, the National Mall, the Smithsonian American Museum of History, and Nationals Park. I was also able to explore much of my new state – Virginia – including: Burke Lake Park, Vienna, Old Town Alexandria, Mason Neck State Park, Occoquan, and Mosaic, Clifton. I also spent A LOT of time decorating my new apartment with pieces that I have had for years and some newer pieces (see my bedroom, pantry, office, patio, and kitchen respectively). I have explored my own home decor style and learned that I am most definitely a bright Palm Beach Grand Millennial who happens to not live in Palm Beach – haha!

Summer 2021 also marked the start of my career, with my first-ever salaried job starting in the end of July. While an intimidating at first glance, working full time has been super empowering and rewarding at the same time. I have begun to get involved and network within my own company and continue to do so – something that everyone should do!

Fall 2021-Christmas 2021 (September-December):

As my work progressed, I began to honestly feel a bit depressed during the Fall months. I was loosing my college experience, as I watched those in my network go back for their highly-anticipated Fall 2021 semester, despite the fact that I had already graduated. I had and still have yet to get my bearings in my new hometown: I am still in the process of making new friends and establishing new connections. There is so much excitement, but there is also so much nerves and sadness too. I spent a lot of time alone this Fall 2021 season, simply processing it all and hoping to find a way to feel connected. I also work primarily remote and will continue to at my company moving forward. It hasn’t been easy, but I hope to feel connected with others in my hometown and in my workplace very soon.

Meanwhile, my life looked anything but drab on the outside! I traveled ALL over the place – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Skyline Drive at Shenandoah National Park, Virginia; Pennington, New Jersey; Haddonfield, New Jersey; Raleigh, North Carolina for a Meredith College Reunion and a wedding as well as the NC State Fair; Bethany Beach, Delaware; and Charlottesville, Virginia. I had experienced many blessings with many friends and family and a great holiday season, too! My good friend Shivani moved to the Washington, DC area too and it was great to be able to have someone to do some fun things in this area with as well – we went to Georgetown and Ballston and she even fit right into our family at Thanksgiving Dinner. My Dad also spent some time with me at my apartment in November, which was such a blessing, too! Despite some of the post-graduation hardships, I also feel like there were many many many blessings within the silver linings.

Highlights!

My last first day of school!
Celebrating my 22nd Birthday with Caroline, Claire, Hannah, Miranda, and Chandler
Announcing my Washington, DC move!
Graduation photos with Sophie – champagne and all!
My pre-graduation trip to Ocean Isle, North Carolina
Hosting my Housewarming Party and getting to see my good friend Sarah
My Graduation Party with Julia, Kaylee, Alanna, Hannah, Sophie, and Macy
Seeing where the Constitution was signed on Constitution Day in Independence Hall in Philadelphia with my Pumpkin Spice Latte
Uncle Ed’s Ice Cream with Chris, Andrew, Joe, and Tim in Pennington, New Jersey
One of my favorite photoshoots with my Big Sis Macy
My bizarre lighthouse experience at Fenwick Island Lighthouse in Delaware
Class Day was a success after planning it for 6 weeks and getting to have it in-person!!
Photoshoot and picnic fun with Hannah and Alanna in Dorothea Dix Park in Raleigh
My Fourth of July visitors – Alanna and Hannah
Visiting Nall’s Produce for all of my Fall Instagramming needs
Graduation photos with Miranda and Chandler
The Senior Parade at Meredith College
My first-ever visit to the brand-new Meredith Lake at Meredith College
Meredith College Reunion Weekend with Alanna, Kaylee, Julia, and Chandler
My solo trip to the Washington National Cathedral
Going to a wine tasting with Amanda in Haddon Heights, New Jersey
My first-ever Nationals game with my best friend Wyatt
When Cassie & Caroline came to town and made a pit stop at the White House!
Visiting my new favorite winery – Paradise Springs Winery in Clifton, Virginia
Graduating and becoming hotter by one degree – my parents luckily were able to watch me walk across that stage!
Picnic with my good friends Violet and Haley
Day trip to Skyline Drive at Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
Papa’s family reunion 2021 in Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Visiting my Lil Sis Lelia and my Grand Lil Madelyne at Meredith College
Visiting Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello in Charlottesville, Virginia with Papa
Going back to the NC State Fair with Alanna, Hannah, and Bryn
Meeting up with Shivani in Georgetown
Visiting Chris in Titusville, New Jersey
The Alumnae Induction Ceremony at Meredith College with Chandler – our first in-person event since COVID-19!
Dinner at Ballston with Shivani
Visiting my best friend Amanda (Christmas Village in Philadelphia)
Visiting the National Christmas Tree
Christmas 2021

If you’re oh so curious about what I was up to in 2020 (surprisingly, it was a pretty good year for me!) you can read more about that in My Highlights of 2020 blog post (linked here).

XOXO – Katie <3

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Why Adulting is HARD During the Holiday’s

The other day, I woke up to my glaring alarm clock at 6am. Pure exhaustion was at its finest. I had to catch a train later that morning, yet, I hadn’t packed for my weekend trip. So, I grabbed my coffee, started to chug it down to wake myself up, and I still didn’t feel awake. However, through it all, I got up and I started to hustle and hustle double as much as I was just a month ago. COVID-19 shot down the holiday festivities for the most part in 2020, and in 2021 my exhaustion is greater than ever before. With all of this, I know that I am NOT alone. The holidays are exhausting and that is OKAY!

Since starting my full-time job, I have felt exhausted more than ever before. Working full time is extremely tiring, and it is the grind that never stops. So many days, I wake up and think “oh I want to do *insert activity here* and I’ll get to it over Winter Break”, but then realize that working full time does not usually provide the luxury of a three week break. Some jobs don’t even give Christmas Eve or even Christmas Day off – I feel VERY fortunate that I have both off and am able to take a few days off for myself. It’s hard to realize that the working world does not have the same luxuries as the college world in terms of Winter Break and breaks, but it is something that each of us must face in our lives. We MUST keep going, despite all of the lack of breaks that we may get.

A few weeks ago, my friend Shivani and I were talking about how we do not need to overbook ourselves during the holiday season. However, I have *most definitely* overbooked myself already. I am traveling every weekend before Christmas, traveling even during the week, going on a few late afternoon/evening excursions, attending evening events and even hosting my own Christmas Party, and traveling for New Years, too – ALL while working full time. Let alone, we cannot forget that every human needs 3 meals a day give or take, some time for physical activity, time to work on their potential side hustle, and take care of their potential pets/children along with getting approximately 8 hours of sleep each night, in order to be healthy. Not to mention, the holidays brings on gift shopping, gift cooking and baking, decorating for the holidays, gift wrapping, card sending, and much more. The holidays are crazy, and it’s easy to overbook ourselves, especially when the world feels like it is never-ending.

When I was in college, a friend and I were in her car before a fashion show for one of our finals. For the course, the fashion show was a part of our final exam. I recall while riding with her to go pick out outfits for modeling within that fashion show she said “finals feel like a 3 week period that we think is never-ending until it is”. Indeed, the holidays are the SAME exact way for adults. However, the break part usually isn’t 3 weeks to a month. We keep going, despite the fatigue and we learn something if not many things from it. We learn how to maintain ourselves on our own and not depend on anyone else. We gain independence, strength, and the dedication to our work and outside of work commitments. Adulting is TOUGH, but it is the pathway to the life that can provide for ourselves, our pets, and someday our partners and maybe even children.

Adulting sucks sometimes, but it can also be super rewarding. The holidays make adulting that much more tougher. Having to keep going, despite the stress, chaos, and overbooking outside of the work world isn’t easy. But, at the same time, each and every single one of us has one life to live. Even throughout the extreme fatigue that arises during the holiday season with it all, living our lives to the fullest and enjoying every single moment is important. We all have one life to live and it is what we make it, especially during this holiday season of overbooking, overcommitment, and most importantly togetherness.

XOXO – Katie <3

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My Thoughts + Reflections on Graduating During COVID-19 6 Months Later 

When I started college, my world was filled with hope and excitement. Essentially, I was entering my first four years at Meredith College or my so-called “Wonderland” and I truly saw it as a Wonderland. I was meeting people all around, taking interesting classes, participating in several on-campus activities, exploring my college town of Raleigh, North Carolina, and savoring my first moments of freedom. I had four exciting years of college ahead of me and I was enjoying every single moment that I could. Indeed, I am glad I since did! Fast forward to March 2020 and my college experience turned upside down – the COVID-19 pandemic ensued and transformed our world as we knew it into something that none of us knew what to expect. It was the end of my Junior year of college and my Senior year was looking pretty uncertain and felt that way the entire time. Little did I know, my college career would be changed and I would be graduating within COVID-19 days.

March 2020 was a tough month for all of us. Social distancing was the name of the game and encouraged for all of us. Masks started to become the new normal come April 2020 and into May 2020. Maintaining a 6 foot distance from those not within our households was necessary. All of these precautions were put in place to keep us all safe. But, as we all know, COVID-19 precautions that we took to heart are the antithesis of the typical college experience that all of us knew of. There were no more parties, social gatherings, events, study sessions, and much more. Each and everything that I knew of and loved about my college experience was simply robbed of me. I watched my Class of 2020 classmates talk about their sadness and grief of their college experience essentially ending in the blink of an eye. It was taken away from them never to be seen again. During those uncertain and uncomfortable times, I worried for the rest of my college experience and others’s too.

Come August 2020, I ended up moving back into my college apartment. I lived alone since my roommate did not come back – something I was dreading but actually to my surprise learned to LOVE. In August 2020, masks roamed the campus making it hard to detect who our classmates we hadn’t seen for 6 months really were. Guest policies were strict. Classrooms were set apart, in order to maintain the 6 foot social distancing protocols. My hugger persona learned to embrace the air hug when I saw those friends and classmates and community members whom I love again for the very first time in a long while. All of our lives were changed at that point. Everything was uncertain. We did know that our college experience was going to look remarkably different this coming year. However, we had each other through it all.

The entire year was very different. Everything was done at a distance. I became a club President for my college’s Canaday Math and Computer Science Club and was hopeful to do in-person events, but since had to operate all club functions on a virtual front. The same virtual front went for my fundraisers for my Class of 2021, since I was the Fundraising Chair. I only had one class each semester that was held in-person along with a class that I assisted every Friday afternoon in the Fall semester. It was weird. All events were virtually held or cancelled. Needless to say it was not the same. My classmates and I all missed out that year, but so many people are continuing to miss out on what they thought their college experience would look like. But, things are changing even with COVID-19. They are changing and it is good. In fact, that change occurred during my Senior year of college as well.

I attended multiple in-person events upon graduating from Meredith College. One of those events I even got to chair with planning, which was super bittersweet! I even received an in-person graduation along with the Class of 2020 who had theirs two weeks prior, which I helped Marshall at. Although I had to miss out on a lot, having a string of in-person events was like wrapping the bow on a box at Christmas. In fact, my event advisor and my Tri-chairs and I saw a lot of benefits to hosting COVID-19 friendly events, too, that we hoped would remain true for years to come. It was indeed the best way to end my college experience.

From March 2020-May 2021, the process of moving on from my Meredith College days began. I started to focus more on this platform and my blog here and getting to know y’all – my readers! My good friend from the Class of 2020 was telling me months after graduating during the pandemic that she was already beyond her college years and got the closure she needed. I was beginning to feel similarly, despite my college graduation on-campus being the icing on top of the cake that was my college experience!

You could say that graduating COVID-19 will define me and my whole generation. Although graduating during COVID-19 can be seen to some as a sorrow fest – it is not for me and many others. I grew stronger from these experiences, I learned to love myself, I began putting ME first, I learned what I wanted, and I went for it. I became employed, started and expanded my blog platform, and I made the move up to the nation’s Capital. If I were to not have graduated during COVID-19, who knows what would’ve happened?

XOXO – Katie <3

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How I Manage Blogging While Working Full Time

If you’re a blogger, then you know that there is much more work that goes into having a blog than what meets the common eye. Even if you’re not a blogger, then now you know this fact. Blogging is a lot and it’s a great side hustle of mine. Indeed, some folks blog full-time such as Kate from Lonestar Southern – a favorite of mine over the years. However, many of us bloggers do work full time jobs like myself and may not have a desire to pursue it full time. Today, I will be sharing how I manage blogging while working full time!

How I Manage Blogging While Working Full Time

  • Separating my “creative brain” and my “working brain” – This is something that I will admit that I work on everyday. One of the ways that I can be most successful with my blog is to separate what I like to call my working brain aka the brain and mindset that I put on when I am at my full time job and my creative brain or the mindset that I utilize for thinking creatively on this platform. In doing so, I am able to put my mind into a mode that is all in and focused on the task that I am performing and the objectives that I am striving to achieve, whatever it may be for. Being able to compartmentalize both of these mindsets has helped me to be successful in both my full time job and here on The Pink Chickadee.
  • Working 9 to 5 – *queues Dolly Parton!* Working the 9 to 5 lifestyle is definitely the way that we all are going for the most part when working full time. When working my full time job, I aim for 8-5 actually to be the hours that I focus solely on work and only work-related matters. During those hours, I specifically do not post on my blogging platforms, whether it be the actual blog or social media accounts. However, if I get off work early, then I may post a little bit earlier. Not posting on social media from 8-5 helps me to truly focus on my work and only my work. Moreover, it allows me to separate both of my commitments and prioritize things at different times.
  • Side Hustle Hours – The other week, I was listening to a podcast from Thrive – a company that solely focuses on empowering bloggers and their successes – featuring entrepreneur and a stationary-loving queen Erin Condren. In her interview, Condren stated that a lot of the time many of us with side hustles have to emphasize the focus on our creative thinkings during the weekends and at night time. As annoying and sometimes disappointing as that may sound to some, the focus on our full time jobs during the typical workday is vital to our successes, even within our side hustles, including our blogs!

The blogging world is a fun and exciting world filled with many commitments. But, so does the full time job world! The full time job world is just as fun and exciting and it allows us to fulfill our passions in other disciplines, too. The balance between blogging and working full-time is a challenge and something that I work on everyday in each, but it is so rewarding in the end.

XOXO – Katie <3

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What They Don’t Tell You About the Post-Graduation Transition

  1. You WILL Feel Grief and that is OKAY! – Graduating from college is a loss. It is a loss of a robust social life, living with and near all of your friends and classmates, attending lectures right after rolling out of bed, and less adulting on your end. Moving from college to the real world is quite a challenge, and it is a loss to leave it. It’s a loss of a possibly exciting time in your life, and it is OKAY to feel grief about it. Grief is a normal emotion and it does not just apply to losing loved one’s. Grieving can also apply to times in our lives or things that we enjoyed that we don’t have that we may have had once before. College IS one of those times in our lives.
  2. Less Social Outings – In college, we live right by all of our friends and classmates, if you choose to live on or near campus. With on or near campus housing comes the many many many social outings which come along with everyone living right by each other. At the same time, college comes with a lot of social outings and such – it is exciting, too! When you move and graduate from college, the college social life stays behind. That being said, you will experience a lot less social outings than you did during your college days. As an extrovert, this has been tough for me, even having lived through college during the COVID-19 pandemic during my Junior and Senior years. But, it is a right a passage into adulthood.
  3. Having A LOT More Free Time – Not only does the postgraduate lifestyle bring about a less than ideal social life with a lot less social outings, it also brings about barely any homework! With working full time, there comes the benefit of not having to do much work outside of work. However, before I elaborate a bit more on this point, I do think it is important to mention and honor our extraordinary teachers and others in fields who do spend countless hours outside of their job prepping for their day to day activities at work. So, that being said, depending on your job, you may have to do some work outside of work and sometimes on the weekends in any job, too. In college, having a lot of free time was a luxury. But, nowadays in the postgraduate world, it is coming to you all at once and there’s no shortage of it. One of my coworkers said that he loved that when he finished work and signed off, he had the freedom to do whatever he wanted to do. Indeed, he was right!
  4. More Grocery Store Runs than Ever Before – This one rings true to me more than I thought it ever would – hah! I have always been one to stock up on groceries, but when I graduated from college and had a lot more free time on my hands, I saw myself buying and needing a lot more groceries than ever before. Needless to say, I will 9 times out of 10 see myself needing more coffee creamer after running out in the middle of the week or suddenly needing to simply admire the halls of the grocery store. I have most definitely gotten much more excited about new product releases in stores near me too!
  5. Needing a Budget – In college, we definitely need to stay on a budget. Once we get out into the real world, sticking with a budget is vital and more important than ever before. Putting on our big kid caps means that we don’t have the luxury of student discounts or college student freebies anymore – sad face – and having a budget is super important when it comes to our financial well-being. A few months ago, I wrote a post about budgeting and creating a budget when starting out, and you can read this blog post here.
  6. No, You Don’t Live Right By All Your Friends Anymore – Going off of my points from earlier on, sadly, you don’t live right by all of your friends anymore. *we know, we know* Trust me, it SUCKS! There are many times where I miss walking right out of my door and there are all of my friends right then and there. Post-graduation life means that when you do see your friends it does take quite a bit more planning on both of your ends to simply meet up and perhaps some travel too. Though, in the end, it will all be 10000% worth it and much more meaningful!
  7. Having to Say NO Sometimes – Just like during your college years, there will be times post-college that you’ll have to put your foot down and say NO. Saying no is a vital part of adulthood and a huge accomplishment for any person both mentally, emotionally, and physically. Us humans are not meant to do everything in this world – we can only do so much. As hard as it is to sometimes swallow, we as humans are only capable of doing so much. That being said, we have to listen to ourselves, our bodies, and our minds and ensure that we are doing what we need to do that’s best for ourselves. Sometimes that means saying no to an additional task in or out of work, a social outing or trip due to finances, or a family thing that would hurt you mentally more than help you to go. Through it all, saying no is OKAY. It does not make you a weak person either. Rather, it makes you strong and resilient and more than ever ready to take on this world!
  8. Changes in Your Friendships – The post-graduation transition brings about a lot of changes. One of the most significant changes can be with our own friends. This may be a hard pill to swallow, but not all of your friends will stick around – some may fade away over time, some may depart from your life instantly, and some may stick around and you both will grow closer than ever before. Whatever the situation may be with each of your respective friends, know that the changes occurring are NORMAL and not out of the ordinary. It is OKAY to drift apart from friends given the trajectories of your lives after college. It is also amazing to have a one or a few friends that you will maintain through this transition as well. All throughout this transition, there are changes, but once you pop out of it all, you will see who your true friends from college are and you’ll be oh so thankful they are still in your life and they will be that you’re in theirs. On the same token, definitely be thankful for the friendships you have made in college, even if they may not be as strong of a friendship once you both graduate.
  9. The Working 9-5 Adjustment – Working 9-5 is HARD! A straight shot of work all day 5+ days a week with some breaks sprinkled in isn’t an easy task for anybody. It’s definitely not easy going from college where you have 1-4 classes a day with many breaks in between. It’s definitely not the typical 40 hour work week, so it is hard to get used to. It can be tiring and it’s an adjustment for sure. Also, no pajamas and rolling out of bed in the work world like we used to take for granted in college can be a struggle bus at times. However, work is an essential task and can be pretty great if we let it be. Our jobs are a vital part of our wellbeing and we definitely all want to succeed in them too. If we let our job be an enjoyable part of our day, then we can adjust a lot easier to our work lives as well!
  10. This Transition is ROUGH for EVERYBODY! – Through and through, the post-college graduation transition is HARD. It’s hard for everybody. It’s easy to think that it is not. Nowadays, social media makes us think that everyone has it great and everyone is thriving. When in reality, everyone is not thriving. Some folks may be doing great, but others may not be no matter how they paint a picture of their lives on social media. Just know, graduating from college is hard and the months and even a few years after it will be. That’s okay – I’m in this transition too and it is a struggle bus and there’s a lot I feel like I need to figure out about how I want to proceed with things in my life moving forward into my 20’s while not in school anymore. But, I will get through it and make it out okay and be stronger than ever before. And guess what?! So will YOU!

XOXO – Katie <3

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How I Spice Up My Work from Home Routine

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

How I Spice Up My Work From Home Routine

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

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

XOXO – Katie <3

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

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

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

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

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

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

XOXO – Katie <3

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Bright Work from Home Essentials

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

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

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

My Work From Home Essentials!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

XOXO – Katie <3

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How I Have Saved While Grocery Shopping

Groceries can be such a cash cow! Especially when we feel tempted to add different food items to our carts, grocery bills can easily rack up pretty fast. From my own experiences, I have spent a lot of unnecessary expenses on groceries. However, over time, I have saved my dollars on groceries, which has been a game changer for me! Today, I am sharing how I have saved while shopping for groceries.

Delivery/Pick Up Service

I have used Instacart since the pandemic began for my groceries. Through using Instacart, I have saved so much money on getting groceries. Although Instacart may appear as more expensive with the additional delivery, service, and tip fees, I have been able to actually save more. I have been known to be an impulse buyer, especially with items on sale or at a great price at the grocery store. With a delivery service such as Instacart, I have been able to choose the items that I need for the week and only the week. I have been able to use the ~$10 in fees to compensate for the lack of $15+ in impulse buys that aren’t used weekly. Services like Hello Fresh that pre-prepare your meals for you are also great ways to save and have your and your family’s meals ready at your doorstep.

No Name Brand Items

I strive to shop the generic brand items at the grocery store where I can. While I do have some name brand grocery items that I purchase regularly and will continue to do so, I buy mostly generic brand items. Some of the name brand grocery items that I will not turn back on include: Polly-O string cheese, Bai, Boboli pizza (a childhood favorite of mine), California Pizza Kitchen’s frozen Margherita pizza, Barefoot Wine, Bagel Bites, Fa!rlife Milk, and Crystal Light. We all have our own preferred name brand products, and definitely do not skimp on getting those if you enjoy them. On the same token, basic items such as flour, sugar, spices, pasta, and eggs can easily be bought from generic brands. I also switched my K-Cups from Starbucks to the generic store brands and have, in fact, liked the store brands better than the Starbucks brand; my wallet does too. Unless the product is something that tastes weird or does not do its job, then getting the generic brand is definitely the way to go!

Frozen Vegetables Over Fresh

My mother told me this snippet if advice a long while back, and I have sworn by it since! The snippet is to purchase frozen vegetables over fresh. You can heat up the frozen vegetables in the microwave and cook them, accordingly. The frozen veggies can also be healthier in a way, too. In fact, as someone who loves to roast vegetables, I have found the frozen veggies microwaved to taste just the same as the fresh. At the same time, I have also saved a bunch of time on cooking, as frozen vegetables come pre-chopped, especially when chopping recipes that require the dreaded chopping of the onion. Lastly, frozen vegetables can stay in your fridge for quit a while. The same can go for fruits, too!!!

Shop at Lidl and Aldi

Recently, I have discovered the beauty of Lidl and Aldi! Both stores have amazing deals on great food items. While not all items are not the best to get at Lidl and Aldi such as wine, there are some pretty great items and even name brand products at an extraordinary price. I have saved so much money by shopping at Lidl and Aldi, especially for staple items. The best way to check out Lidl and/or Aldi, is to check the aisles out for yourself! Trust me, you will spend a lot less on what you need plus/minus some!!!

Plan Your Meals!

Whether you use delivery services like Hello Fresh or primarily stock up at the grocery store, planning your meals are an effective way to save some money. My Aunt April told me this amazing tip that stuck with me for four years now – to limit your grocery store trips to once a week if that. Similarly, my Aunt April plans her meals for the week and my cousins’ snacks, so she only gets what she needs during her weekly grocery trips. Especially with using delivery services, shopping only once a week or every other week, I can save some cash on fees, too. That way, you can save your time AND money!!!

Go to Name Brand Stores and Wholesale Stores Once a Month/Few Months

Some of the name brand and wholesale grocery stores that I can think of, including Costco, Target, Wegman’s, Whole Foods, BJ’s, and Trader Joe’s, sell similar groceries at a much heftier price tag than others. Like many others, I love a fun trip to Wegman’s or Trader Joe’s for groceries, but it comes at a much heftier price tag than others. So, going to one of those grocery stores once each month or few months, will allow you to solely stock up on what you need/enjoy from there and save it for a given period of time. My mother goes to Costco once a month to get protein and snacks for the month, which saves her a bunch of money and our whole family and plans meals with each protein for the month, accordingly. That way, we can all save and buy less at the grocery store each week/every few weeks.

Grocery shopping can add up, especially really quickly. However, when you make a few changes to your shopping regime, then you are able to save a bunch of money on those hefty bills!!!

HAPPY SAVING!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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How To Craft A Weekly Menu On A Budget

From cooking to baking, the possibilities in the kitchen are most definitely ENDLESS! While it is extremely exciting to start cooking in the kitchen, it definitely comes at a cost. In order to help me stay on a budget, I create weekly menus that include ALL of the recipes that I have for a given week. That way, when I head on over to the grocery store, I know exactly what I am going to purchase for that week and it helps me steer away from items that I do not need. Consequentially, I have successfully been able to keep my grocery runs to once a week, which also helps me save money in the long run. In this blog post, I will be sharing how YOU can create your own weekly menu while maintaining your budget.

Use Pinterest, Blogs, & Cookbooks!

Have a preference for vegetarian, keto, gluten-free, or vegan recipes?! Whatever your recipe preferences may be, get on Pinterest and/or research some blogs and cookbooks that have recipes to your liking! In doing so, you can see what recipes are up to par with your cooking ability as well as your budget. In finding budget-friendly recipes, my biggest piece of advice would be to make sure that the majority of ingredients in the recipe you can either find in your pantry already or get pretty cheaply at the grocery store. For instance, you may not want to try a recipe that has you buy all of these ingredients that you do not already have in your pantry such as Worcester sauce and Nutmeg if you are not going to use them for something else. That being said, there are plenty of other recipes out there – even for the same dish – and it is much more worthwhile to spend your money on items that you will use to the fullest rather than dump. Finding inspiration for recipes is always an effective way to garner inspiration for what will be cooking in your kitchen!

Have A Place To Store Your Recipes Of Interest

Once you find a recipe that you would like to try, then save it to your Pinterest board, add a sticky note in a cookbook, or create a document where you can link recipes found directly from blogs. I have also created a Google Document where my friends and followers can all share recipes with one another and gather inspiration. If you would like to join, then fill out the form here! Having a place to store all of your recipes that you want to try will make it easier for you to find them, as you’re crafting your weekly menus. When you have found a plethora of recipes that you would like to try, then the opportunities to spice up your kitchen will be endless in a convenient way!

Plan Your Menu Based On What’s Going On Each Day

I cannot say this ENOUGH: plan your weekly menu based on what’s going on each day of the week. If your Monday evening is busy with meetings, then definitely plan for something simple that night or cook something the weekend before. The same idea goes for any other day of the week. Additionally, it is important to make note of days that you plan to go out to eat at restaurants and/or order takeout. In my family, we usually order takeout on Friday’s, so mark those days as having takeout for dinner. Similarly, if you plan to get breakfast, lunch, or dinner with some friends, then mark those on your menu calendar too. That way, when you plan your menu based on each day, you will be better set to create a menu that meets your day’s needs as well as your budget’s.

Shop Based On What’s On Sale!

What time is it?! It’s time to sign up for your favorite grocery stores’ rewards programs! Lucky for you, each of your favorite grocery stores will have coupons on items that are on sale for that week. Also, most grocery stores conveniently have apps that you can use to scan in these rewards when you go shopping and see what’s on sale before you go. Stores that have these reward program apps include Target, Harris Teeter, Food Lion, and Wegman’s. Excitedly enough, Instacart also has exclusive coupons to the app, which allows many of us who feel nervous about going grocery shopping in person to steal get our deals from our couch. That being said, my biggest suggestion would be to look at the items that your favorite grocery store is having a good deal on that week. If you see something that you enjoy that is on sale, then get it that week to save yourself some cash in the long run! You may even want to stock up if it will save you a lot of money in the long run to do so! Like clothing stores, grocery stores have sales too, however, they can be a lot more challenging to find – you just have to do your research.

Cook Ahead!

I have ALWAYS cooked more for dinner, so that I could just heat up something simple for lunch. I am also one that gets really hungry in between classes, so having something quick to heat up is great for me. Meal prep is also a great thing to do for dinners and/or lunches throughout the week. Not only does cooking ahead save you some time in the long run, but it also saves you money!

Get Groceries One Day a Week

Typically, I plan out my weekly menus the day of or two days before I head to the grocery store. Usually, I designate Sunday as my groceries day. That way, I know to have my Weekly Menu and Grocery List ready to go to get what I need for the week. In addition, I will normally know what meals I will be cooking for that week based on what is going on during the week – whether it be dinners out with friends, a gathering at someone’s apartment, or I have a hectic schedule that calls for some meal prepping. Whatever the case may be, having my grocery list set in stone and ready to go every Sunday helps me to get what I need to conquer my week and budget.

As someone who LOVES to cook while maintaining a budget, I hope that these tips will serve you well in the kitchen. Most importantly, cook meals that YOU and your roommates will each enjoy. Having fun and enjoying delicious meals together, no matter the cost, is the most important thing. Here’s to some delicious and budget-friendly meals to come!

XOXO – Katie <3

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