Highlights of 2020

2020 was a pretty rough year for us all. However, with all of the tough times in our lives, there always is a silver lining. Although 2020 was a year filled with wearing masks, keeping 6 feet apart from those we care about, and washing our hands, it has actually been one of my better years of life. It is, indeed, all what we make of the times and things that we are handed in life. That being said, I will be sharing some of my many highlights of 2020. Enjoy!

January 15 – Launching The Pink Chickadee & my launch party

January 23 – Cooking my Favorite Dutch Oven Ziti for the first time as a hit for my Grand Big

January 25 – Partaking in Meredith’s once every 4 Years Tradition of an Alice in Wonderland Production by faculty & staff

February 12 – Hosting my First-Ever Galentine’s “Fries Before Guys” Party

February 16 – Coordinating my 3rd Scholar’s Day Event at Meredith with two of my best friends Kaylee and Lexie

March 7-10 – Traveling to Annapolis, Maryland, Mount Vernon, Virginia, & Washington, DC with Lexie for Spring Break

March 10 – Celebrating Papa’s Birthday

March 11-15 – Visiting Tennessee (crossed a brand new state off my bucket list!) with my best friend Laurie for Spring Break

Easter – Baking my Grandma’s Bonnie Butter Cake Recipe & Turning it into a Bunny Cake

April 30 – Having a Colored Pancake Party with Papa

May 1 – I Turned 21!

Mother’s Day – Making my Mom & Old Bay-Themed Dinner & Going to a Local Nursery with her

June 20 – My First Legal Drink at a Restaurant!

June 21 – My First Vineyard Trip & Hike at Sugarloaf Mountain, Maryland

June 24 – Crossed Harpers Ferry, West Virginia Off My Bucket List!

June 30 – Recoding The Pink Chickadee!

July 1 – Vineyard Outing with my Big Sis Stephanie at The Winery at Bull Run in Centreville, Virginia

July 4 – Celebrating Independence Day at Bethany Beach, Delaware & having margaritas with my dog!

July 11-15 – Family trip with my Aunt April, Aunt Sherri, cousin Lainey, and cousin Ryan at Bethany Beach, Delaware

July 15 – Celebrating 6 months as a blogger!

August 5 – Moving back in at Meredith after 6 months at home!!!

August 7 – Being reunited with my roommate Sophie

August 8 – Having a belated 21st Birthday Celebration at Cloer Family Vineyards, Apex, North Carolina

August 17 – My Last First Day of Classes at Meredith!

September 9 – Announcing my First-Ever Newsletter for The Pink Chickadee!!!

September 19-20 – Fun weekend with my besties Alanna, Hannah, Julia, and Kaylee

September 30 – Making Butternut Squash soup and failing to cut a Butternut Squash for dinner with Alanna and Hannah

October 16 – Celebrating my friends at Meredith in the Class of 2022 as they got their class rings (Onyx)

October 17 – Celebrating my friend Caroline’s Birthday with a Trip to Divine Llama Vineyards, East Bend, North Carolina

October 23-25 – Papa came to visit me for the weekend!!!

October 31 – Dressing up as a flamingo and celebrating Halloween with Alanna and Hannah!

November 1 – Decorating for Christmas with the help of my good friend Kaylee

November 26 – Having a Non-traditional beach Thanksgiving with my Dad, Step Mom, and dog Butters

November 28 – Exploring the charming Christmas-Decorated town of Lewes, Delaware

December 5 – Celebrating my Completion of finals at The Restaurant at Lighthouse Sound, Ocean City, Maryland looking over the water and enjoying a bonfire!

December 15 – Crossing walking around the charming town of Occoquan, Virginia at Christmas

December 20 – Walking around Old Town Alexandria, Virginia with my Dad on a Father-Daughter Outing

Christmas – Cooking family recipes all day with my Mom

Life is what you make it! 2020 was pretty great, despite its many setbacks. Here’s to an even greater 2021!

XOXO – Katie <3

20 Things I’m Thankful for in 2020

Thankful, grateful, and extremely blessed. 2020 has been a tough year for us all, but, just like any other year, there is still so so much that we can be thankful for. Surprisingly enough, 2020 was one of my better years – I started my platform here on The Pink Chickadee, maintained and restored connections with both family and friends, accomplished a lot within my academic and extracurricular lives at school, and worked on growing and loving myself more than ever before. While many things stunk about 2020, one thing that remains the same is the outlook that we have: it’s transformative. Today, I am sharing 20 of the many things that I am thankful for in 2020.

  1. Technology – Whether it be Zoom, social media platforms, Google, softwares, or texting/email, technology has allowed us to stay connected and keep going with our lives in ways like never before. As Covid-19 has kept us all at home, technology has been the one consistent thing that has remained in allowing our lives to go on when essentially it feels like the world has stopped.
  2. Community – I have discovered in 2020 more so than ever before how much of a community that I have and am apart of. Throughout the course of the pandemic, I have reconnected with friends both old and new as well as family members. At the same time, I have joined communities of other influencers, Lilly Pulitzer lovers, and bloggers and friends via The Pink Chickadee. Most importantly, all of us are going through the same thing amidst Covid-19. The community of us all sticking together is extraordinary.
  3. Good Health – Fortunately, I have been able to remain in good health this year. Not only have I been able to maintain my good health, but others around me such as family members and friends along with others have been too.
  4. Compassion – There is and has been so much hate and negativity in this world, especially in 2020. At the same time, I have witnessed an enormous amount of compassion and love from others. People have come together to give back, learn from, and provide to those that can and are struggling. Compassion is what will keep our world moving even more forward than years prior.
  5. Food to Eat (and to Choose What I Eat) – The ability to even have the choice to eat what I want to eat is a privilege. It is a privilege that many of us take for granted, but it is something to be grateful for. Food is what fuels us all to move forward and stay healthy and even keep going in this beautiful world. That is a blessing.
  6. Connections – Through having a community, I am able to make connections with other people. Having these connections has allowed me to bond with others which is such a blessing. Even in the craziness of 2020, I am and have been able to connect with others and establish relationships like never before.
  7. A Closet Full of Clothes – Like being able to have food to eat and choose what I eat, having a closet full of clothes is the same ordeal. I love love love fashion. Clothes have been a major part of my life and have kept me going through the trials that come with life, specifically in 2020.
  8. The Ability to Travel – Travel is a privilege. It is a privilege that I really truly enjoy, even if I am traveling to somewhere close to home. I love getting to explore brand-new places along with places that I am revisiting, essentially. Travel is a gift that I have grown evermore passionate for. Even if 2020 has limited those travels, it is still a gift that I am super grateful to have and be able to enjoy doing.
  9. Family – My family is what keeps me going. I love them so so so much. They have been there for me through thick and thin, especially during this pandemic and everything going on in 2020. Even beyond 2020, my family is everything and will be my everything moving forward. They are a great consistency in my life and will be moving forward. That is such a great thing to give thanks for.
  10. A Roof Over My Head – Having a home or apartment to live in is a blessing. I have been oh so grateful to have somewhere to live and have shelter. So many people have lost their homes and places that they have lived this year. I cannot imagine the fear and insecurity that these people have gone through. Knowing what others have gone through makes me so grateful, but also have the compassion to give and provide for others.
  11. Access to an Education – Several people in several countries are not even able to have an education. In fact, women in so many countries cannot even get an education in their own countries. Education is the way out of poverty and to be able to afford things in life such as food, shelter, and clothing. I am so thankful that I do have an education and have had an education practically my entire life.
  12. Friendship – Besides my family, my friends are pretty much my everything, too. They are, in fact, the family that I have that are not my blood relatives. It is a blessing to be able to have them and to make many many memories with them now and into the future.
  13. Animals (especially MY DOG!!!) – 2020 has been rough, y’all, but animals make it so much better. I am in several animal-oriented Facebook Groups as well as follow numerous accounts of people who have pets as well. Most importantly, my dog aka my Yorkie Butters has been such a big part in my life. Butters is my bestie dog, and he has been there for me through thick and thin for the past 12 years. Having him in my life is something that I am extremely thankful for.
  14. Good Safety – Being able to stay and remain safe on a regular basis and for the majority of my time is something that I do not take for granted. Feeling safe is a basic right, but unfortunately, not for everybody. That is something that I am very thankful for.
  15. My Platform on The Pink Chickadee and Ever-growing Network – My blog and platform on The Pink Chickadee has made me super happy this past year. I have been able to work towards helping others and helping myself. Not only have I grown my platform, but I have grown my network and connections and platform. I am oh so grateful for all of this that The Pink Chickadee has given me!!!!
  16. Passion – Passion is what drives our world. This world goes round and round and round with others like myself having our own individual passions. While I have passions for fashion, travel, and data science, others have their own various passions that make themselves happy. Seeing others happy makes me happy.
  17. Electricity – Getting to be able to live in a place with electricity is such a blessing. Not only is it a blessing, but it is a privilege that I and many of us can take for granted. Having a heated home, chargers for our devices, and lights when it is dark outside is something that should not ever be taken for granted.
  18. Holidays (Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, New Year’s, etc.) – Even in the midst of Covid-19, having holiday’s is something that I love. Holiday’s bring others together and I love that – it is such a treat. Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter, OH MY!!!! Let’s celebrate!!!
  19. Togetherness – Whether virtually or in-person, being together with others is such a blessing. 2020 has taught me that I can and will continue to get together with others on a virtual format. That feeling of togetherness, even if it is virtual, is such a grateful thing to have.
  20. Access to Running Water – Several people in this world do not have access to running water. I feel really really really lucky that I live in a home with running water. Running water keeps all of us healthy and that access right then and there in our homes is a privilege that we should all be thankful for.

2020 was not easy, but there are so many blessings that we can still count like never before. This year has taught me to look at the simple things in life – the things that simply keep us going on a daily basis. Remember to count your blessings today and everyday and in 2020 and beyond.

XOXO – Katie <3

6 Blessings of the Covid-19 Pandemic

Whoever thought that the Covid-19 pandemic would last this long?! I surely did not! Today marks around 6 months that we have all been living in and through the coronavirus pandemic. Other plans were in store for us all as we embarked on the year 2020, and that is OKAY. While 2020 is definitely not the year that any of us expected, especially given the fact that Covid-19 literally put a halt to it all, it does not mean that there weren’t any blessings in disguise. With us being 6 months into a pandemic, I wanted to share 6 of these blessings that have come about during Covid-19.

1 – Self Growth

Little did I know that a pandemic would be the push that I truly needed to grow into the person that I am today. Before Covid-19, I really struggled with my mental health and extremely high expectations. However, once Covid-19 hit, I was truly able to take all of the time that I had to myself to look from within and truly reevaluate my priorities and truly focus on me. In doing so, I genuinely saw a difference in myself towards who I wanted to be before the pandemic to who I truly am meant to be in this world. If it were not for the coronavirus pandemic, I probably would not have had the time to focus on myself as much as I did in these past six months.

2 – Growing The Pink Chickadee‘s Platforms

When I started The Pink Chickadee, I never knew how much my platforms would grow into how they are today. I did not have the skillset to re-code my blog into the site that I wanted it to be until this summer. To be completely honest, I did not feel good about my site until I re-coded it into my own, which was the serious motivation behind me achieving my blog dreams. I spent SO much time over the summer to plan out posts, re-launch and re-code my site, and plan out content on my social media platforms, and all of those countless hours that I put in have only brought me with utter joy and excitement. Through it all, I have made The Pink Chickadee into my creative outlet, especially as a women in STEM, and it has become my backbone through it all. The support that y’all have provided me with along with the consistent joy I get from sharing content that I am passionate about with y’all is such a blessing. Given that there was not a pandemic, then maybe I never would have put in as much time and energy into The Pink Chickadee. Hence, you wouldn’t be reading this post at this second!

3 – Time To Breath

Let’s get this straight: life is and can be CRAZY! I know that mine surely is at times! Before the pandemic hit, I recall always being on the go. Even though I pretty much live for the hustle and bustle, especially as a proud Enneagram Type 3, it is really nice to just have time to stop and smell the roses. I never truly had the time to admire the things right in my own backyard and to just enjoy what was right in front of me. It sure is nice to just take a deep breath and take everything in! It surely will not be something that I ever take for granted again, even if it is at a plenty in these moments!!

4 – Extra Needed Time with Family

Being a 4 and a half hour drive away from my family when I am at college, it can be difficult to be away from them all for months at a time. Although I love having my own independence and definitely prefer living on my own to living at home, family time is always a blessing and for sure something that I crave. When Covid-19 hit, I felt very lucky to come home and get A TON of extra much-needed time with my family. My mother said that we probably would never have a time like the pandemic where we could all be at home with one another before going on our own paths, and she is certainly right. As a college Senior, it’s crazy to think that at this time next year, I will be on my own as a college graduate and potentially living in my own apartment and starting out. While the coronavirus definitely brought me home for some extended time, it was a true blessing to get to spend it with my dear family.

5 – Establishing Hobbies

I recall complaining to one of my good friends about how I had nothing better to do to keep me sane during this time of social distancing. I would complain to this friend numerous times, as we both do about various aspects of our lives, being the true friends that we are. In the midst of my complaints about not knowing what to do with my life during a pandemic, she told me to find some hobbies. As some who is ALWAYS on the go, I never really had any hobbies besides planning social gatherings and watching reality television as apart of a social gathering in my apartment with homemade popcorn. To my friend’s advice, I did find some hobbies which happen to be crafting – this has become a BIG one of mine and I’m SO excited to share many more of my creations with y’all SO SOON! Another one of my hobbies is cooking as well as taking walks and hiking. Each of these hobbies gets me off of my devices and truly allows me to put my all into something that makes me feel accomplished and is also good for the soul. As cheesy as it sounds, my hobbies have surely become my best friends during the pandemic!

6 – Self Love

Through it all, I have truly found a sense of peace in my journey to self love and acceptance. While none of us are truly perfect, it is important to accept all of our flaws for who we truly are. Our imperfections are what make us who we are and they are a beautiful thing. I see a lot of myself in my mother – and others have told me that they do too – who I love so dearly and who helped guide me in my self love journey. My mother is someone that I really admire and look up to; she has shaped me into the woman that I am today. I would be lucky if I am even half the mother and wife that she is to me, my brother, and step-father. Seeing my mother and watching her has helped me to love myself and embrace the beautiful and best Katie that I am. If it were not for Covid-19, I probably would not have the confidence, ambition, and inner peace that I have today.

Even though the Covid-19 pandemic did not bring about ideal changes to our 2020 year, it did bring many blessings. There are so many things right in our own backyard to love and embrace, whether it be time with family, establishing new hobbies, or working on our selves. Whatever it may be, the slowdown that came with the coronavirus definitely allowed me to take some time for ME and only ME. That way, when the coronavirus is at bay, I’ll be better ready to take on the world and live my best life to the fullest and even fuller than I can at this moment!

XOXO – Katie <3