Today, I am *officially* celebrating FOUR YEARS as a blogger (!!!!). I started my blog just 6 weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic pretty much shutdown everything in March 2020 and began even questioning, then, if I wanted to remain a blogger and even took a few months hiatus. However, as lockdown persisted wayyy longer than many of us anticipated, I returned to blogging as a joyful creative outlet to pass the time and have been loving the community I have built here ever since. Overall, I am SO blessed with the blogging community I have built since January 15, 2020 and am proud of myself for continuing to build my personal brand and make this platform into a side hustle that I LOVE (alongside my 9-5 job that I LOVE).
On January 15, 2020 around 6pm, I had a BUNCH of college friends in my apartment alongside my amazing roommate and best friend Sophie setting up my apartment with me for my blog launch party (here). I remember taking a moment to change into my dress while others were graciously putting up a banner before folks arrived. It was then that I realized that my site went LIVE a few hours before I had anticipated (WHOOPS!!!!), however, a big LOL moment now that brings me so much joy to this very day. Once the knocks started coming at my apartment door, the celebrations began. We had homemade queso and chips and I forget what else – LOL – but I do remember that there were wayyyy more people in my apartment than allowed via safety limits listed by my apartment. Looking back, I am OH SO blessed for the many many many people that showed up with SO MUCH LOVE to my blog launch party which was just the beginning of this journey of mine that’s still going strong 4 years later! Moreover, I am eternally grateful for my friends who showed up to support me on January 15, 2020 and for those that have showed up and continue to show up today on January 15, 2024 and beyond. I love you ALL <3
Flashback to 2019: It is the beginning of a brand-new college semester and year. I am eager to get started in the classroom, as I begin to dig into some major committee roles (my school was a sorority in its own right and I was VERRYYY involved in it alll!), serve as a Student Advisor throughout orientation for Freshmen, get my class ring and participate in ALLL the exciting events leading up to it, get my Little’s and participate in all of those exciting Big/Little events, and dig into some more advanced classes for my Math degree. BUT, all of this excitement and eagerness for this year of college was not why I began this platform. Rather, I started The Pink Chickadee after a heartbreak in my Junior year of college that took a HUGE toll on me. At the time, lots of my college classmates getting into serious, committed relationships (some of whom they have since married and started families with) and it made me sad that I wasn’t on the same life path and timeline as them. And, while I am happy for my college classmates on that timeline that I then-hoped for myself, I am very happy in my own life path and timeline at this moment in 2024. However, at the same time back in 2019, I REALLY wanted something that was mine and mine only. SO, that’s how The Pink Chickadee was born.
Since starting this incredible platform, I have made some amazing memories with many of y’all in this community, worked with some brands that I LOVE, and developed some incredible friendships. At the same time, my coworkers at my 9-5 have LOVED hearing about my blog and want to hear more about it, too. Every single like, share, view, comment, etc. from each of YOU means THE WORLD to me. Truly, my community here via The Pink Chickadee has been nothing short of special and that’s all thanks to YOU!
Becoming IRL besties with fellow influencer Lindsay of @sunshineandstairclimbs (go follow her on Instagram!!!) and visiting her in Indianapolis, Indiana and having her visit me twice!Being interviewed and featured on Shapermint’s (a brand I LOVE and regularly collaborate with) blog site!My content got shared (with my permission) on Starbucks (!!!!!) social media pages, reaching millions of people.Jack Rogers (my favorite sandal brand) shared a happy summer memory of mine on their social media page. They have also shared photos of my dog Rosie in the past, too!Writing a fun and well-received my readers blog post on my favorite restaurant: Old Ebbitt Grill!Attending a Coronation Party at the Scout Flagship Store in Washington, DC with my best friend Laura!Speaking at the Women in Data: Making Sense of Data Conference in Washington, DCMeeting my fellow influencer bestie in real life Mikayla of @blissandbows on Instagram (GO FOLLOW HER!!!)Several hangouts and photo sessions during my college years thanks to my OG photographer and bestie Hannah!
Announcing my move back to the Washington, DC areaMy launch party FOUR years ago!!!!My FIRST-EVER blogger photo shoot with Papa at the Gaylord National Hotel!
Having my blog has been such a high for me! The biggest high of starting this platform has been connecting with incredible folks like YOU. If it wasn’t for YOUR support, I truly wouldn’t be where I am today – FOUR WHOLE YEARS LATER (!!!!).
2 years a blogger! It’s oh so crazy how time flies since starting a blog. It, indeed, feels like yesterday when I was sitting in my apartment with all of my friends waiting for my site’s first-ever blog post (check that out here!) to launch. I had a launch party for The Pink Chickadee when it launched in my sweet college apartment right before the pandemic hit (read more about that here!) with some of my many college friends. Some of my best memories have come from creating my sweet spot here on the Internet and I’m ALWAYS grateful that I am able to share my story with y’all here.
When starting my platform, I knew that I wanted to start a blog months before in the Fall of 2019. It was the Fall 2019 semester aka my Junior year of college. Being in North Carolina then, so many people are in committed relationships by the time they reach their Junior year of college or even in their Senior year of college. Needless to say, many many people were in relationships then that are some of my good friends, classmates, and others within my college community and North Carolina area. I, then, became pretty discouraged by it all, as a single woman in what I felt was a couple’s world. It was then that I had actually realized that I wanted something for me and only me. And, that is how The Pink Chickadee was born.
Since starting The Pink Chickadee, I have made countless connections and even friends with several fellow influencers, small business owners, and Lilly Pulitzer lovers alike. I have been able to work with brands, including Panera Bread, Peet’s Coffee, Ouges, and Glitter and Daisies. I was accepted to become a Shop LTK influencer and have since enjoyed sharing all of my favorite finds on that fun platform, too. I have seriously found such an incredible community within the blogging world! At the same time, I have made the big move from Raleigh, North Carolina to the nation’s capital of Washington, DC and currently reside in the Virginia suburbs. I graduated from college with a Bachelor’s degree and a triple minor with Honors. I have started a brand-new full-time job at a great company in the Washington, DC area that I have been at for 6 months. I have adopted a Shepherd-Chihuahua mix – a rescue pup- out of ALL the breeds named Rosie. And, through it all, I have shopped WAYYYY too many Lilly Pulitzer sales, drank a TON of coffee, and enjoyed many nights getting to create the amazing community on my corner of the internet. That all being said, I am OH SO grateful to be able to write here and share my story with y’all here at The Pink Chickadee!
From 2 years and onwards, I look forward to many more years here at The Pink Chickadee!!
