Guest Write: Megan & Emily of Sundae Sisters Co!

If you haven’t seen the most adorable sister duo, then look no further than Megan and Emily! Megan and Emily co-founded their own sticker line where they sell their stickers on Etsy and locally within the Raleigh-Cary area. Megan has become one of my good friends at Meredith College, she is also my best friend Laurie’s Lil Sis through Meredith’s Big Sis/Lil Sis program! I have also learned a lot about her sister Emily who has Down syndrome and is breaking barriers everyday as a person with the disability. Today, I am letting both Megan and Emily take the wheel as I will be interviewing them about their journey with Sundae Sisters Co, life as sisters, and future aspirations for their business.

Tell me a bit about yourselves!

We are Sundae Sisters Co! I (Megan) had the idea to change my old Etsy shop to better include Emily. With Covid, she did not get as much work experience through her school and was also having trouble finding a job. Individuals with special needs are already severely un-employed, but adding a global pandemic on top did not help. So I started designing stickers and Emily does all of the packaging. We started around Mid-May and have sold over 250 stickers!

Megan, I know you are currently in college. What school do you attend and what are you studying?

I am a rising Sophomore at Meredith College in Raleigh,NC and I am studying Child Development in hopes of becoming a teacher.

Emily, I know you recently just graduated from high school – congrats! What are your next steps?

I will continue packaging for Sundae Sisters Co, which I love doing. I check everyday to see if I have new orders to package. I was also recently hired as a volunteer for Esteamed Coffee in Downtown Cary,NC! I will start training this summer. I also love participating in Gigi’s Playhouse Raleigh programs such as yoga, ballet, and social skills. I am also on a competitive cheer team at Inspire Athletics, we are called the Superstars.

Share a fun fact about each of y’all!

We share this fact because we are both huge Disney fans! If you ever are going to Disney World or Disneyland, contact us for tips! Megan’s favorite rides are Everest and Flight of Passage. Emily’s favorite rides are Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Flight of Passage.

Tell me a bit about Sundae Sisters Co and the mission behind it!

Our mission is to spread happiness and kindness to others through our designs while also showing the importance of employing individuals with special needs. Many businesses don’t employ people with special needs because they don’t see all or their abilities, so we want to show people that they are valuable employees.

What made y’all choose to start Sundae Sisters Co?

I (Megan) have always loved being crafty. I already had an Etsy shop but kind of sold very random things. I also knew Emily was graduating soon and with Covid, she was going to have trouble finding a job. So I rebranded my Etsy to better include her with something she could easily ship, but also something I love to sell! It’s a win-win for both of us because we both have an outlet we enjoy within the business.

So, tell me about y’all’s design process – how do y’all brainstorm your super fun and adorable designs?!

 We get a lot of requests which we love getting, please send them in! We also get lots of inspiration from social media and pictures we take. We love taking pictures of plants and different landmarks.

Speaking of designs, please tell me both of your favorite designs!!!

Megan’s favorite design right now is the Retro Van Sticker because she loves the colors! Emily loves the Lucky Few sticker which is a symbol for Down Syndrome!

Stickers from the Vaccinated Line releasing this Tuesday July 13
Stickers from the Collegiate Line releasing on July 27

I know you both work together as a team to execute both designing and sending off stickers to their new homes. How do y’all make the magic happen?!

Megan handles designing the stickers, printing (which we do in house), listing each item, and keeping everything organized. Emily is in charge of all shipping which includes writing each thank you note by hand, gathering the stickers for each order, packaging, weighing, adding the stamp, and putting it in the mailbox! She also will sometimes prep things like envelopes or supplies for our vendor events.

You both have visited local farmers markets, such as in Cary, to showcase your business. Do y’all have any dream markets that y’all want to showcase at?

There are lots of different markets in the Triangle, it’s overwhelming sometimes. We loved being at Food and Flea in Downtown Cary in June, we hope to be back a few more times this fall just in time for the holidays! We would also love to have our stickers sold in local stores in boutiques, that is something we are working on now!

Megan & Emily selling stickers at Food and Flea in Cary, North Carolina

I LOVE LOVE LOVE that y’all donate some of your profits to a different charity each month. Giving back is SO important. How does charity play a role in Sundae Sisters Co’s mission?

So many charities have benefited our family, such as North Carolina Down Syndrome Alliance, Gigi’s Playhouse Raleigh, Miracle League, Esteemed Coffee and more! We think it is so important to give back to the community as they have given to us. We are trying to donate every month as well as have a sticker that donates profits to a specific charity each month.

I am so inspired by y’all’s business! What would y’all say to someone who is looking to start their own business someday?

 Just go for it! Take it slow and don’t over-invest so you don’t get in over your head. Then re-invest the money you make or a portion of it back into your business to help it grow.

Y’all are both strong advocates for inclusion and acceptance of everybody. Tell me about your experiences as advocates!

I think our parents have always instilled in us that it is important to fight for what is right and to be inclusive of everyone, no matter their walk of life. Everyone is different and that is what makes us unique individuals. Being apart of the disability community is fun and exciting, but it can also open doors to show the hard parts of having a disability. This has made us want to fight even more to share the message that everyone should be included and given the same opportunities. For example, I (Megan) was inspired by NC State’s Victory Day game that they did with Gigi’s Playhouse. It was an inclusive night where individuals with  Down Syndrome got to experience practice and a game of football with the NC State Football team. So, I created my own version of that at my High School. Inclusion events like these become a ripple effect to show others that individuals with special needs are just like everyone else, they just want to have fun and make friends!

What is in the oh-so exciting future of Sundae Sisters Co?

Well, we hope to get lots more orders. Just these past few weeks, our orders have quadrupled. We would love to do more markets and maybe have a few more friends with special needs help us. If we grow even more, we would love to have others help us with packaging so they can learn work skills too. We would also love to have our stickers available in stores, this way we could get our designs and mission out to a larger community!

Lastly, if you each could tell yourself one thing before you started Sundae Sisters Co, then what would it be?

I think we both would never have imagined it being as successful as we have been in our first month of being open. We are so thankful to each and every person who has supported us; whether it was just a like, comment, sharing us on social media, placing an order or visiting us at a market.

I cannot wait to see ALL that Megan and Emily do moving forward and I hope you do, too!

XOXO – Katie <3

thepinkchickadeeLeave a comment

What I Bought for my College Apartment

It can be SO daunting when you are deciding what you need to get when moving into an apartment. College apartments are so exciting at the same time – it is a symbol of freedom and independence especially from the dining hall food haha. I lived in my beloved college apartment on-campus for my Junior and Senior year of college. I had so many great experiences in my college apartment, and I know you all will in yours too. That being said, I have made a massive college apartment list, in order to help y’all when shopping and packing for yours.

Please note that this master list is catered to a furnished apartment. All furniture items that are needed will probably be determined by yourself based on your own apartment needs and desires. Happy shopping and best of luck!

*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.*

The Ultimate College Apartment List

Bedroom

  1. Mattress pad and/or topper
  2. Bedding
  3. 2+ sets of sheets
  4. Pillows
  5. Pillow cases and/or covers
  6. Rug
  7. Mini fridge (if needed)
  8. TV (if desired)
  9. Dresser organizers
  10. Jewelry tray(s) and/or necklace rack
  11. Jewelry organizer(s)
  12. Perfume tray (if desired)
  13. Makeup organizer(s)
  14. Hair tools
  15. Hair brushes
  16. Hair tools/brushes organizer(s)
  17. Alarm clock
  18. Throw blankets
  19. Heated blanket/weighted blanket (if applicable)
  20. Lamp(s)
  21. Decorations

Bathroom

  1. Toothbrush holder
  2. Storage containers and/or organizers
  3. Over the shower rack
  4. Bath towels
  5. Hand towels
  6. Wash cloths
  7. Bath matts
  8. Medicine
  9. First Aid kit
  10. Bandaids
  11. Mini trash can
  12. Mini trash bags
  13. Cleaning supplies
  14. Plunger
  15. Decorations

Work Space

  1. Textbooks
  2. Book shelf
  3. Desk chair pillow and/or back relief
  4. Notebooks
  5. Chargers
  6. Computer mouse
  7. Monitor(s) (if desired)
  8. Mousepad
  9. Planner/to do list (if needed)
  10. Pencils
  11. Pens
  12. Calculator
  13. Sticky notes
  14. Index cards
  15. Stationary
  16. Erasers
  17. Pencil lead
  18. Pencil sharpener
  19. Tape
  20. Tape dispenser
  21. Stapler
  22. Staples
  23. Mini trash can
  24. Mini trash bags
  25. Desk lamp
  26. Note pad
  27. Books
  28. Checkbook
  29. Stamps
  30. Envelopes
  31. Files
  32. File holder
  33. Folders
  34. Binders
  35. Backpack
  36. Notebook paper
  37. Printer paper
  38. Printer (if applicable)
  39. Printer ink
  40. Decorations

Closet

  1. Mirror
  2. Shoe rack
  3. Hangers
  4. Storage bins
  5. Clothing Rack (if needed/desired)

Kitchen

  1. Set of utensils
  2. Plates
  3. Bowls
  4. Paper towels
  5. Paper towel holder
  6. Soap dispenser
  7. Dishwasher detergent
  8. Sponges
  9. Dish soap
  10. Hand soap
  11. Cups
  12. Wine glasses (if of-age)
  13. Can opener
  14. Wine bottle opener (if of-age)
  15. Beer bottle opener (if of-age)
  16. Scissors
  17. Kitchen knives
  18. Cutting boards
  19. Ziploc bags
  20. Aluminum foil
  21. Plastic wrap
  22. Trash can
  23. Trash bags
  24. Magnets
  25. Brita water filter
  26. Recycle bin
  27. Water bottle(s)
  28. Mugs
  29. Tumbler(s)
  30. Kitchen appliances (my favorite include – my mini Keurig, my Instant Pot, my Crockpot, my Ninja Air Fryer, my KitchenAid Hand Mixer, and my Fondue Makers)
  31. Toaster
  32. Blender/food processor
  33. Pans
  34. Pots
  35. Skillets
  36. Cooking utensils
  37. Spices
  38. Non-perishable food items
  39. Casserole dishes
  40. Dutch oven
  41. Tea towels
  42. Placemats
  43. Tablecloths
  44. Table runners
  45. Cooler/lunch bag – my favorite is the Scout Pleasure Chest!
  46. Napkins
  47. Food storage containers
  48. Ice cube tray
  49. Ice packs
  50. Microwaveable bowl with lid
  51. Measuring cups
  52. Mixing bowls
  53. Decorations

Living Area

  1. Couch cover
  2. TV
  3. Throw pillows
  4. Board and/or card games
  5. Rug
  6. DVD’s
  7. Game console (if applicable)
  8. Decorations

Laundry Room

  1. Laundry detergent
  2. Fabric softener
  3. Dryer sheets
  4. Anti-wrinkle spray
  5. Iron
  6. Ironing board
  7. Clothes Hangers (1-4)
  8. Hair remover roll(s)
  9. Vacuum
  10. Cleaning supplies
  11. Laundry basket
  12. Hamper
  13. Swiffer
  14. Swiffer wipes
  15. Broom

Miscellaneous

  1. Device chargers
  2. Air purifier and/or humidifier
  3. Fan(s)
  4. Storage bins and/or plastic storage drawers
  5. Plants (if desired)
  6. Febreeze/Glade
  7. Candles and candle lighter (if allowed and desired )
  8. Scent plug-in’s
  9. Command strips and hooks
  10. Fake plants (if desired)
  11. Craft supplies (if desired)
  12. Holiday decorations (if desired)
  13. Clorox wipes
  14. Essential oil diffuser (if applicable)
  15. Speaker(s) (if applicable)
  16. Face masks and/or face shield
  17. Multiple bottles of hand sanitizer
  18. Door wreath/welcome sign
  19. Door mat

Here’s to making memories in your own apartment very soon!

XOXO – Katie <3

thepinkchickadeeLeave a comment

I Planned an Event During COVID-19

COVID-19 has transformed the ways that events are held. Unfortunately, my Senior year social calendar was taken over by Zoom. At the same time though, I got to enjoy some in-person events, including one event that I got to plan myself with some of my Meredith friends and Tri-Chairs Maggie and Miranda. The event was socially distanced and followed all of the safety measures put in place, in order to protect ourselves from COVID-19. Through it all, getting to plan an event during the pandemic was such a bittersweet and fun experience.

Meredith College is notorious for their Traditions also known as events that are put on each year for with specific one’s for each class based on their year. The Tradition that I got to help plan was Class Day. Class Day is a Tradition held for Sophomores and Seniors each year where the Sophomore Class honors the Senior Class who is their Big Sis class on graduating and reflecting on their four years at Meredith. The Sophomore (Lil Sis Class) creates a daisy chain in the shape of the numerals of their graduating Big Sis Class. It is such a sentimental event for both classes and it was super fun to plan!

In terms of COVID-19, Class Day obviously looked a bit different. Usually, Class Day is held in the courtyard at Meredith; however, due to COVID-19, my Tri-Chairs and I decided to hold it in our amphitheater, in order to accommodate more people who maintaining a social distance. Usually, the daisy chain is presented in the form of a processional, instead, we had the Lil’s procession out themselves without the daisy chain. And, obviously, everyone was seated 6 feet apart and no guests were allowed. Lastly, we held the event at 3 different time slots, which people could sign up for via SignUp Genius. The time slots were much shorter than the traditional 1-2 hour long event as they were 30 minutes each and everyone had to leave right after the event. Although Class Day did not look the way that it had in years past, my Tri-Chairs and I still made it look very beautiful and made it special for our classmates and ourselves.

In a typical year, most Class Day meetings are held in-person. This year, they were held over Zoom. After having an entire year of Zoom meetings, I still found them to be just as productive as in-person meetings if not even more. I was able to better multitask on Zoom than in-person and be able to snack better rather than not being able to while wearing a mask. It was also nice because I could meet from wherever, too!

My main duty for Class Day was to coordinate the fundraiser. As the Class of 2021 Fundraising Chair, I had coordinated several fundraisers throughout this past year before and knew how to successfully execute one yet again. Since the Class of 2020 and Class of 2022 missed out on their Class Day fundraiser due to the pandemic last year, I decided to hold the Class Day fundraiser to include the Classes of 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. I had a friend of mine in my Lil Sis Class (Class of 2023) share with me an amazing shirt design in February that my Tri-Chairs and I loved it so much that we decided to use it. In the past, we have sold and designed a Class Day towel to sell as the Sophomores carry out the daisy chain. But, since the daisy chain could not be safely carried out with social distancing considered, we decided to sell a mask instead. One of my Tri-Chairs also made a mask design with a daisy on it. So, we sold both a mask and a shirt.

Throughout the entire planning process, there were many meetings, emails, and times to even meet up in-person. I cannot tell you how many email chains I have been apart of in the past 6 weeks! Some of the email chains were super fun to read, too. Although we had to make several changes to Class Day this year as compared to years past, it was still a super special event and I am glad I got to be apart of planning it. Moreover, there were many changes that my Tri-Chairs and I actually enjoyed that the staff members who advise the planning process with us all liked and want to keep as apart of Class Day moving forward. It was great to be able to make some changes that are going to be in place for years to come.

Overall, I am oh so blessed that I was able to be apart of planning an amazing Tradition, such as Class Day. Class Day is a bittersweet event for both the Sophomore and Senior classes. I was happy I could be a major part of making it happen, even during COVID-19!

XOXO – Katie <3

thepinkchickadeeLeave a comment

Why I Lived on Campus All Four Years of College

When it comes to deciding where to live in college, it can be pretty daunting. One of the best decisions that I made was to live on my college campus all four years of my college experience. I lived in a dorm for two years and then an on-campus apartment for the next two years. So, I will be sharing today why I decided to live right on campus throughout my college years!

Before I dig into the reasons as to why I chose to live on campus all four years of my college experience, I want to make a few remarks. Everyone has their own decisions to make when it comes to making that decision. For me personally, it was best for me to live on campus for all four years of my college experience. However, that may not be the best decision for someone else. While it was the best way for me to go, it may not be for someone else.

Proximity to Campus Life & Classes

It is always super nice to be able to roll out of bed and be in class 5 minutes later without any worry of being there late! I have found the proximity of living on campus to be great not only for getting to class but also for being in the midst of all of the robust campus life fun. The easy walk to be able to simply get to class without needing a car or to an on-campus event is pretty great. Not to mention, having free food at the dining hall is pretty nice at times too, even when it may not be the best. When I lived in the dorms, I could easily eat there whenever I wanted to on a meal plan, but I chose not to once I moved to my on-campus apartment. I have been able to meet and see so many people within my college campus that I would not have been able to meet and see if it wasn’t for living on campus!

Safety

One of the biggest reasons that I decided to live on campus was for the safety aspect. My college is pretty small and requires that people check with the security guard at the main gates before coming in. There are also other security restrictions, like automatic locks on all the doors, that allow for me to feel extra safe. Something that I feel I would not have as much living off campus.

Living with Classmates

As someone who is about to graduate from college, I have loved being able to live right next door and across the hall from all of my friends and classmates. Whether it be a dorm or an on-campus apartment, it is so nice to be right then and there with all of my friends, too. Once I graduate, I won’t be able to walk across the hall to see my friends, so I am glad I got to enjoy this perk of on-campus living while I could!

Through it all, living on campus has been extremely convenient for me! Whether it be an easy breeze walk to class, quick access to meals, or close proximity to everything on my college campus, having a place to call my own right beyond the gates of my second home has been oh so sweet!

XOXO – Katie <3

thepinkchickadeeLeave a comment

A List of All of the College Classes that I Took

As a soon-to-be college graduate, I decided that I would take y’all on a trip through memory lane. Today, I am rounding up all of the college courses that I took as an Honors Student with a Mathematics degree and minors in Statistics, Data Science, and Website Development. When I started at Meredith, I had NO clue what I was going to study, but here we are today. Things do work out and plans do change, but in the end you are meant to be right where you are for where you will be. Time will tell!!!

Fall 2017:

  • Honors English 111 – Pretty much the college version of introductory English. I took this class as apart of my Honors curriculum and was in an Honors-only section with others in my program. I met some of my best friends in this class. Our professor would put our writing errors on the board anonymously and everyone would critique them and we all hated it, so our bonds grew during those trying times!
  • Calculus 1 – I took this class 5 days a week and it was a four-credit hour course. My professor was a male professor who was all about women’s empowerment which was amazing. I also overslept my final in this class, but luckily my professor was super understanding with it all and I ended up successfully taking my final exam.
  • Biblical Literature – My professor brought her one-eyed Yorkie Frankie to class all the time and it was amazing. Despite not knowing much about the Bible, I did really well in this class and was willing to learn. I thought I would fail because I’m not very knowledgable on the Bible!
  • History in the 20th Century – I loved this class and my professor – she truly broke down the history and shed light on the populations that were most adversely affected in our world then and now. It was really powerful and so important to know, too.
  • First Year Experience – This was a Freshmen-only class that oriented Freshmen at Meredith with college life there and living in Raleigh. I loved this class and working and mentoring other college Freshmen that I actually assisted it my Sophomore, Junior, and Senior years!!!
  • French 3 – My high school French teacher literally taught me NOTHING, so I was shocked when I tested into French 3 in college. French 3 was the highest level of French needed for the general education requirement. I was so nervous I would be behind in that class, but my professor was so generous as everyone in the class turned out to be too.

Spring 2018:

  • English 200 – I took this class with one of my all-time favorite professors that is not in the Math & Computer Science Department: Dr. Walton. Dr. Walton is a Shakespeare expert, so we of course read some Shakespeare in class! The theme that he chose for our class throughout the semester was sisterhood and I even remember writing a paper on the Meredith College sisterhood in his class. As someone who only has a biological brother, I loved getting to embrace my sisters at Meredith. I also really enjoyed getting to know Dr. Walton, too.
  • Beginning Programming – Initially, I wanted to be a Computer Science major, but I did not do too hot in this class the first time around. So, I retook it my Junior year and my passion for website development and coding actually began to grow. It just wasn’t my Freshmen year!
  • Calculus 2 – My roommate Sophie and I actually became good friends in this class. We sat next to each other the entire semester and it was amazing. I also had a bunch of my fellow Math major friends and sisters in this class and I got to know them better in it all semester which was amazing.
  • Self Defense – This was 1/2 of my 8am classes in college. It was such a struggle to get up, despite it only being offered for the second half of the semester! The skills taught in this class were super valuable, and I wish I remembered them and think I would if it wasn’t at 8am that I learned it all.
  • Christian Thought – For my Ethics general education requirement, I took a course on applying Christian thought to societal topics in today’s world – think LGBTQ+ rights, abortion, etc. It was very interesting and empowering. It was all about social change and looking beyond out own worlds.

Summer 2018 – Italy:

  • Arts & Artifacts Italy Edition – This course was all about learning about Italian Life and Culture in Italy. We visited the towns of Anghiari, Arezzo, and Siena in Tuscany along with Florence. Pretty much the highlight of this course was learning how to navigate life in Italy independently and writing about our educational experiences.
  • Nonverbal Communication – This class was super cool to take, especially in Italy! My professor taught us some mind-blowing facts that make total sense about nonverbal communication in our world in both the United States and abroad. It is super neat to know how nonverbal communication all plays into how we live our lives wherever we live.
  • Yoga – Yoga was taught by a top blogger in Italy for Yoga who just happened to be living right by the Tuscan town that I studied abroad in. So, Meredith College brought her in to teach us all yoga. Learning the origins of yoga and doing it in Italy was such a neat experience!

Summer 2018 – England:

  • Arts & Artifacts England Edition – Like the course that I took in Italy, this course was all about life and culture in England. As apart of this course, we were required to go visit different sights all across London and in Europe. We went to go see a church service at Westminster Abbey (where Prince William and Kate Middleton got married!) which was extremely neat and we were required to visit St. Paul’s Cathedral (where Princess Diana got married!), Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, and Windsor Castle (where Harry and Meghan got married!).
  • Shakespeare’s Theatre – This course was taught by Dr. Walton as well. In this class, we actually saw Shakespeare plays all across London and in Bath, England as well as Stratford-upon-Avon, England. It was a super fun time and getting to see Dr. Walton’s passion for Shakespeare where it all began grew mine even more.

Fall 2018:

  • The Life of Migrant Farmworkers – I took this Honors-only class as a part of my Honors curriculum. This class was taught by a Spanish professor who had a service focus and is such an awesome person, too. We learned all about the lives of migrant farmworkers in the United States and how they are extremely undervalued and undercooked in our world today.
  • Introduction to Mathematical Reasoning – This class was pretty much the gateway to theoretical math that goes over most people’s heads – including my own. I met a lot of my Math major classmates in this class that were not in my Calculus 2 class the prior semester.
  • Visual Merchandising – I took this class at the point of where I thought I would be a Fashion Merchandising and Math double major. However, that changed and that is OKAY! For this class, I got to create store displays with my friend Briana at two stores in a nearby shopping center and model clothing for a fashion show put on by my classmates and I in this course.
  • Calculus 3 – This class is where I learned about 3-D graphs which was interesting. It was pretty much calculus on steroids, but all super interesting.

Spring 2019:

  • Linear Algebra – This class was all about matrices and taught by my now Academic Advisor who then helped me to declare my major. In this class is where I learned my true potential as a Math major!
  • Math Seminar – Math seminar was pretty much a course about careers in Mathematics for Math majors. I recall feeling so nervous, as I had no idea what I wanted to do or if I even wanted to stick out with a Math degree. However, my friends helped me realize that I could and that I belonged when I didn’t think I did.
  • Introduction to Statistics for Math Majors – Yes, my school offered a Math majors-only Statistics lecture. This course is where I met my Thesis Advisor and started to collaborate with him on Honors projects. My passion for statistics and analytics also grew from this course!
  • Principles of Sociology – I took this class with my friend Lexie as a part of our General Education requirement. It was an interesting course to say the least. However, I think I drove my professor crazy with my obsession with weddings whenever she brought up how she didn’t like them!
  • Environmental Policy – I took this class simply for fun! In here, I got to learn all about environmental policy within the political world and how every United States President has done when it came to their environmental policy. I also did a project on corn in this class, so that was fun too.
  • Principles of Marketing – I LOVED this class! My passions for business and marketing only grew when taking this course. I loved it because I learned all about people and their desires and what drives them when purchasing products as consumers. I almost declared a Marketing minor, but I did not have the room too.

Summer 2019 – Belize:

  • Arts & Artifacts Belize Edition – Like in Italy and England, this class was all about Belize. We visited the Belize Zoo, Lamanai Mayan Ruins, and the Barton Creek Cave. A big emphasis of the course was helping to volunteer at a local school. There was also a strong emphasis placed on the history of Belize and how its history shaped it into the nation that it is today.
  • Research – Yes, I did my first-ever research project in Belize. I interviewed 6-8 teachers in Belize on teaching students with disabilities, in order to gain insight into special education in the rainforest region of Cayo that I was living and studying abroad in. It was really insightful and impactful!

Fall 2019:

  • Abstract Algebra – This is one of the most challenging math courses offered. Little did I know, I would actually enjoy Abstract Algebra. Luckily, I also had many of my fellow Math major friends in that class, too.
  • Probability & Statistics – As apart of my Statistics minor, I took this course to learn more about probability within statistics.
  • Advertising and Sales Promotion – When I was thinking I could still acquire a Marketing minor, I took this course. It was all about advertising products and ignited my passion for consumer insight surveys – hence why I do annual reader surveys here on The Pink Chickadee.
  • Pilates – Yes, I took Pilates with my good friend Hannah. It was super fun and relaxing since we both had extremely stressful semesters. I can never forget when Hannah and I had to each “instruct” the class on a Pilates exercise and we couldn’t stop laughing at each other the entire time!
  • Beginning Programming – This was the semester that I retook Beginning Programming in Java and feel in love with programming!

Spring 2020:

  • Object Oriented Programming – This class was the 2nd level of Beginning Programming. It was challenging but also really cool!
  • Introduction to Data Analysis – After wanting to go into data analytics for quite some time, I was extremely excited when my academic advisor told me that our department would be offering a class in it! We learned JMP software which was fun. My class had only five of us in it which allowed for a unique bond between us all as we were the guinea pigs. My passion for the subject of data analytics only grew from here. Hence, my minor in Data Science!
  • Introduction to Biology – I had to take Biology lecture as apart of my general education and Honors requirements.
  • Biology Lab for Honors – Along with my Biology lecture, I had to take a Biology Lab which was specifically for Honors students and only for Honors students.
  • Bayesian Statistics – This course was a special topics in statistics course that I took for my minor in Statistics. It was super cool as I got to learn an entire world of probability that isn’t really taught in the introductory level Statistics courses. It was also taught by my Thesis Advisor!
  • Mathematical Modeling – I loved this class! I got to learn MATLAB and create some really cool mathematical models to predict future trends and data. We created math models in a variety of disciplines, including event planning. My favorite part was getting to create a math model on the product life cycle of Jack Rogers sandals for my final project.
  • Databases – This was my 2/2 8am classes here at Meredith. It was a 1 credit class that met for 3 weeks and I learned how to create and use databases in Microsoft Access. A lot of my friends were in there, which made it super fun!

Summer 2020:

  • Introduction to Website Development – This class is where I learned how to code in HTML and CSS. It also grew my passion for website development and thus allowed me to declare my third minor in Website Development. I also used the skills that I learned in this class to code this amazing site that you are on now!

Fall 2020:

  • Website Design and Databases – This is the second level of Introduction to Website Development. I got to learn JavaScript, JQuery, PHP, and SQL. My passion for website development only grew more from there!
  • Statistics 2 – Pretty much the second level of Statistics 1. It was pretty basic but also fun because I got to analyze data on this site for my final project.
  • Principles of Data Science – The second level of Introduction to Data Analysis. I got to learn R in this class and fell head over heels for R and its uses. Only 2 of my 4 classmates were in this class with me and our bonds grew a ton that semester. It was a really fun and special class that was also filled with a ton off empowerment!
  • Honors Thesis in Mathematics – I also started my Honors Thesis this semester which was amazing. I have been working alongside my Thesis Advisor all year long. In the Fall, I learned how to use Python and learned about different time series forecasting and machine learning models.
  • Career Development – This was a 1-credit course taught by two lovely ladies in the Office of Career Planning here at Meredith. It was all about female empowerment when it came to searching for a job and deciding what to do in your post-graduate life. It was a class that was for ME and my development which was refreshing.
  • Fitness Fusion – I took this online fitness course and did workouts in Yoga, Strength Training, Cardio Dance, and something else that I forget LOL!

Spring 2021:

  • Honors Thesis in Mathematics – This Spring semester, I wrapped up my Honors Thesis. In the Math Department, Honors Theses take a year to complete so I was right on track. This semester, I applied concepts learned the past Fall 2020 semester and wrote it all up in the form of a paper and presented it all too. It has been incredible to watch it all come together!
  • Discrete Mathematics – I am taking this class for my Website Development minor and it is pretty much an introduction to theoretical math for Computer Science majors.
  • History of Pandemics – This course is an Honors-only section on the history of pandemics in our world. Terrifyingly enough, there have been pandemics which have occurred once every century since at least the 1600’s. It is such an eye-opening class and an important reminder.
  • Website Development Special Study – Currently, I am working alongside my website development professor to create my own site using the concepts that I learned in my other website development courses and more. It has been super cool!
  • Regression – This is the final class that I have with my Thesis advisor. I have had him for every semester since Spring 2019 and my Thesis, too. It’s bittersweet! In this class, we are using R which I love and learning ALL about regression which is a super fun topic.
  • Public Speaking – The theme of this class is female empowerment and let me tell y’all it is AMAZING! My professor is all about uplifting everyone and her energy is truly contagious. It’s been such a beautiful class and a great final in-person undergraduate class to have!!!

Honestly, going through all of my college courses definitely brought back ALL the feels. It was also super fun to take a walk through memory lane, too. So many memories come from inside the classroom, believe it or not!

XOXO – Katie <3

thepinkchickadee1 Comment

How I Juggle College & Being a Blogger

College in itself can be a very stressful and busy time in itself. When you’re in college, it is hard enough to manage life in itself. With the social activities, extracurriculars, academics, and part time jobs, it is HARD. When you add a blog and becoming an influencer onto it all, who knows what else will get done?! Well, today, as an influencer and college student (soon-to-be-graduate!!!), I am here to tell you how I balance being a college student and a blogger.

Use a Planning System

Whether it be by paper and pen or digitally or a mix of the two, be sure to establish a planning system to aide in your blog planning. For me, I use spreadsheets to plan out my blog posts for the week, whether it be giveaways, collaborations, posts, stories, etc. and be sure to write down when to post them in my digital planning system. That way, I can successfully keep track of it all. Like college classes, your blog is a business that must be treated as such – it has deadlines, needs consistency in order to stay afloat, and a constant mode of flowing with the trends within our social media world today. What you put into your platform is what you will get out of it. The same goes for your college classes.

Plan, prepare, execute, and do it all over again, accordingly.

Have a Calendar

As an influencer, my calendar is my forever best friend. I can know where I have to be and when. I plan out my photoshoots for content, days that I am going to post them, and much more. Like you do for your college classes, plan out when you will focus on your blogging and execute.

Find Your Maximum Productivity Level for Academics & Influencing

To me, a maximum productivity level is the level at which you are most productive at something. For me, my maximum productivity level is different when I am focusing on academics than it is for influencing and blogging. In fact, I am more productive at my academic work in the afternoon. As for influencing and blogging, I am most productive after 10pm-early morning hours. Knowing that my maximum productivity levels are at different times for the different tasks that I have as a student and as a blogger, I can use that to my advantage and schedule when I work on what accordingly.

Make Sacrifices

When I chose to start my blog, I knew that I would have to make sacrifices. For me, that was spending more time on academics than I was on my blog. While I do have high ambitions for growing my platform here on The Pink Chickadee, in order to keep up with my classes, I have not been able to reach them yet. I plan to when I graduate, though. Yet, I have made the sacrifice to spend more time on academics that I have on my blog since starting it so that I can acquire my degree. At the same time, having a blog takes a lot of time, no matter how much time you choose to dedicate to it. You will most likely have to spend some late nights crafting posts and creating new content, especially with the robust social and academic world known as college. However, I have found it all to be so worth it in the end.

College Comes First

Above all else, your college career comes first. Although blogging is super fun and a great way to meet likeminded folks, it is not as important as your college career in retrospect. If you have a big test coming up, then your time should be dedicated towards that rather than curating a brand-new blog post or photo for your Instagram feed. The same goes for papers, assignments, etc. At the end of the day, your college career and GPA will get you your degree NOT your blog!

I most definitely do not regret starting my platform while in college. I have put many hours, blood, sweat, and tears into my blog all while being a college student. Although I have had many highs and lows since starting The Pink Chickadee, it has all been oh so worth it in the end. If you are ever considering starting a blog while in college, do it and do not look back. It will be the best decision that you ever made!

XOXO – Katie <3

thepinkchickadeeLeave a comment

The Pink Chickadee’s 2020 Reader/Follower Survey Findings & 2021 Blogger Goals

If you have been following me for a while, then you know that I hosted my first-ever annual reader/follower survey. This survey was inspired by the lovely Annaliese of Southern Belle In Training who has done these surveys each year for her own platform and shares her results publicly. As an aspiring Data Scientist, I just knew that I had to jump on the idea of doing my own reader/follower survey! Like Annaliese, I also want to share my survey results publicly along with my 2021 blogger goals, which are *of course* aligned with what my survey responses were.

2020 Reader/Follower Survey Results:

It is important to note that this survey includes my followers on social media, readers of the blog, and those who do both. This survey was also voluntary and all responses are anonymous upon submission.

Demographics:

The majority of my readers are within my similar age range of 18-24 (77% of of my readers are within this age range. I also have some readers who are within their mid-late 20’s and early 30’s. Like myself, most of my readers are female at 96%, leaving there to be approximately 4% male readers.

My readers mostly live in the Southeast of the United States, with North Carolina, Virginia, Florida, and Georgia being the most popular states. However, I did get very excited over a response from Scotland along with one from Colorado and another from Arizona. The most popular city that my readers reside in is Raleigh, North Carolina along with its surrounding area along with the Washington, DC metropolitan area.

The top influencers that y’all are big fans of alongside following The Pink Chickadee include: Angela at @thriftypineapple, Carly at @carly, Kate at @lonestarsouthern, Emily Ann at @everythingemilyann, and Kelly at @kellyinthecity.

Where They Follow Along:

The majority of y’all follow The Pink Chickadee on Instagram while some of them follow solely or additionally through Facebook, WordPress/subscribing to the site, or my weekly newsletter. 86% of my followers have read a blog post, but 15% have not, meanwhile, 98% of my followers follow me on social media in some aspect – an insight that shows the importance of The Pink Chickadee‘s social media amongst its followers.

Blog & Social Media Content:

In terms of blog posts, y’all really appeared to enjoy content on travel, personal experiences/life advice, cooking, and fashion. Luckily, these are all areas of content that I LOVE LOVE LOVE sharing, so I am super glad to hear that my readers enjoy them!

As for social media, y’all’s favorite aspects were my wardrobe, interaction, encouragement, and the positivity. These were some of my favorite quotes:

  • “I’m really loving how you’ve done your travel posts from the past, considering the circumstances, that is such a clever ideas!” – Fun fact: I got this idea from my good friend Hannah D who shared a dump of photos on her stories one day from her past trip to Paris. Hannah D is such a clever and fun friend of mine, that I totally took it all into my own hands. Y’all are the one’s who influence me!!!
  • “They’re so cute & colorful. I also love how authentic you are.” – Thank you! My colorful and bubbly style makes my life go round, and I am really glad that I am able to share it all with y’all! At the same time, I love that I can be someone who is a shining authentic light!
  • “You’re so natural with it and it doesn’t feel sales-y” – I’m glad, it’s easy as a blogger to make it seem like your feed is all for sales and show. However, as a blogger, I find it extremely important to stick to your own passions and align them with your readership. I am really glad and happy that I have been able to show my true self and have it seen on this platform.
  • “Your stories are always so fun! It’s just an encouragement to see such positivity” – I’m glad!!! Life is so crazy right now. It makes me extremely happy to hear that I am helping y’all as The Pink Chickadee and y’all help me so so so much <3

Moving forward, my readers have the highest interest in blog posts and social media topics that include mental health awareness, easy recipes to try from Pinterest (I hope to include these in my weekly menu round-up’s too!), makeup/haircare/nails, DIY, home decor, travel, holiday, outfit of the day, and preppy fashion. At the same time, y’all are very interested in hearing more about my exciting adventure into the dating world with my sweet Chickadee Maggie, ideas for pretty much anything, and personal stories. Each of these topics are things that I am really excited to bring to the table as a blogger moving forward.

Additionally, y’all shared with me the types of travel destinations that you’re most interested in hearing experiences about (the beach, the mountains, the city, Europe, and the East Coast were the top one’s!) along with your favorite places to shop (Target, Marshall’s, Lilly Pulitzer, and Bath & Body Works were y’all’s favorites!). I also learned about my readers’ favorite small businesses and there are oh so many that I need to follow still! These small businesses include: Marah Cotta Clay, Paintbase, The Local Squirrel, Mini & Me Boutique as well as local restaurants and cafes. Knowing each of my readers’ interests will help me best to achieve my 2021 blogger goals.

Last but not least, my readers left me some of the sweetest comments, my favorite of which, I am going to share below!

  • “Your blog is fabulous and I feel privileged to be apart of your journey :))) I wish do something like this – maybe one day!”
  • “You’re doing awesome things! Love your page and newsletter. You’re seriously goals!”
  • “You’re doing great & one of my fav IG friends”
  • “I love that you’re so creative and very fashionable! Also you’re a very down to earth person and when seeing your page I feel like your talking to me”
  • “It just makes me happy when I read it. It kinda helps with my day.”
  • “I love seeing your Instagram, and I can’t wait to see how you grow.”

2021 Blogger Goals

  • Emphasis on Small Businesses – With everything going in on 2020 that has jeopardized small businesses’ existence, I want to use 2021 to really emphasize the importance of shopping small. Not only will I be striving to shop small more so, but I want to promote shopping small and do more and more collaborations with small businesses.
  • Interviews – I love featuring my friends on The Pink Chickadee, but I also want to feature those beyond my friend and family circle on my platform. I would love to feature those with different styles and interests than my own and really truly broken my horizons.
  • Relationships & LGBTQ+ – Since sharing some excitement of me and my lovely Chickadee (girlfriend) Maggie on this platform has really helped me to come out of and expand my shell. This year, I hope to shed some light and share more about being LGBTQ+ as well as life in a relationship.
  • Giveaways – Yes! You heard me right – I am hoping to do some more giveaways with small businesses as well as other influencers AND featuring your favorite products!
  • Personal Stories – Since y’all really seemed to appreciate reading about my own and others’ personal stories, I plan to share a lot of content along the lines of pieces of advice, personal stories, as well as my own experiences. Luckily, these are the easiest posts to write too 🙂

I am so blessed that I have been able to grow The Pink Chickadee in ways like never before this past year. Without y’all’s input, I would not be able to grow my platform and expand it even more in 2021 and beyond. Here’s to a year full of lots and lots of growth!

XOXO – Katie <3

thepinkchickadee3 Comments

My Fall 2020 Semester Reflections

Fall 2020 will be a semester for the books, not just because of Covid-19’s occurrence but because of the great memories that I made. Yes, this sentence that I just said may sound like a joke. However, it is all very very true. Fall 2020 was one of my best semesters at Meredith. Despite everything that has all happened and been cancelled this semester and year, I am still very grateful for the experiences that I have had and the opportunities that have and are to come. Fall 2020 may have “sucked” in some regards, but it is what it is and as humans we have to continuously adapt and make it work for us.

Flashback to Spring 2020. I was anxious, sad, angry, and mourning the loss of my remaining “normal” college semester. When I say “normal,” I mean a semester that is filled with all of the typical things that college students do, such as outings with friends, large scale gatherings, and in-person classes on a regular basis. I thrived off of the social aspect of college as well as the academic aspect – they went hand in hand with my successes at Meredith. I became depressed and spent my days looking at old pictures and wishing for the happy memories that I had had in early 2020 and before to come back again. I wanted to make more memories just the way they were before. In fact, I majorly desired for it to occur.

As we all know, life is meant to change – it is our only consistency. With the changes that come with the coronavirus pandemic come adaptation. And adaptation takes time – it is not an overnight thing. Nothing happens overnight, especially coping with and dealing with change. Summer 2020 was a summer filled with self growth, knowing my self worth, and making the best of all of the harsh changes since March 2020. At the same time, I used my platform here on The Pink Chickadee to connect with others who are also fellow preppy fashion and Lilly Pulitzer lovers. The network that I have made has since grown into such a great blessing in my life. The Pink Chickadee truly helped me break out of my shell and adapt to the continuing changes in our world that have occurred throughout 2020 along with discovering to love my own self.

As I got into my Fall 2020 semester, I was nervous for what was to come. Nothing was going to look the same at the sweet college that I call my second home – Meredith. Meredith College is filled with a ton of large scale events known as Traditions that are unique to it. Each of these Traditions is super special to me and to my classmates. To watch the social aspect of Meredith that I saw before March 2020 disappear before my eyes made me sad and sometimes even cry.

Although I love the Traditions that truly make Meredith College Meredith College, my shift and energy has changed on what Meredith College means to me. With the current Black Lives Matter movement and momentum for inclusion of everyone, the ways that Meredith has run pre-Covid have not been the most inclusive for students of all races, sexualities, ethnicities, gender identities, religions, socioeconomic backgrounds, etc. While I love Meredith Traditions and the memories that they have brought me, they have hurt so many of my classmates in the past. Knowing this information now helps me to realize that while I loved Traditions, they are not the best thing to have right now and that is okay. Currently, I am working to help my Class as Fundraising Chair, my Math and Computer Science Department as Canaday Math & Computer Science Club (CMCS) President, and Angels for Disability Advocacy (ADA) Vice President by providing all students with inclusive virtual opportunities to be present and involved on campus.

This semester, I have really been able to shine inside and outside of the classroom. The Pink Chickadee has not only flourished, but it has grown in ways like never before this semester. If I had been uber engaged in Meredith College social life, then I would not have had time to progress on my platform as much as I did. At the same time, I have truly been able to succeed inside the classroom. My interests within my Data Science, Statistics, and Website Development courses have ignited and shined now more than ever before. I am also working on my Honors Thesis this year and really enjoying working on my own research project independently while applying my skillset from within the classroom to grow as a future Data Scientist even more. At the same time, I also made the Dean’s List – a symbol of all of my hardwork and passion this semester from the classroom and The Pink Chickadee.

The biggest consistency in my Fall 2020 semester life, before, and after it has been my friends. Each of my friends and I have all gone through the same things this year and, while none of us like it, we are all in this together. My friends are the people that I can count on to be safe and for me to do the same for them. We truly have had each others’ backs since before the coronavirus pandemic hit and during. They have truly been such a blessing in my life, and the bond that I have with each of my friends is something that I will never ever take for granted.

Although Fall 2020 looked nothing like I had envisioned it to, I am still oh so grateful and blessed for the memories and bonds that I have made. Without this semester, I would not have been able to genuinely grow my platform on The Pink Chickadee and as a human being in the ways that I have. Here’s to a great but very different semester and one left to come!

XOXO – Katie <3

thepinkchickadeeLeave a comment

The Magical Delaware Christmas Town

Love me a Christmas town! Last weekend, my family and I visited the tiny and charming town of Lewes, Delaware. This sweet little town has been decked out for Christmas for a while. Along with solely small businesses in town, Lewes also has its own historical significance too, as there are plaques commemorating its events over the centuries. Lewes is definitely a gem along the Delaware coastline!

Visiting Lewes was such a great experience. The town is so walkable and everywhere you turn there is something new and wonderful. It makes for an excellent day trip if you are in the Bethany Beach/Rehoboth Beach/Dewey Beach area. You will not regret it!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

thepinkchickadeeLeave a comment

My Giving Day Giftaway – Join Me!

With everything that is going on this year, there is still oh so much to be grateful for. This year, I have decided to take it into my own hands and gift those in need with a stuffed Olaf – a gift that I treated myself to back in January. I will be gifting the stuffed Olaf’s and donating them to a local Toys for Tots box in my community. Even as a 21 year old, Olaf has brought me so much joy this past year, and I want Olaf to bring so much joy to those in my community too. The best part: I want YOU to be apart of my sweet giftaway!

Together, we can raise $60 to purchase 4-5 stuffed Olaf’s to spread some Christmas cheer. The best part?! Donations range from $1-$5 a piece and one is open to donating more than one donation slot on the bingo sheet. If you are willing to donate, please contact me directly via my Instagram @_thepinkchickadee or email me at katefrancesthompson@gmail.com and I will give you the information to donate your money accordingly. As always, thank you for your supporting and interest in helping those in need this year. Together, we can help spread some holiday cheer to others!

XOXO – Katie <3

thepinkchickadeeLeave a comment