Preppy Fashion Lover Gifts Guide

***Please note that this Preppy Fashion Lover Gifts Guide will be updated and recirculated periodically to reflect the most up-to-date information. This gift guide was most recently updated as of October 2025.***

Lilly Pulitzer, Vineyard Vines, J Crew, and Kate Spade, OH MY! As a self-proclaimed preppy fashion lover and grand millennial, I could not share some preppy fashion lover items for my Christmas Gift Guides. Today, I am rounding up all of the preppy fashion lover gift ideas to complete your preppy fashion wardrobe and for your preppy fashion lovers in your life all while at different price points. In the case that you’re interested in some of my other preppy fashion shopping guides, then look no further than my blog posts on a few brands to know like Lilly Pulitzer, Printfresh Pajamas Review, Hill House Nap Dress Dupe Shopping Guide, and more. Happy shopping!!!

*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.*

Preppy Fashion Lover Gifts Guide

This Preppy Fashion Lover Gifts Guide will be divided into 5 sections based on price point: $25 and Under, $50 and Under, $100 and Under, $200 and Under, and $200+. That way, there’s a gift every preppy fashion lover in mind!

$25 and Under

$50 and Under

$100 and Under

$200 and Under

$200+

Happy holidays and happy shopping, preppies!

XOXO – Katie <3

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How To Launder Lilly Pulitzer

If you know me, then you know that Lilly Pulitzer is my favorite fashion brand! With its bright colors and prints coming in delicate fabrics, it may come as a challenge to launder your Lilly Pulitzer garments. As someone who values convenience over time most of the time, I am going to share some tips for taking your Lilly Pulitzer finds to the local laundromat or how to laundering Lilly Pulitzer yourself (which can even be a bonus when you are on the road!!!).

*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 sponsored, and all opinions are my own.*

For more preppy style & grand millennial home content, check out my Preppy Fashion & Grand Millennial Home page.

To shop current Lilly Pulitzer products, look no further than the Lilly Pulitzer website. You can shop any product on the site using this link.

How To Launder Lilly Pulitzer

Laundromats

Wherever you may be, locally-owned Laurdromats are probably near by. The majority of them are corn-operated, as seen in the movie’s. One of my latest and favorite laundromats is The Clothes Spin. The Clothes Spin is a laundromat that is based in Lynchburg, Virginia. Unlike the majority of laundromats, The Clothes Spin has 24/7 access for all of their customers. That being said, you can easily come in and launder your garments when it best fits for your schedule. The best part of it all?! This 24/7 laundromat located in Madison Heights allows you to pay for you to wash your clothing through an app rather than with change! I most definitely do not carry huge chunks of change in my pocket anymore, and I know many others who do not either.

Tips

Whether or not you choose to go to a laundromat or launder your Lilly Pulitzer garments at home, there are quite a few do’s and don’t’s that will make it so much more helpful for you to take care of your garments to the best that you can. I have washed my Lilly Pulitzer and do pretty frequently. Knock on wood, I have not had that many issues with washing them, as I strictly follow these do’s and don’t’s as well as the tips that I also list below, too.

 

Do’s

  • Wash in cold water, in order to prevent shrinking and color run
  • Wash your white’s and colored clothing separately, in order to prevent color bleeding on your white garments (no one wants a white shirt to unintentionally become pink!)
  • Wash garments with embroidery inside out. Embroidery may include pom poms, sequins, or delicate buttons.
  • Hang or lay your Lilly Pulitzer to dry, rather than drying it! This will prevent your garments from shrinking. If the garment is 100% cotton, then most definitely be sure to lay or hang it to dry as it will shrink a size if put in the dryer!
  • Wash garments inside out, in order to prevent pilling

Don’t’s

  • Wash light-colored garments and dark-colored garments together. Darker colored clothing items can rinse into lighter colored clothing items, which can most definitely change their colors. Typically, I wash my whites separately from all of the other colored garments and have not had many issues.
  • Put 100% cotton, cashmere, sweaters, or other vulnerable garments into the dryer – they will shrink a size! It’s best to lie them flat to dry.
  • Hang popovers or Finn tees to dry. The shoulders will be stretched out. Rather, lay them flat to dry.

Detergent & Bleach

I am a loyal Tide user. Ever since I went off to college, I have used Tide detergent in the scent April Spring. To go with it, I use Febreeze Fabric Softener in the same exact scent. However, recently, I have used Kirkland’s detergents and fabric softeners from Costco that actually come in a similar scent. Personally, I am someone who is extremely particular about the way my clothing and things smell, so it works well for me. As for bleach, I find OxiClean to be one of the best out there! Not only does it do the job, but it does the job well! Luckily, the detergent, fabric softener, and bleach products that I use can easily be found at a local grocery store, Target, Walmart, or even Costco.

Along with OxiClean, my favorite alternative for stains is as simple as that: water and soap. All I simply do is have sink running, add an soap to the stain and massage the stain with my fingers. The soap that I use is simply the hand soap right beside my sink, but any soap even body wash will do. Y’all it works EVERY TIME!! This trick also works really well with period stains. It can also be done everywhere, as all you need is a sink and some soap!

Regular Wash VS Delicate Wash

When washing Lilly Pulitzer garments, it varies per item which type of wash that you would want to do on your washing machine. For most garments, I use regular, however, for some I use the delicate wash. I have listed down below what type of wash I use for which Lilly Pulitzer styles that I own!

Regular Wash

  • Sophie shift
  • Mila shift
  • All Luxletic products
  • Delia shift
  • Ophelia shift
  • Kelly pants
  • Adalee shift
  • Skirts/skorts
  • Popovers
  • Cotton tops (including cotton Elsa’s, Essie’s, and Etta’s)

Delicate Wash

  • Elsa Tops (especially those coming in silk fabrics)
  • Anything with embroidery (i.e. pom poms, sequins, delicate buttons)
  • Anything that is cashmere
  • Scarfs or wraps

Wrap-Up

However you choose to launder your Lilly Pulitzer garments, the consistency that you choose to wash them is key. Over the years, I have remained consistent in my techniques for washing my Lilly, and it has worked. That being said, whatever works for you is what you should do!

XOXO – Katie <3

A special thank you to The Clothes Spin for sponsoring this blog post. Without their support, The Pink Chickadee wouldn’t be where it is today.

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6 Things I Learned from 6 Months in the Workforce 

So, I have now been in the workforce for 6 months! Since starting my job, it has been a whirlwind of excitement and growth and learning that I am excited to see where I grow since starting my job. I really love the company that I work for and hope to stay there and expand my career there, too. While I am in the data analytics subject area in my day to day job, I want to share lessons that I have learned that will help people in ANY subject area or industry in Entry-Level roles and/or simply starting out in the workforce within their day to day life – you can also follow me on Instagram (@_thepinkchickadee) to see my daily work outfits.

  1. Your coworkers will come from all walks of life and that’s an AMAZING thing – The workforce is MUCH different from college life. You are working with people of ALL ages and ALL different backgrounds. As someone who has always had a passion for learning about others and their lives and backgrounds, I find this to be such a great thing and a lifelong skill – learning from others’ experiences and growing from it all. The MORE we learn about others and their experiences that aren’t our own, the more we grow as people from what we learn. Trust me, it’s a beautiful thing and you’ll love that aspect of the workforce as time goes on!
  2. You will learn valuable skills that you will use in many different ways – Whether you realize it or not, your job will teach you valuable skills that you will apply in many different ways, whether it be in your career now, down the road, or other aspects of your life. For example, I have ALWAYS been afraid to ask for help, as I have continuously seen myself as someone who wants to do it all on her own. BUT, being in the workforce has made me realize that in life, it DOES take a tribe. Your coworkers will want to help you 9 times out of 10 and are happy to, even when the question may feel “stupid” or “dumb” to you. The same concept goes for planning a dinner party for 10 of your friends and family on your own where everyone brings a dish to share. No one should do it on their own. Whatever the skills may be for you, you will learn some valuable skills from your job, both in your industry and area of expertise and simply life skills. Be thankful for that, too.
  3. Don’t be afraid to introduce yourself to someone new – Being in the workforce is not just about what you know but who you know. When starting a brand-new job and entering into the workforce, there are going to be a LOT of new faces. I have always made an effort to introduce myself to someone new within my company or industry, no matter how nervous I may feel about it. While it is daunting at first, 9 times out of 10, people are EXCITED to meet you too. People are typically touched to be able to meet someone new and know that you took the time to introduce yourself to them and that you want to know them too. It may be nerve-wracking and overwhelming at first, but it WILL be worth it in the long run. And, perhaps, you may make a new friend or two too!
  4. Take time outside of work to learn your role – As an entry-level employee, I find it REALLY valuable to take the time to LEARN your role and the ropes of my role and simply being in the workforce. Simply putting it, along with doing your job and getting the job done (because, yes, people aka your coworkers and boss ARE relying on you to get the job done), it’s also your job to LEARN while on the job. Taking the time to simply learn new things while on the job WILL take much effort on your part – it may mean taking some time outside of your job to learn it all too. Jobs are ALL about learning and growing while getting paid to do so, unlike college!
  5. Set some goals but be REALISTIC – Having goals professionally is SO important. But, it is also important to ensure that your goals are concise and realistic. That being said, if you have 10 professional goals, that may be exciting and enthralling, but it also may not be realistic to achieve them all within 6 months or even a year. And, perhaps, you may be able to combine 1-2 of your goals into one big goal. Goals are an excellent way to aim for something exciting and bigger within your professional role and life. Goals will help you to be able to discover your passions and work towards something that will lead to a stronger and healthier professional life for yourself in the long run. Not only will you be able to work professionally through setting goals, but also personally. Though, through it all, it’s important to remember that goals can and will change over time and that is OKAY. Life may take its toll and your perceptions of your initial goals may change. Be sure to be flexible and adapt through the goal getter process!
  6. Above all else, remember to make time for YOU! – While the hustle is the name of the game of the workforce, it is also just as important to take some time away from the hustle for yourself. Be sure to take breaks – maybe go for a walk, go to the gym, go to the grocery store, get coffee with friends, or even take a nap. Perhaps, you can EVEN focus on your own passions outside of work, whether that be a side hustle, your pet(s), cooking, outdoor activities, or something else. If we work too much, then we loose ourselves from within. We NEED to take time for ourselves and even take days off for ourselves, simply on a trip, staycation, or just to nap and watch TV. Above all else, it is OKAY to take breaks, even when work may feel overwhelming. Remember that.

The workforce may define our lives on a daily basis, BUT we must take time to personally succeed and grow, too. Above all else, being in the workforce will shape you into the person that you are meant to become. Trust the process of it all.

XOXO – Katie <3

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My 2022 Goals!

For me, a new year means new goals! At the end of every year, I look back at what I didn’t like that I consistently did and strive to make changes accordingly. I see life as a cycle of continuous improvement and setting goals each new year does exactly that for me! Below, I have listed out some of my major goals for 2022.

  • Grow in my Christian faith – In the new year, I am looking to get back into a groove of attending church more often. In high school, I went to church 2-3 times a week for different activities including Sunday church and small groups throughout the week. Those times at my church were super special for me, too. I missed those days looking back and have even signed up for a church course with a retreat that I cannot wait for!
  • Network with other bloggers and meet some IRL – 2022 is THE year that I will be meeting some other fellow bloggers in-person. I have yet to meet some of the many amazing fellow influencer/blogger friends that I have established here on this platform. So, I NEED to make it happen this year, as I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to not only network with and meet other bloggers that I have yet to connect with, but also meet many of the lovely folks that I have already connected with!
  • Show off more bargains – I am a SUCKER for a bargain, BUT who isn’t?! More recently, I have become more interested in thrifting, shopping at The Dollar Tree, and simply finding a great deal. Since I am a sucker for a good bargain like all of y’all, I am so excited to share more of my bargains with y’all and want to be more consistent with sharing them on my platform, too!
  • Attend a professional conference – So, I attended a conference with my Mom in Bulgaria when I graduated from high school. Although I was NOWHERE near looking for a job when I graduated from high school, it was still such a meaningful experience of mine that indeed opened my mind up to the many many many benefits of attending a conference. That being said, I would love to attend a professional conference related to my full-time job this year!
  • Join an outside of work committee – If you knew me in college, then you know that I was the QUEEN of overcommitment. In fact, I was personally victimized by overcommitment – LOLLL! Since taking my first 6 months in my new job to simply develop myself within my company and in my new role, I am looking towards excitedly joining a brand-new committee of some sorts that is NOT work related. Something that is a great experience for me that I could use similar skills within my job, but not necessarily within my job is ideal. My overcommitment is something that I pride myself on throughout my college years and hope to get involved somehow beyond my professional world in this new year.
  • Shoot MORE items from within my closet – So, I guess I am a real life Carrie Bradshaw when it comes to my closet??? I LOVE my closet and it is huge and it is indeed my happy place. Believe it or not, there are still SO MANY items within my closet that I have yet to share with y’all that I WANT to share with y’all. In 2022, I would love to focus on sharing some of those many many many pieces with y’all and more!
  • Put myself out there more in my new city – Life is ALL about constantly putting yourself out there! What can I say?! Due to COVID-19 with the current ongoing Omicron variant and adjusting to my new 9-5 job, I have yet to establish myself in my new city. There is so much I can do here in Washington, DC that I want to do. Putting myself out there especially when it may feel like a drag will only put me so much further out there to shine!
  • Reorganize again and again and AGAIN – My newest favorite pastime has become reorganizing. I guess you can say that I am always keeping people on their toes! I have gone to both The Dollar Tree and Target multiple times and have redone my pantry a bit and am in the process or re-dolling up my office, too. The results of both of those projects will be shared here on the blog. At the same time, I am hoping to deck out my dining room, bar cart, and bathroom plus my closets. ALL of which I plan to share here, too!
  • Explore the DMV more – There is a lot to say about simply exploring your own backyard! There is SO much to do around the DMV aka the Washington, DC-Maryland-Virginia tristate around that I am excited to do this year. I spent a lot of 2021 especially the end of 2021 traveling that I missed out a bit on experiencing some magic within my own backyard. As the sun sets later and later, I am itching to get out more especially after work.
  • Visit more Virginia vineyards – This year, I was gifted a 2022 Virginia Wine Pass. A Virginia Wine Pass essentially gives you and a guest discounts on goodies at each participating vineyard (varies by vineyard). There are SO many vineyards in the beautiful state of Virginia that it’s not even funny! I cannot wait to explore SO many of them, too.
  • Find a way to professionally grow – As a new, starting out employee, I am definitely looking for ways to professionally develop myself and my portfolio. Whether it be a certification, course, or simply attending an event (or two), I really want to strive to find a way to allow my resume to expand in my current role this year.

Now, onto achieving my 2022 goals! But, I am wondering, what are some of your goals?!

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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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

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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

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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

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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

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