For the past few years, I did not dress up for Halloween. However, with my extra time in 2020, I decided why not?! Although I am going to any Halloween gatherings this year, in order to embrace our new and temporary normal of social distancing, I wanted to still take part in the fun. For my costume, I decided to DIY everything with crafts supplies from Hobby Lobby and items in my closet. I chose to dress as nothing other than a FLAMINGO!!!
XOXO – Katie <3
I have ALWAYS wanted to explore downtown Cary, yet I never had the chance until last weekend!! Although it is small, there is a lot to do and see for half a day in this charming town. My Papa and I did a walk through last weekend, and we had a great time taking in all of the sites while still maintaining our social distance. With its small town charm and proximity to Raleigh, I am most definitely excited to check out downtown Cary soon again!
Cary, North Carolina is a suburb located outside of Raleigh. Its downtown is super adorable with many local shops, restaurants, hotels, and other small businesses. There is even a park – it is all super adorable with a modern twist. While there, Papa and I walked the streets and checked out some of the shops as well as gorgeous The Mayton Inn – located in the heart of downtown. Even though the downtown is tiny, it is super walkable and fun to explore, whether it is for an afternoon, lunch, or a drive through. I will definitely be back to check out some of the restaurants and maybe even the small businesses!!!
XOXO – Katie <3
I am OBSESSED with old mills, however, I had never been to one until last Saturday. My Papa and I love going for walks together, and since he was in town for the weekend, we decided to check out Historic Yates Mill Park. Our experience at Historic Yates Mill Park was most definitely social distancing-friendly and a fun Fall adventure.
On our way to the park, we crossed through lots of farm land, which is found on the outskirts of the Raleigh area. Both Papa and I did not know where we were going when I had found this cute little park on Google of all places and wanted to explore it with him. Contrary to our beliefs, we were both in for a treat when we arrived and saw anything but farm land – there were gorgeous trees and waterfront views everywhere that we turned.
Like its name, Historic Yates Mill Park is home to the absolutely stunning Historic Yates Mill. Although this is a historic site to North Carolina, it is free to all of its guests, which makes this a super budget-friendly place to explore, especially if you are in Raleigh or nearby. According to the park guide volunteer who spoke with me and Papa, Yates Mill has been around since the 1700’s and was used for corn. Yates Mill also sits right beside Yates Mill Pond. The park is also owned by NC State University and their Agricultural students use as their own classroom and research area. Along with Yates Mill, there are trails alongside Yates Mill Pond, which is open to exploration. Papa and I walked the entire trail surrounding the pond and we both had no trouble walking it (I was wearing my Jack Rogers sandals and Papa has a walking stick). Everywhere we turned, there was a stunning view of the everchanging Fall leaves, the mill, the pond, and all of the above. We surely got our daily workout in while taking in some scenic Fall views!!!
Historic Yates Mill Park is most definitely a hidden gem in Raleigh. With its free and easy access to everyone and its gorgeous views, the park has much to offer for everyone of all ages and abilities. I am also super happy that I got to cross seeing a historic mill off of my bucket list, too!
XOXO – Katie <3
Life has definitely been crazy recently. After talking to a friend, I realized that making a good dinner can be a great way to get through the week. If you know me, you know that I love a good weekly menu. This week, I am cooking some recipes that are close to my heart from my childhood years and spicing them up to be an adulting edition. I am most definitely excited to enjoy some great recipes to keep me going throughout the week!
Every Christmas Eve, my Aunt Amy bakes a homemade oven baked ziti. Since I love my Aunt Amy’s recipe so much, I decided to find a variation of an oven baked ziti recipe to try myself. Aunt Amy’s recipe *HAS* to be saved solely for Christmas Eve!!! I found this dutch oven recipe from The Cookie Rookie, and it has been super popular recipe for a crowd (the pre-pandemic life). To go with it, I will be having a Caesar salad with a Vegan Salad Dressing from Trader Joe’s. I have yet to make it since the pandemic has taken over most of our lives, but I cannot wait to this week!
Love me some salmon!!! I have always been a sucker for salmon AND a Delish recipe. Experimenting with different salmon recipes has always been a favorite thing of mine to do. Monday, I will be trying a Honey Mustard Roasted Salmon from Delish and serving it with my favorite vegeatable dish: roasted Brussels sprouts. Definitely a great way to kick off the week.
I am obsessed with all things barbecue. At the same time, I am very weird about the meats that I eat, especially when cooking at home. So, when I found this BBQ Shrimp Recipe from $5 Dinners, I knew that I had to try! I made this recipe back in January for a few friends and in April for my family during quarantine, and am making it again and serving it with some Kraft Mac & Cheese and Roasted Broccoli. Definitely excited to have it again!
Confessions: I NEVER eat breakfast on a good day, so why not enjoy it for dinner?! Growing up, my Papa and Grandma made Corned Beef Hash, so I can going to make that along with an egg and probably some bacon. It will be an easy yet delicious dinner!!
Pesto pasta has been a childhood favorite of mine. My mother probably cooked it for me and my brother at least once a week! That being said, I will be enjoying my childhood favorite dish with some amazing roasted cherry tomatoes on the side. Like breakfast for dinner, it is an easy yet delicious recipe to make!
With the end of the Fall semester approaching, my life is about to get extremely crazy. I am glad that I have some super good recipes to look forward to all week.
XOXO – Katie <3
Did you know that 1 in 8 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer during her lifetime? Me either. 1 in 8 people is a big number. Knowing this information, I think it is important that we all discuss and bring awareness to breast cancer. Breast cancer runs in my family, as my Great-Grandmother who I am named after got diagnosed with it and unfortunately passed away from it. Similar to my family, I know that many others have connections in their family and friends who have either had breast cancer or had it themselves. That being said, I decided to DIY a super cute banner to bring awareness to breast cancer research as well as its prevalence in our world today.
Every October, Lilly Pulitzer realizes a Paws for a Cause print where they donate some of the profits from its’ sales to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF). The print is *of course* pink, and I am obsessed with them all year after year. This year’s print was super duper adorable that I HAD to purchase something in it, especially knowing that my purchase goes to a great cause. As I have been eyeing Lilly Pulitzer’s pajama pants for quite some time now, I finally made the plunge and purchase a pair in this year’s Paws for a Cause print. Knowing how breast cancer affects many women and Lilly Pulitzer lovers, I really respect that my favorite fashion brand takes the initiative to support breast cancer research.
To go with my Paws for a Cause pajama pants, I decided to hand make a banner for my apartment. To make it, I went on my good old laptop and printed out a full page length of the print with one of the letters in “Think Pink” in a text box over it. I, then, printed the pages out, and hole punched the two left and right corners on the top of each page. Lastly, I weaved a tiny white ribbon through the holes and tied a knot at the ribbon on the end of each side.
I have made banners in my favorite Lilly Pulitzer prints in the past for both my dorms and my apartment. They have been such a fun decorative asset in my rooms for the past four years! Getting to have a banner that supports a cause that is very important to me and to many others is a great way to show off awareness for the things that mean the most to me. Although breast cancer is not going away anytime soon, showing off and giving my support for the cause is a way that I can do my part to help others and potentially myself someday.
XOXO – Katie <3
After sharing my own story about how I used my own negative experiences with bullying to promote kindness, I wanted to share others’ stories as well. Whether we like to admit it or not, all of us will encounter some form of bullying targeted at us during our lives. Yet, how we choose to respond to those experiences and carry them with us moving forward is important. Today, I asked a few of my friends to share how their own experiences with bullying shaped them into the person that they have become and will become. Each of them answered the following question:
How have your experiences with bullying shaped you into the person you are today?
Hello! My name is Chris. I have been a friend of Katie since preschool when we grew up together in Pennington. Katie has been like a sister to me and I’m honored to be a part of this thing she is doing on her blog to promote kindness! I would like to share my story of not just bullying but other moments in my life that makes me who I am today.
When I was four years old, I was diagnosed with autism and high anxiety. It makes it harder for me to process information be sensitive about things and it makes me zone out randomly. My anxiety makes me have anxiety attacks and hard for me to do things that I wanted to do. When I was in kindergarten the teachers noticed I was having a tough time in the classroom so I they recommended that I take special education to get the support I needed. In elementary school I had nice teachers that supported me and helped me get through everything. It was when I was in 5th grade when my anxiety came in and I knew middle school was coming and this is when it really starts.
When I was in middle school I had mean teachers who didn’t understand my disability and didn’t know how to help. I would have anxiety attacks and I wasn’t learning much in the classroom because of the teachers not understanding me. My district recommended that I go to a school where I’d get better help. I arrived at the school and the at teachers were much better, but the kids weren’t nice to me they came from abusive families and bad backgrounds. I was the only one there that came from a good family, I missed my friends like Joe, Tim, Matt and Andrew. It was so hard to leave them, especially in 7th and 8th grade. I then went back to my district for high school where I hoped for a fresh start.
When I was in high school, and I started my freshman year I was so happy to see my friends again Joe was happy to see me and so was Andrew and Tim and Matt. I had a very supportive teacher named Mrs. Dinardo who I still keep in contact with today. I also met a girl named Kim who I became really good friends with and I ended going to senior prom with her because she was a senior and I was freshman everyone called me lucky. But after that, things got hard I started to get bullied by a group of people who would cyber bully me on social media and threaten me. For the next three years they would do the same thing over again and it would get worse every year. I didn’t want to go to school and I didn’t look forward to the new school year starting because I knew they would come after me again. I also had a toxic relationship and I also had a seizure in senior year which was the most horrific experience I ever had. When I graduated high school I tried different jobs who had mean bosses who didn’t understand me and were abrasive to me. At one of those jobs, I was bullied by the same people that bullied me in high school. I also lost my grandparents who I was so close to. The worst part about this it happened all at one time for three years.
All of this has made me stronger, I care about all of my friends and I show kindness to everyone! I couldn’t have gone through this without the support of Katie, Joe, Andrew Tim, and Matt. I’m pleased to say that I have a great job as an office assistant now that’s been the perfect fit for me with a great boss who I know keep in contact with. I’m probably the most happy I’ve ever been in my life. I have now began a relationship with Kim that I met in freshman year and it’s been so great so far! I’m also learning how to drive with a great tutor! My message to everyone who reads this is be kind to everyone you meet you never know what’s going on in a persons life or what they’ve gone through. I shout out to Katie for letting me write on her blog! Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed it and I hope I inspired all of you!
Hi my Name is Wyatt. This stuff is a bit hard for me to talk about. I’ve been bullied all my life, it started in kindergarten. Honestly I’ve never really gotten over how much I hated my life during what my parents call “grade school”. In short terms, there were days that I was afraid to go to school, with how much I was hated and made fun of because of who I was. See I’ve never been the kind of person that likes to hurt people for fun. Honestly, I’m the complete opposite. I was hated so much that no one would sit with me at lunch, so I constantly sat alone a lot of the time, so you get why I never really wanted to go to school in the first place, I didn’t see a point in it. One of the worst days of my life was when I was in art class in sixth grade. After I was done with my painting, I went to turn it in, and the teacher laughed and held it up in front of the whole class and everyone laughed at me, it was one of the most embarrassing, and hurtful times of my life. I remember going home early that day because I couldn’t show my face in school the rest of the day, and I went home and cried. In fourth grade everyone picked on me because I was shorter than everyone else. I’ve never felt so ashamed and alone in my life than when I was in grade school. I had no friends whatsoever. There were days during elementary school where I ate lunch in the principal’s office because I had no friends. It’s really sad and pathetic to think about how you’re only friends during your childhood, were faculty much older than you. Life was horrible from elementary school, to the end of middle school. There were points during school, when I was younger where I wish I wasn’t born or who I was because no one liked me and no one wanted to be my friend. It kills me to see how much hate there is in school when you’re younger and everyone hates you for no reason. The only happy times that I had were when I was at church, or when I was away at camp for two weeks. Those were the only places where I really felt I was accepted for who I was. Another horrible time was when I was in middle school, and I asked a girl to the school dance, and everyone recorded me getting rejected. That was one of the most humiliating days of my life. I’m really surprised that I didn’t want to kill myself for who I was.
It’s important to remember that practically all of us have a story when it comes to bullying. Not many of us like to admit it, but it’s important to remember above all else to choose kindness, compassion, and love.
XOXO – Katie <3
What’s better than wine?! Wine AND llama’s!!! My good friend Caroline wanted to go to a vineyard to celebrate her 22nd Birthday, so when I found out about Divine Llama Vineyards located in East Bend, North Carolina, neither of us could pass up the opportunity to go. Our friend Cassie lives a lot closer to Divine Llama Vineyards than Caroline and I do as students in Raleigh, so it was a great place to truly meet up. The wine and llamas along with the breathtaking views of its location in the stunning Yadkin Valley made for an amazing experience.
On the way there, Caroline and I could not believe how stunning the views of the Fall foliage were! Unfortunately, the leaves have not changed that much on the trees in Raleigh as compared to its Western, North Carolina counterparts. As someone who lives in Northern Virginia, the leaves are in a Fall Foliage around this time of year and stay that way into November, so this was super nice and refreshing to see again. I missed it!!! When we got to the vineyard, the Fall leaves were in their glory this weekend as we could see them all across the vineyard and while looking at the mountainous views from afar. In fact, while I was texting a friend, she said that this weekend that we went to the vineyard was the peak of the Fall foliage. No wonder the leaves looked absolutely breathtaking!
Upon arrival, we made our way to order some flights. If you do not know what a flight is, it is a tray with tiny samples of wine. We each got four wine samples in each flight, where I chose all of the sweet flavors. Although I have a savory tooth for food, I have a much greater sweet tooth when it comes to my wine! The flight was definitely enough wine for each of us to enjoy, and it didn’t break the bank for our college girl budgets ($10 each!). However, if I was willing to and had not bought another bottle the previous day, I definitely would have purchased a bottle of wine to take home. Personally, I thought that because I was going to a vineyard that attracts people for its llamas that the wine would not nearly be as good as anywhere else, but I was clearly mistaken!!!
As you would have guessed, the llama’s are what attract several tourists to Divine Llama Vineyards. Once we had our wine, we had headed off to see the llama’s. The llama’s were kept down a hilly path away from where people purchase their wine. However, you can take your wine with you and sip it as you admire the llama’s. Along the way, we saw rows and rows of grapevines and took in the amazing views of the Yadkin Valley. Then, BOOM, llama’s EVERYWHERE you turn!!! The llama’s were definitely managing their own business for the most part or wanting food, but I really enjoyed getting photos with my friends and these gorgeous creatures.
Even though I was expecting suburb llama’s and not the best wine, I was truly in for a splendid surprise when the wine and llama’s were both extremely impressive!!! The experience at Divine Llama Vineyards was one for the books – it was super fun to interact with the llama’s, other visitors (social distanced of course), and enjoy their wine. Not to mention, the prices are hard to beat here, as you only have to pay for the wine and merchandise, which means you can enjoy the llama’s and only the llama’s for FREE if you so choose to. Divine Llama Vineyards is also owned by two families that are friends with one another, which makes it a sweet small business – something that we should all be support now more than ever before. I would definitely come back here with friends, family, or even on a date! The best part?! I got to celebrate an amazing friend like Caroline!!!
XOXO – Katie <3
Will you accept this rose? Aka a quote that all of us Bachelor/Bachelorette fans LOVE to use! Last Tuesday night was the premiere of Claire Crowley’s season of the Bachelorette. Unlike any other season, Crowley’s season was filmed in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic tucked away at a private resort in Palm Springs, California. If we were living in a non-coronavirus world at the moment, I would have had a massive viewing party with snacks and goody bags. However, Covid-19 is still with us and my plans have shifted. So, in lieu of a party and in order to keep our social distance, I decided to make my own Bachelorette premiere goody bags!
Since I could not invite all of my friends over to my apartment, I decided to essentially make an RSVP list for those who wanted to receive a goody bag. That way, I could make a precise number and personalize them accordingly. Just as if we were having a party!
As for the goody bags, I tried to keep them consistent yet personalized. Inside each goody bag, I gave everyone a tiny slice of pumpkin bread. The pumpkin bread is an AMAZING box recipe which is super easy to bake that I got while at Trader Joe’s. As for the look of the bag, I purchased a pack of 20 clear goody bags from Target along with pipe cleaners in various colors. In order to customize everyone’s goodies, I typed up and printed out a little note with each person’s name asking them whether or not they would accept “this rose”. *Bachelor Nation fans rejoice!!!*
Although I could not have an actual Bachelorette celebration this year, I am still grateful that I got to do something with friends to celebrate it as we each socially distanced to watch the season premiere. One of the most important things about this pandemic is that is has allowed for us all to become creative and still make our own fun. As my Aunt Sherri always says, “there is always room for laughter.” Indeed, My Aunt Sherri is not wrong!
XOXO – Katie <3
Life during the coronavirus pandemic has most definitely been a whirlwind! With social distancing protocols being enforced and encouraged, many of us would not even think to go to a city during this time. On the same token, there are many people like my friend Violet who are students and/or live in a big city regularly. With our current precautions being put in place to slow the spread of the novel Covid-19, city life has definitely changed, but it is most definitely still a thing. Today, Violet will be sharing her experiences living in a city *something that is unthinkable to some* during the coronavirus pandemic.
Tell me a bit about yourself!
I am a junior biology major at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania! I also have minors in Spanish and history. Some of my favorite things about going to college are being a part of organizations on campus and exploring the city! My favorite organizations are Irish Dance Club and Phi Sigma Pi.
Where is your hometown?
I am from Fairfax Station, Virginia.
What city and school are you attending?
I attend Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
What is your living situation like in Philadelphia?
I live in an off-campus house with my three other roommates. We are within walking distance from campus!
Describe to me what life in Philadelphia was like before Covid-19
Before Covid-19, I really enjoyed both on-campus and off-campus activities. At our school, we have had many events such as concerts, plays, basketball games, formals, etc. Unfortunately, these events have been cancelled or a select few have been virtual. I also have enjoyed going into the city to go thrifting, out to eat, or explore different areas. One of the great things about the city is that I never run out of things to do- one of my favorite spots is South Street! I used to take public transportation or an Uber fairly often, but I have not done this much since the pandemic. Additionally, I used to attend in person classes every day.
Now, describe to me how life in Philadelphia is during the Covid-19 pandemic once you came back
Life in Philadelphia during the pandemic has been an adjustment! Like I mentioned, we are no longer having on-campus events. Thus far, there havebeen a few virtual events such as a Q&A with John Mulaney (which was awesome). I have gone into the city as well! Luckily, one of my roommates has a car this year, so we have not had to take public transportation as much. This has been great because we were concerned about possibly contracting Covid-19 while taking public transportation. I have taken an Uber a couple of times, but the drivers have always been great about wearing masks and not allowing passengers to sit in the front seat! In the city, most people wear masks and keep themselves socially distanced. In addition, I have a course schedule with online classes and few in person classes. My in person classes have much less students and are socially distanced!
What are some of the key changes to Philadelphia life during the pandemic?
In Philadelphia, people have been taking the pandemic very seriously. For example, most restaurants are still only allowing outdoor seating. There has also been a mask order for many months, which has helped Covid-19 cases remain relatively low in comparison to other parts of the country.
How are people reacting to the current social distancing guidelines in Philadelphia and on your college campus?
For the most part, students have been compliant with mask mandates and social distancing guidelines. There have been a few instances of students having large gatherings, but they have faced disciplinary action and/or sent into a mandatory quarantine. My school is taking the pandemic very seriously, especially because other Philadelphia schools have already had to send their students home. In general, people in Philadelphia have also been cooperative with social distancing guidelines. Throughout the spring and summer, the city was able to keep the rate of transmission moderately low, but there has been a recent spike in cases.
How does life during Covid-19 in a city differ from life outside a city?
There are not too many differences, or at least in my experience. Both Virginia and Philadelphia have mask mandates and enforced social distancing. The main difference is that Philadelphia is much more crowded. When I go into the city, I am always sure to distance myself from other people. I have also noticed that there are longer lines to enter stores, because stores reach capacity very quickly.
Do you feel that it is easier to practice social distancing protocols outside of a city?
In certain situations, it is definitely easier to practice social distancing protocols outside of a city. For instance, social distancing with public transportation or in busy areas can be difficult. Overall, social distancing is not too difficult because places are very strict about not exceeding their capacity so that people can easily social distance. In my opinion, the hardest part has been socially distancing in college. I have definitely not been able to see my friends as often, but it is much more important that we keep everyone safe!
How have you gotten creative with taking precautions in Philadelphia?
Fortunately, one of my roommates was able to bring a car this year so we do not have to take public transportation as often! I have also been trying to spend more time outside- especially when hanging out with other people (small groups only and masks on!).
Do you feel that the importance of wearing a mask, especially in a big city like Philadelphia helps when taking precautions?
Absolutely, masks always help! Philadelphia has actually been very cautious when it comes to masks and precautions. The city has be good about enforcing mask orders, which has allowed Philadelphia to be one of the cities with the lowest rates of transmission in the country.
What would you tell somebody who is considering visiting a city during the pandemic?
I would tell someone who is considering visiting a city to take every precaution in their power. Cities can get quite crowded, especially when taking public transportation. It is important to always remain aware of your surroundings so that you can keep yourself distanced from other people and stay safe during the pandemic.
What would you tell yourself before this pandemic?
I would tell myself to not have any expectations! Obviously, at the beginning of this pandemic, I did not expect it to last this long. I now know that this pandemic has the potential to last much longer, especially if people do not socially distance themselves!
What are your most important takeaways to living in a city during a pandemic?
Most importantly, I would say that it is still possible to have fun while taking important precautions. There are so many safe activities like having a picnic in a park, going for a hike, or exploring less crowded areas of the city. Finding ways to relax is important (especially in a pandemic!). Life is so stressful right now, so it is great to find some sources of enjoyment!
Life is definitely crazy in these times and living in a city does not help alleviate that fact. However, there are many ways to still cope with the new changes in our lives and adapt to this new and temporary way of living just as Violet described. City life will definitely look different after the pandemic, but however we choose to make our life on this planet is the outlook that we will bring. If the coronavirus hasn’t taught you anything so far, then I hope that Violet’s experiences in Philadelphia shine some light into your life.
XOXO – Katie <3
I am very excited because this week is the week that I *FINALLY* get a break!!! Due to the coronavirus, my school has eliminated all breaks throughout the semester up until Thanksgiving when we end classes right before the holiday, in order to limit travel and activities off campus. However, this Tuesday, we finally have our one break of the semester with a day off of classes!!! While it has been super overwhelming just going without any break, I am most definitely grateful that my school is working to keep us all safe and contain the novel coronavirus on our campus. That being said, this week’s menu will be reflecting my one day off of classes this week.
My mother makes the most amazing roasted pesto salmon. So, I decided that I wanted to try it out myself! I found this recipe from Food.com that tops it with cherry tomatoes and I will be serving it with roasted sheet pan broccoli and sweet peppers. Definitely cannot wait to kick off my week in a delicious way!!!
Now that it’s Fall y’all, I have been wanting to try out some new Fall recipes. I love myself some pork and I wanted to be adventurous in the kitchen. That being said, I will be finally trying another meat in my kitchen that is not bacon. I will be using this recipe from Sweet C’s. I am going to serve it with roasted potatoes and Brussels sprouts which are two of my favorite vegetables.
For Thursday night, I will be enjoying my leftover pork from the night before, but serving it with roasted Butternut Squash this time. If you saw my photo of myself failing at cutting up a Butternut squash last week, do not fret, as I will be purchasing my Butternut Squash pre-cut this time. That being said, I will have an easy to make yet delicious dinner Thursday night!
I am getting together with some friends this Friday for dinner and a picnic. As I love hosting, I wanted to do something safe that also allows for social distancing. I will be making pesto pasta and serving it a cheese-meat platter and some apples. For the cheese-meat platter, I will be having Swiss and Gouda (my favorite cheese) cheeses and prosciutto and salami. That way, we can have a classic picnic with a nice Fall twist!!!
For about a year now, I have had some of Betty Crocker’s Limited Edition Pumpkin Cookie Mix sitting in my pantry. So, I will finally be popping it open this week to make something sweet for the Fall season, especially with my picnic and Fall Break coming up.
XOXO – Katie <3
