5 Ways to Show Yourself Some Love this Valentine’s Day

The other day, I was talking with my friends about Valentine’s Day. Each of us are fellow proud single women who love ourselves for who we are and watch one another grow on a regular basis. To their surprise, I celebrate Valentine’s Day in full swing as a proud single woman and utilize this holiday solely for loving ME! Valentine’s Day has historically been a couple’s-only holiday and a day to exchange candy cards in elementary school with your fellow classmates. It has ALWAYS been a day that is used to love on others around us and most definitely significant others and it should continue to be that way, BUT it should also be a great opportunity to show ourselves some love, too. So, today, I have listed out 5 ways that ALL of us can show ourselves love this Valentine’s Day.

  1. Schedule an appointment to get some pampering done because YOU deserve it! – About a week ago, I scheduled a hair appointment the week of Valentine’s Day to get some much-desired highlights. While I rarely go out and get any type of pampering done, I feel so much better personally when I do. It is definitely an investment, so I don’t do it much, but I think that’s why it is such a treat when I take the time and set aside the money for some pampering for myself and myself only!
  2. Enjoy a nice workout – Whether it be a walk, trip to the gym, or a run, whatever it may be for you, getting some good olde exercise in is always beneficial for the soul. Confessions: I am most definitely ONE that is the worst at scheduling in the time for a workout. That’s why, I have an OrangeTheory membership, as I schedule accordingly and loose a class allotted in my monthly plan if I don’t show up once I do schedule it. Enough of me rambling – haha! Needless to say, I always always always feel amazing when I do make the time for a workout and after I workout.
  3. Invest in an item on your wishlist (money permitting) – Valentine’s Day is an excellent time to invest in an item on your wishlist that has remained on it for some time now. Last week, I *finally* ordered the Lilly Pulitzer Annaleese shift in Boatylicious, after refraining from buying it for months. It was low in stock at Saks Fifth Avenue, and I felt like I had hit the jackpot. Although an investment, I knew that I had been saving up a lot of my money and knew that it was time to treat myself some, too.
  4. Reorganize your living space – Yep, you heard me right! Reorganizing pockets of your living space is such an excellent way to truly show yourself some love. Just like a workout, I ALWAYS feel reignited when I take a few moments here and there to simply reorganize my own space, given the things that I already have at home and on hand. It is free AND actually relaxing and can easily be done for a few minutes each day, too!
  5. Cook/Bake a New Recipe in the Kitchen – If you know me, then you know that I LOVE spending some sweet time in my sweet sweet kitchen. On my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!), I consistently share the recipes that I cook, which have most recently been via HelloFresh – a worthy investment that I got my good friends Hannah and Alanna hooked on, too! I always love to cook something for myself and even have pushed myself to on many occasions when I haven’t felt like it and TRUST me, having a great meal at the end of a cooking rainbow is like hitting the jackpot!

Above all else, remember to love yourself this Valentine’s Day season. Life gets CRAZY and there are many times that we forget to take time for ourselves – we have work, families, friends, and so much more in our hands. It’s ALL valid. Self love is some of the the best love, too!

XOXO – Katie <3

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The Importance of Self Love During Valentine’s Day

Once upon a time, I was 5 years old watching Cinderella and all of a sudden she finds her Prince Charming and they live happily ever after. I, then, dream of the same day myself, knowing my Prince Charming will come someday. It is 2004. Life is good. Little did I know, it would be 2022 and I am a 22 year old woman in the verge of kickstarting her career. Yet, she I have already started my career and am looking to progress even more in it and within my company. At the same time, I am also praying to find true love someday, with whomever God has set aside for me for when the timing is perfectly right. When Valentine’s Day comes around, being that it is the season of love, couples are ALWAYS highlighted. However, it is important to emphasize the love within yourself, too.

While it is human nature to want to be curious about and look around us for who may be our perfect match, we can also work to be our imperfect selves and love ourselves, too. Our future partners will be imperfect just like ourselves. Why not love our imperfectness just like we love and will love our future and/or current partners?!

Recently, I’ve become OBSESSED with a YouTuber named Mickey – a therapist who reacts to content from Christian fundamentalists and even Dr. Phil and many others, too. If you didn’t know, I am also a major fan of learning about Christian fundamentalism, BUT don’t worry I am not being a Christian fundamentalist (I am a practicing Christian, though) over here as I simply find the subject fascinating yet insane. Mickey provides a real life look into the realities of self love and having a peace with one’s self, too. Everyone’s self love journey is different, BUT it is key to remember that it is a very very very important one. Having peace with one’s self allows each and every single one of us to love ourselves as we do others.

I find it REALLY important to be able to love ourselves and work on loving ourselves. I am personally always working on my self love journey and firmly believe that one’s self love journey is ever-evolving. There are some times where we feel at peace with ourselves and others where we don’t and that is OKAY. I always find it important to love others for who they are, even though we find it SO hard to love ourselves within that mix at times, especially when others may make us feel less than our true potential. BUT, through it all and all of the ups and downs in this so-called thing known as life, we always have ourselves.

It’s important to remember that we’re each perfectly flawed and perfectly imperfect. As we love each and every single one of our friends and family members, remember to love yourself this Valentine’s Day – imperfect and perfectly flawed.

XOXO – Katie <3

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Relationship Sunday’s – Falling in Love with Yourself

Relationship’s come in all shapes and sizes. There are relationships that we hold with friends, family, coworkers, neighbors, and our significant others. Through it all, the most important relationship that we have is the one with ourself. As cheesy as it sounds, I LOVE to talk about falling in love with yourself as the leaves are falling off the trees right before our eyes – see that pun HAHA! But, in all seriousness, falling in love with yourself creates a formative framework for anyone to fall in love with somebody else.

Surprisingly so, how we treat ourselves will rub off in our relationships with others whoever they may be with. We must be able to care for ourselves before we care for others. There are many ways that falling in love with ourselves can occur and one of those ways is by simply taking care of ourselves. Through it all, we NEED to be able to care for ourselves and prioritize our own needs amongst all that we’re going through day by day. Some of the ways that caring for ourselves can include:

  • Reading a book and/or writing in a journal before bed
  • Watching a movie or TV show, whether an old favorite or a new exciting film
  • Drinking a cup of coffee or tea each morning before each day’s craze
  • Practicing a favorite hobby of ours
  • Taking breaks when NEEDED and when we CAN
  • Treating ourselves (on occasion and budget-permitting)
  • Enjoying a nap or bubble bath
  • Getting in a good workout

Along with self care, we must also treat ourselves well. At the same time, falling in love with ourselves requires a good look into ourselves and how we perceive ourselves. Believe it or not, the widely-used quote “you are your biggest critic” is nothing but far from the truth. We indeed are our biggest critics. 9 times out of 10, we criticize ourselves much more than we criticize others, sometimes in ways that we do not even realize it too. One of the best ways to look into ourselves is to examine how we talk to ourselves – are you using positive or negative self talk or maybe a mixture of both? Are there some aspects of your life that you’re more kind to yourself about than others? Whatever the case may be, taking the time to think about these things when they appear is important and a great way to care for yourself. Most importantly, you’ll think yourself and love yourself for it, as well!

Thinking back throughout our lives, most of our impactful experiences that we remember happen as a result of someone’s actions towards us and/or how we reacted to them. Typically, how we felt about someone else’s actions is what we remember the most. The majority of the time, the experiences that we have shape us into how we are right now and who we are to become. Every single one of us has both happy experiences and not so happy experiences. Usually, the not so happy experiences in our lives – the ones that cause us potentially a lot of pain are what surprisingly hurt us the most. In the cases of these experiences, we must look back into the root of the pain of those experiences and simply feel that pain from time to time. Experiences such as being bullied by someone else, a not so positive friendship or relationship, or past trauma can be events that are holding us back from loving ourselves in the fullest way possible. As time goes on, the pain will lessen and we will be able to love ourselves, despite it all.

One of the most impactful ways that we hold ourselves back from falling in love with ourselves is through the simple action of caring about what others think of us. In this situation, I am not talking about our Bosses or Project Managers liking the work that we are doing and progressing within our careers. I am talking about how others in our lives – our friends, family, neighbors, classmates, etc. – think of us. While it is hard to fraternize over how others see us, it only hards us in the long run to think about it all. In the end, how we see ourselves is the most important thing. Indeed, we are the one’s living within our own bodies each and everyday and no one else is.

Falling in love with yourself is a process that is ongoing and much easier said than done. Throughout this entire post, I mention ways that we can care for ourselves and fall in love with ourself over and over again. Each of these ways is difficult to do overnight – they each take time and it’s vital to remember that. How we treat ourselves is what reflects in our day to day lives and will reflect onto your relationships of all kinds with others too. Don’t you want to have a loving relationship with yourself?

XOXO – Katie <3

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Relationship Sunday’s: Why I LOVE Being Single!

Calling ALLL my single ladies and gents and peeps, now, put your hands up! *Cues Beyonce* It can be a struggle to be single at times, but there are so many benefits to it that can sometimes overlook the cons. Since COVID-19 began back in March 2020, I truly started to embrace the benefits and enjoy being single. There are MANY reasons to love being single. Here, I am going to list some of the many many many reasons that I have loved being single and why you should, too!

Reasons Why I LOVE Being Single

  1. Freedom – guess what?! You have the freedom to do what YOU want to do with your life at this special time of being single. Whether it be spending a night on your couch watching Netflix with a bowl of popcorn and not worrying about having to share or online shopping til you drop with your own money and treating yourself, your freedom to do what your heart desires is yours, especially before settling down. You are able to plan your personal schedule around whatever you choose and your finances, too. When dating, your personal schedule drastically changes to include your partner and their needs and wants as well. The same idea goes for your finances, especially when it comes to dates for the two of you and gifts for anniversaries and holidays along with some surprises here and there. Want to plan that trip of your dreams to Peru?! Then GO! Want to save up for that handbag you’ve been eyeing for a while?! Then DO IT! Want to watch that show on Hulu all night long that no one else wants to do?! Then WATCH IT and enjoy your favorite snack as you do! Want to join that team?! Then JOIN! Whatever your heart desires, you have the freedom to do it and without worry of what someone else may think or how they will be impacted by it.
  2. A chance to save up – when you’re single, your financial demands are solely on yourself and only you. Although marriage does have its benefits when it comes to taxes and insurance amongst many others financially, it is nice to be able to use your money for your own personal benefit. Before dating anyone, you can have the chance to save up for what YOU want to save up for in your life. Whether that be travel, a house, a luxury handbag, a pet, an emergency fund, or something else. You don’t have to save it for a wedding, kids, or even a house if you do not want to, either. You get to choose what your money goes towards and that is an amazing thing. Moreover, your financial future will thank you when you have some extra cash saved for a rainy day.
  3. Travel – when you’re single, then it’s the time to travel and see the world! I studied abroad in three different countries while in college – something that I do not know if I would be able to do if I had been in a relationship throughout my college years. For the most part, once you choose to settle down, the opportunity to travel tends to get slimmer than it used to be. Now when you’re single is the time to travel, whether it be domestic or international. You also get to use all of your PTO anyway you want to and that can include your own personal travel, rather than travel demands as per your significant other like seeing their family and friends. You get to determine where YOU go on vacation – it can be independent, with friends, or family. Whatever and wherever you choose to travel to, then GO!
  4. Time to focus on personal goals and hobbies – when single, your time is 10000% YOURS! That being said, you can use your own time to focus on your own personal goals or hobbies. If I had been in a relationship in college, I probably would not have started my platform here and be the blogger that I am today. I never would have started getting into cooking and cooking for others if I were in a relationship and had been for many years before. At the same time, I was super involved throughout my college years and am starting to get involved in my recent post-grad years. My involvement has allowed me to meet many others and grow as a person. If it were not for being single, then I would not have been able to get involved to the capacity that I have been able to. My time is mine and it is all for me to use to explore my own interests and get involved in whatever I so choose.
  5. Career first – my time as a single lady can truly be used to get established and advance within my career without demands of a significant other. I can put my work first and truly grow within my career. At the same time, do not strive to be a workaholic, but have a strong work life balance. When not dating, you can focus on your career and allow it to take you wherever it lands you. Have a job offer in a different city?! Then take it – no one is slowing you down! Want to switch careers?! Then make that switch! Want to invest your time and finances in getting a degree or certification?! Then GO for it! As a single person, you have the time to invest in whatever you want to invest in for your own career advancement. Establishing your own career path is something that is important and when you’re single it’s a great thing to be able to do before settling down.
  6. No significant other commitments – let’s be honest here: it can be oh so stressful when it comes to commitments that come with having a significant other. Whether it be financial, time, emotional, or familial, relationships can take a toll on us all in a variety of different ways. When you’re single, it is great that you do not have ANY of these extra commitments to worry about! Your commitments revolve around YOU and your life and not someone else’s.
  7. Prioritize yourself – NOW is the time to prioritize you and only YOU! Career-wise, friendship-wise, family-wise, financially, or personally, you are able to make your own personal priorities without much worry of anyone else or theirs. Your personal demands are yours and only yours. No one else is involved. It is just you and your own priorities. Moreover, this is an important time to focus on your own self love and growth. Work on being the best YOU that YOU can be, especially for when your special someone does come along. Trust me, you’ll be thankful that you did.
  8. No additional commitments at the holidays – I love love love knowing as a single lady that the holidays are mine and mine to choose what I do. Let’s be real here, relationships with the in-law’s can be awkward and sometimes not the best. However, relationships with the in-law’s can be pretty great too. Whatever the case may be for you when the time comes along, it is pretty great not to have the worry about seeing the in-law’s at the holidays! It can also get complicated when you have to factor in seeing you family and your significant other’s at the holidays, too. It’s nice to know that you get to choose where you are at the holidays and who you are with for the time being.
  9. Truly evaluate what you want in a partner – when you’re single, you can know what you truly want in a partner. Personally, I have learned a lot of traits that I like and do not like in my future significant other from hearing my friends’ own experiences both good and bad from their own relationships. I can witness what has worked for them and what doesn’t and learn about what my work for me, based on their relationship experiences. Similarly, I have learned to pick up red flags even faster than before – surprisingly enough. Through it all, when you’re single, you get to learn more and more about yourself and take that time to fall head over heels in love with yourself. When you do just that, coincidentally, you also evaluate what you want in a partner, too. That way, you’ll be ready for the right person when they come along!
  10. Prioritize your friendships and familial relationships – through it all, your friendships and family are important and an integral part of our mental wellbeing. You can truly establish those friendships and familial relationships while single. Whether single or not, it is important to keep them close. However, when you’re single, you’re especially able to prioritize your friends and family. Knowing how to prioritize your friends and family is a skill that can be hard to come by, but an important one. At the same time, you always have your friends and family through the good times and the bad times – single or not. The experiences that you have made through friendships and family are ones that have shaped you. When you are single, you can truly focus on those relationships and maintain them pretty well once you do start dating.

Fellow single folks, there are several things to be grateful for about your single life. It can be tough at times to be single, but there are many extraordinary things about it. Remember to care for yourself and love yourself through thick and thin and one day someone will love you for who you are too. But, in the meantime, enjoy your single life for what it is and make the best of it.

Above all else, remember that you are single and FABULOUS!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Healthy Eating Habits I Have Made In 2021

With a new year, well not so new anymore, comes new goals, habits, and achievements to be made. For 2021, I decided that I wanted to shift some of my not-so healthy eating habits and rather establish some healthy one’s. Here, I will be sharing with y’all some of those.

Drink or Dessert Rule

As much as I love a good glass of wine or even a cocktail, I also know that it adds up in calories. The same goes for desserts. So, the rule is to only have dessert or a drink in the evening’s. Well, unless the occasion is worth celebrating with both!

Vegetables Over Carbohydrates

In the past, I used to eat a ton of carbohydrate-consumed dishes, whether that be mashed potatoes, pasta, fries chips, or practically anything that is fried. Since vegetables are a lot lower in calories, I have decided to switch out my carbohydrates for vegetables, especially when it comes to side dishes. Although, I do make sure that I enjoy my favorite carbohydrate-loaded dishes in moderation!

Crystal Light Over Soda

This may sound crazy, but I drink Crystal Light’s low calorie caffeinated packets and mix them with water ALL. THE. TIME!!!! These drink packets are low in calories, but they also help me stay awake and fueled as I finish out my afternoons and evenings of schoolwork amongst everything else that I have going on. I have never been much of a soda person, but drinking Crystal Light’s packets has given me the feel that I am drinking an enjoyable flavored drink like soda.

Low-Calorie Snacks

I used to be a BIG snacker. However, I have strived in the recent months to be more careful with what I snack on. So, I have limited my snack intake and included more fruits and vegetables within my snacking mix. At the same time, I have been careful not to buy ice cream (a favorite of mine) as much along with other snack favorites of mine. However, I still do enjoy them all in moderation!

Use a Calorie Tracker

I will say that this DOES NOT WORK FOR EVERYONE!!!!! Personally, I have had some luck with using calorie trackers such as My Fitness Pal. I see tracking my calories as a way of helping me to eat a healthy amount of food each day. Additionally, I can see what my eating habits are and make the changes that I need to accordingly. Similarly, the My Fitness Pal website also has a ton of recipes that they share on their site amongst other ways to stay healthy.

Limit Sweet Treats

If I am around anything sweet, specifically cupcakes or chocolate, I will probably eat it. That being said, I do not buy anymore sweet treats. Well, not nearly as much as I used to. At the same time, I still find it important to enjoy and indulge in something sweet every once in a while!

One of my biggest priorities throughout 2021 is to make myself a priority. Through changing my eating habits, I have been able to work towards fulfilling that priority. Healthy eating habits will also help me moving forward in years to come, too!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Christmas Gifts for Self Care

I am very excited to have shared my first-ever gift guide apart of my Confetti Gift Guide series!!! With the holidays approaching and 2020 being a rough year for us all, self love and care has become more important than ever before. As it is important to share the love and compassion for others this holiday season, it is also important to provide yourself with some love and care, too. That being said, I decided to put together a gift guide of all things self care! These gifts are perfect to get either for treating yourself or for others this holiday season, as they perfectly embrace the need for nurturing ourselves in 2020, 2021, and beyond!

  1. Bath & Body Works Lotion
  2. Lush Bath Bomb
  3. Cuddl Duds Heated Plush to Sherpa Blanket
  4. Lilly Pulitzer Velour Robe
  5. The Redheaded Camel Bee Kind & Bee Happy Stickers
  6. InnoGear Oil Diffuser

As always, remember that self love is the BEST love!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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How To Fall In Love with YOURSELF More

They say that “the trees are about to show us how lovely it is to let things go.” During the past six months of social distancing due to the coronavirus pandemic, I have been taking advantage of the free time that I have had to work on myself. One of the things that I am truly thankful for with the pandemic is that fact that I have been able to work on and fall in love with myself all over again. With today being the first day of Fall *eek*, I wanted play on the theme of Fall with one of my favorite topics: self love.

Do Something You Have Always Wanted to Do Yet Never Did

JUST DO IT!!! There are SO many things that I have wanted to do, but for some reason I did not. One of the best ways that we can showcase love and compassion to ourselves is by doing things that we want to do/try. Whether that be taking a trip you have always wanted to take, trying a new hobby, or going on a walk on a new trail, simply get out there and do it. If you cannot right now, then save up the money to do it when you can or get the resources to do it. The reward that you reap when you do that thing(s) will be much greater when you do it for YOU and not anyone else. There is SO much that we want to do and we can do it all for ourselves.

Take Time for YOU

One of the greatest ways to show love and care for yourself is to simply take time for yourself and only yourself. We all live crazy busy lives. I get it, too. However, it is really important to put away some time to simply do something for you. If that means taking a nap, then do it. If that means binge watching your favorite show with a glass of wine, then do it. If that means online shopping/browsing, then do it. Getting your mind off of the grind, which is what our minds are on practically ALL THE TIME, is such a great way to show yourself some love and compassion. Moreover, taking time for yourself shows your willingness to keep going to the best of your ability. When you put time away for you, you can then put your best self and foot forward when you are on the grind.

Practice Self Care

Self care takes all kinds and forms. As humans, we naturally spend so much time loving and caring for others that we forget about the most important person in our lives: ourselves. For myself, self care means knowing my limits and what I am willing to do and not do. At the same time, self care means for me to step back when needed and take time for myself to watch some reality television and sip some wine. Sometimes, self care simply means scrolling through my phone for minutes on end. Whatever it means for you, do what you have to and got to do. Once we take time to love and care for ourselves, we learn to grow and love ourselves for who we are and are meant to be.

Be Comfortable with Yourself

I’m going to be honest: this is something that I struggle with still. Guess what?! That is OKAY! We all are unique human beings, but unfortunately society strives to paint us all to fit one mold. The sad reality with society’s distortion of us all is that people feel afraid to come out and be comfortable in their own skin. We are all unique people, and we need to embrace who we truly are. Whether that means dressing in a certain way or style or embracing your love for Disney, the more you become comfortable with yourself, the happier you will be with your own self. Being comfortable in your own skin is one of the best ways to find love and compassion for yourself.

Don’t Care What Others Think About You

The only person whose opinion matters of yourself is your own. There will ALWAYS be haters. I hate to break it to you, but the more you begin to become more comfortable in your own skin and compassionate towards yourself, the more you will distance from those who do not align with your true self. Taylor Swift said it perfectly in her song Shake It Off, as “the haters gonna hate hate hate.” And guess what?! The people who are the proclaimed “haters” in your life, DO NOT MATTER!!! The only person that matters in your life is YOU. No one else is living your life but you. Remember that it is YOUR life to live and no one else’s.

Know YOUR Worth

Knowing your self worth is SO important. For many of us, our past experiences can easily make us feel as if they define our future one’s. However, that is NOT the case. Only YOU define YOUR future! You are worth SO MUCH more than what may have happened in your past. It could take some time for you to realize just that but overtime you will. Just know that you are capable of so much, which knowing yourself is key to falling in love with yourself all over again.

Only Compare To Yourself Yesterday NOT Others

Naturally, it is SO easy to compare ourselves to others. Every single time we do it, we make ourselves look worse in our own eyes as compared to someone else. A few weeks ago, I wrote a post on How I Began Comparing Myself to Others LESS, and it elaborates more on this subject matter. Long story short, comparing ourselves to others is such an unproductive thing to do with our time. At the same time, if we are to compare ourselves to someone, then it should be ourselves yesterday. When we begin comparing ourselves to our own self, we start to examine our self growth and work on ourselves instead of trying to work on others. When we do just that, we begin to love ourselves even more.

When we fall in love with ourselves, we easily let things go that we did not let go before. Falling in love with yourself is something easier said than done. However, it can and must be done by us all, in order for each of us to live out our best lives. This Fall, I hope y’all make it a goal to work on yourself more and to fall in love with yourself. It may take time, but it will happen and it’ll be OH SO WORTH IT. Once you do, you will not look back! You know what they say?! Self love is the BEST love!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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How I Began Comparing Myself to Others LESS

Let’s just say that I came a LONG WAY when it comes to comparing myself to others. Comparing ourselves to others is most definitely a struggle that I have ALWAYS had. With this struggle came extreme insecurities which inevitably led me to feel less confident in myself and who I was. Fortunately in recent months, I have been able to overcome a lot of my hardships that came with comparing myself to others. Today, I will be sharing how I stopped comparing myself to others as much, in hopes that I can help one lucky person be on their way to doing the same. I will note that while these tips may have worked for me, they may not work as well for someone else. We ALL have unique journeys to becoming our best selves, and nothing ever works the exact same way for us all <3

Only Stalk Someone’s Social Media Out of Excitement and Admiration

Ahhhh – the good old social media stalking! I think we have ALL been there!!! With social media stalking comes a whole new set of insecurities that can pop up. At the same time, we can easily become super absorbed in what others post that it takes away from how positively we see and view ourselves. I used to CONSTANTLY creep/stalk on other’s profiles and it only made me look down on myself more and more. That being said, it is most definitely beneficial to use that energy that you have been spending looking at others’ profiles somewhere else. For myself, that meant focusing on my blog and its posts a lot more. I also have taken the time to interact with other bloggers and influencers in my niche on my platform, which has only helped me to enjoy what I share to others and NOT what others share on theirs!

At the same time, I have found when it comes to blogging and gathering inspiration, to stalk on profiles of those who I find as an inspiration. For example, other bloggers and influencers who are in my niche. That way, I can feel excited and admire what they have done with their platform and *just maybe* bounce off some ideas to show on my own platform. I do this kind of like a mini Pinterest but Instagram addition, where I list my ideas! Though I will say, it is important not to spend too much time looking at others’ profiles, as it can become a habit that turns into something rather negative. Overall, taking the positive approach to social media stalking will help you in the long run, especially when it comes to comparing yourself to others!

Remember That We ALL Put Our BEST on Social Media!

As the saying goes, “you’re comparing your worst self to someone’s best.” This quote is literally goes without saying. On social media, most of us put our best selves out there. On the flip side, we do not want to share the anger, the hurt, the sadness, and the frustration that we may feel. Every single one of us has our own struggles, however, not many of us put them out there for all to see on our social media platforms. Keeping all of this in mind, we ALL are feeling the same way which is a good reminder for us all.

It Brings Out Our Worst

Typically, when we compare ourselves to others, we look down on ourselves and on our weaknesses while putting someone else’s strengths up on a pedestal. When we do just that, we hurt ourselves in the long run. Why waste that energy on looking down on ourselves? There are 86,400 seconds in each day; use them wisely. It’s better to use our energy towards things that bounce us into our best selves. Have a project that you’ve been working on? Have a show you’ve been binge-watching? Have a recipe you’ve been dying to try? Put your time into the things that bring out the BEST in YOU!

Others Are Comparing Themselves to YOU

When comparing ourselves to others, we often forget that others are often comparing themselves to us. In fact, the same people that we’re comparing ourselves to are the one’s who are comparing us to them. That being said, others may be wishing that they had a strength of our own. For example, you may be a very social person with lots of friends, which someone around you may wish that they had, while you may wish that you had their studious mentality. Knowing that we all typically wish we had something that someone else has, we can realize each other’s strengths and bounce off one another. Going back to my previous example, being a social person can be a strength in the classroom with planning study groups, especially with your friends that may have more of a studious mentality than yourself. Comparing ourselves to others is HARD, but knowing that you’re not alone is always the best thing to keep in mind.

You Cannot Have It All and That is OKAY

THIS was such a hard realization for myself, and I know it is for others too. When turning on the television, it is very easy to look at others and think that they “have it all”. News flash: they don’t and NONE OF US DO! One of my best friends has always said that “you want what you cannot have.” That goes for us all sometime in our lives when comparing ourselves to others with things that they have that we long for. We ALL have our moments of comparing ourselves to others and wishing for things that we do not have. And that is all OKAY.

Focus on What YOU Bring to the Table

Whether we see it or not, each of us brings some unique things to the table. Personally, I find it really important in one’s journey to comparing themselves to others less is to do some deep soul-searching into what your strengths and the great things about you are. Are you a really gifted dancer or writer or even artist? Can you cook a delicious Mac & cheese recipe like no other?! If you do not know what some of your strengths, gifts, are talents are, then ask a close friend or family member. Those in our lives who know us best can point out the best in us, because they love and care about us like we do for them. Whatever it may be, focus on the things that you’re good at and put more of your energy into what you do well. The things that you do well make you YOU! Use them to your advantage.

Only Compare Yourself to Yourself Yesterday

When comparing ourselves, the only person that you should be caring about yourself is to compare yourself to yourself yesterday. Self growth is the key to living out your best life. At the same time, it will help you to compare yourself to only YOU and what YOU can do better for yourself. That being said, focus on YOU and only YOU. When you invest those 86,400 seconds of each day into you, then you will be better off in the long run when it comes to comparing yourself to others less AND to living out your best life.

One of the best investments you can make is in yourself. Working on yourself is such a great way to not only grow as a person but also live out your best life. Doing so with striving to compare yourself to others is an excellent way to do just that! While some of the tips that I mentioned may have worked for me, they may not work for you or someone else and that is OKAY. Many of these tips are also easier said than done, and they TAKE TIME. However, as long as you make an effort to work on yourself, then you’ll be on your way there in no time!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Let’s Talk About GOALS!

Have you ever thought, “oh wouldn’t it be cool to do …”?I know I have! For most of my life, I have consistently thought well, I’d love to do this, this, and this, yet I NEVER got down and in the dirt to actually make it happen until recently. The Covid-19 pandemic has left me with the opportunity to actually turn some of my dreams into a reality. One of the ways that I want to be able to achieve those dreams and live my best life while doing so is by creating my own goals!

My Goals!

Currently, I have quite a bit of things that I would like to achieve and make a reality for myself. I have started some of these goals listed this past year, while others I am just now striving to begin. Personally, it helps me to break down my goals into time frames for things I would like to accomplish within the next few weeks, months, the end of 2020, and into the next year. Below I have listed some of these goals for you to see, as well as some goals I have created in the past and am still working to keep a reality in my daily weekly routine.

Recurring Goals:

  • To cook and try a brand-new recipe each week (being that I am in my apartment or am able to cook for others a recipe of my choice)
  • Post regularly and keep up with posting and sharing content on The Pink Chickadee‘s social media platforms as well as on the blog and to engage with y’all who follow along and support this amazing platform of mine
  • To be able to write my own to-do lists and cross off most if not all of which I have set myself out to achieve in that given day
  • Maintain a physical regime, by walking or running each day in order to stay active, fit, and healthy
  • To travel to new places both near and far
  • Eat breakfast each morning (even if it is small), as I used to really struggle with this simple yet so keen to our health meal
  • To continue to advocate and speak out for the inclusion and wellbeing of others as well as myself
  • Make connections with other influencers and like-minded Lilly lovers and bloggers on my platform
  • To grow more in my Christian faith through praying each day for others and starting a daily devotional
  • Be the best classmate, friend, sister, daughter, blogger, and leader that I know that I am and am capable of doing
  • To be the best student in the classroom and in my leadership positions that I can be and strive to put as much as I can into all that I do
  • Adulting and doing big girl things on my own
  • Know my own capability and self-worth, even if I do not see it everyday within my own self and to encourage others to see their own
  • For the time being, to wear a mask and practice social distancing, in order to not only prevent to spread of Covid-19, but to help keep my friends, family, and the community around me safe and healthy
  • Consistently work on being my best self in all that I do

End of 2020 Goals:

  • Start running and be able to work my way up to run on hilly trails for 20+ minutes without taking a break
  • To expand my platform here on The Pink Chickadee even more than I already have in the past almost 6 months
  • Try some new crafts, such as creating handmade signs among other exciting things
  • Host a giveaway (or a few) on The Pink Chickadee in collaboration with other small businesses or influencers and bloggers
  • To continue to share new and exciting content on this platform
  • Make memories with my friends at college, even if it is in a social distanced manner for the time being, and get creative with how to make them
  • Be able to successfully finish out my final Fall semester as an undergrad (!!!) and most likely one of my most academically intensive one’s
  • Start searching for summer internships and networking with others in my industry, in order to broaden my search as well as potential opportunities
  • Get matching masks and shirts with my Meredith friends
  • Apply to graduate school for Fall 2021
  • Explore new hiking trails and parks in the Raleigh area as well as in North Carolina along with in the Northern Virginia-Washington, DC tristate area
  • Begin scrapbooking memories from past family trips, such as those that we took to Maine
  • *Finally* get my driver’s license
  • Begin a brand-new and super exciting endeavor (more to come on that in the next few weeks!!!)

2021 Goals:

  • Get an internship for Summer 2021
  • Be able to go on a graduation trip hopefully with some college friends
  • Get accepted and commit to attending graduate school in Fall 2021
  • Sign the lease on my first-ever post-grad apartment
  • Host a girl’s weekend at one of my family’s places as well as go on a little trip with my Big and Lil’s
  • Finish up my Honors Thesis and present it at my school and maybe at a research conference as well
  • Take a road trip with one of my best friends to Maine (we were trying to go there this Summer but due to Covid-19 we postponed)
  • Be able to successfully run at least a 5k and maybe even do a local race and/or fundraiser race
  • Visit new places in North Carolina such as Asheville, Charlotte, Boone, Winston Salem, Greenville, Emerald Isle, and Wilmington along with Charlottesville in Virginia
  • Graduate from college with a Bachelor’s of Arts in Mathematics and minors in Data Science, Statistics, and Web Development
  • Attend the Lilly Pulitzer Pink Retreat in Palm Beach, Florida *if not in 2021 then in the next few years*
  • Participate in one of Disney World’s runDisney events at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida
  • Go parasailing or on a hot air balloon ride
  • Wherever I go after graduation, continue to maintain connections with each of my friends and family and make time to see them
  • Begin another exciting and brand-new endeavor (hopefully to come in Summer 2021!!)

Tips for Creating Your Own Goals

When it comes to crafting your own goals, it can definitely take some time for them to become a full reality, but little by little it can happen. For example, one of my goals for 2021 is to participate in a runDisney event at Walt Disney World, which would require me to be in shape to run at least a 5k. That being said, I am going to work my endurance up to be able to run at least a mile without taking breaks, two miles, and then three miles. I will start with running on flat streets and then working my way up to running up and down hills. Slowly but surely, I will make it across the finish line at Walt Disney World. Here, I have listed some tips on how you can strive to create and achieve your own goals moving forward!

  • When something comes to mind that you have always wanted to do, then WRITE IT DOWN!!! Whether it be on your phone or in a journal, if you have it in writing saved somewhere, then there is a better chance that you will remember it moving forward.
  • Have a bucket list?! Turn those list items into your own reality. Make that dream trip of yours to Europe a reality or finally go skydiving. While hopping on a plane is clearly not a reality at this moment, use this time to save up for that dream trip or activity of yours while keeping in mind a budget that you would aim to have.
  • Make an effort to try something new every week – whether that be a brand-new recipe or a new restaurant or trail in your city or even a craft. Trying new things is always good for the soul, and having those new things be apart of a goal however big or small it may be!
  • Dedicate some time to spend doing things for yourself. Beyond our goals within our academic and career lives which we should strive to put our time and effort into, we should also make time for our own personal goals. While our academic and career goals may be tied to some of our personal goals, it does not mean that we still cannot take time for ourselves such as to try a new craft, recipe, or a workout regime.
  • Make a to-do list and include aspects of your goals on it. Each and every day, I have my to-do list set on my laptop for what I hop to accomplish for the day. I typically map it out for a given day a few weeks in advance for it to alter a bunch and have many additions and even subtractions until the day arrives. Having items on your list related to your goals, such as taking a walk or reading part of a book you want to finish by the end of the month can help you to get even closer to achieving your goals. My to-do lists helps me check off what I need to do for the day as it pertains to academics and career-wise along with getting closer to my set goals.

Using and writing down goals for things that I want to achieve has really allowed me to use the time that I have in this world to my own benefit. Each of my goals is helping shape me into the best Katie that I can be. In fact, setting goals for yourself will only help you dig deeper into loving and caring for yourself. They say that self love is the best love, and goals can help you do just that. All I got to say is when it comes down to it, be a goal-getter!

XOXO – Katie <3

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