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

thepinkchickadeeLeave a comment

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.

thepinkchickadee1 Comment

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

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

2020 Reader/Follower Survey Results:

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

Demographics:

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

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

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

Where They Follow Along:

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

Blog & Social Media Content:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2021 Blogger Goals

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

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

XOXO – Katie <3

thepinkchickadee3 Comments

My Fall 2020 Semester Reflections

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

XOXO – Katie <3

thepinkchickadeeLeave a comment

The Magical Delaware Christmas Town

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

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

XOXO – Katie <3

thepinkchickadeeLeave a comment

My Giving Day Giftaway – Join Me!

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

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

XOXO – Katie <3

thepinkchickadeeLeave a comment

20 Things I’m Thankful for in 2020

Thankful, grateful, and extremely blessed. 2020 has been a tough year for us all, but, just like any other year, there is still so so much that we can be thankful for. Surprisingly enough, 2020 was one of my better years – I started my platform here on The Pink Chickadee, maintained and restored connections with both family and friends, accomplished a lot within my academic and extracurricular lives at school, and worked on growing and loving myself more than ever before. While many things stunk about 2020, one thing that remains the same is the outlook that we have: it’s transformative. Today, I am sharing 20 of the many things that I am thankful for in 2020.

  1. Technology – Whether it be Zoom, social media platforms, Google, softwares, or texting/email, technology has allowed us to stay connected and keep going with our lives in ways like never before. As Covid-19 has kept us all at home, technology has been the one consistent thing that has remained in allowing our lives to go on when essentially it feels like the world has stopped.
  2. Community – I have discovered in 2020 more so than ever before how much of a community that I have and am apart of. Throughout the course of the pandemic, I have reconnected with friends both old and new as well as family members. At the same time, I have joined communities of other influencers, Lilly Pulitzer lovers, and bloggers and friends via The Pink Chickadee. Most importantly, all of us are going through the same thing amidst Covid-19. The community of us all sticking together is extraordinary.
  3. Good Health – Fortunately, I have been able to remain in good health this year. Not only have I been able to maintain my good health, but others around me such as family members and friends along with others have been too.
  4. Compassion – There is and has been so much hate and negativity in this world, especially in 2020. At the same time, I have witnessed an enormous amount of compassion and love from others. People have come together to give back, learn from, and provide to those that can and are struggling. Compassion is what will keep our world moving even more forward than years prior.
  5. Food to Eat (and to Choose What I Eat) – The ability to even have the choice to eat what I want to eat is a privilege. It is a privilege that many of us take for granted, but it is something to be grateful for. Food is what fuels us all to move forward and stay healthy and even keep going in this beautiful world. That is a blessing.
  6. Connections – Through having a community, I am able to make connections with other people. Having these connections has allowed me to bond with others which is such a blessing. Even in the craziness of 2020, I am and have been able to connect with others and establish relationships like never before.
  7. A Closet Full of Clothes – Like being able to have food to eat and choose what I eat, having a closet full of clothes is the same ordeal. I love love love fashion. Clothes have been a major part of my life and have kept me going through the trials that come with life, specifically in 2020.
  8. The Ability to Travel – Travel is a privilege. It is a privilege that I really truly enjoy, even if I am traveling to somewhere close to home. I love getting to explore brand-new places along with places that I am revisiting, essentially. Travel is a gift that I have grown evermore passionate for. Even if 2020 has limited those travels, it is still a gift that I am super grateful to have and be able to enjoy doing.
  9. Family – My family is what keeps me going. I love them so so so much. They have been there for me through thick and thin, especially during this pandemic and everything going on in 2020. Even beyond 2020, my family is everything and will be my everything moving forward. They are a great consistency in my life and will be moving forward. That is such a great thing to give thanks for.
  10. A Roof Over My Head – Having a home or apartment to live in is a blessing. I have been oh so grateful to have somewhere to live and have shelter. So many people have lost their homes and places that they have lived this year. I cannot imagine the fear and insecurity that these people have gone through. Knowing what others have gone through makes me so grateful, but also have the compassion to give and provide for others.
  11. Access to an Education – Several people in several countries are not even able to have an education. In fact, women in so many countries cannot even get an education in their own countries. Education is the way out of poverty and to be able to afford things in life such as food, shelter, and clothing. I am so thankful that I do have an education and have had an education practically my entire life.
  12. Friendship – Besides my family, my friends are pretty much my everything, too. They are, in fact, the family that I have that are not my blood relatives. It is a blessing to be able to have them and to make many many memories with them now and into the future.
  13. Animals (especially MY DOG!!!) – 2020 has been rough, y’all, but animals make it so much better. I am in several animal-oriented Facebook Groups as well as follow numerous accounts of people who have pets as well. Most importantly, my dog aka my Yorkie Butters has been such a big part in my life. Butters is my bestie dog, and he has been there for me through thick and thin for the past 12 years. Having him in my life is something that I am extremely thankful for.
  14. Good Safety – Being able to stay and remain safe on a regular basis and for the majority of my time is something that I do not take for granted. Feeling safe is a basic right, but unfortunately, not for everybody. That is something that I am very thankful for.
  15. My Platform on The Pink Chickadee and Ever-growing Network – My blog and platform on The Pink Chickadee has made me super happy this past year. I have been able to work towards helping others and helping myself. Not only have I grown my platform, but I have grown my network and connections and platform. I am oh so grateful for all of this that The Pink Chickadee has given me!!!!
  16. Passion – Passion is what drives our world. This world goes round and round and round with others like myself having our own individual passions. While I have passions for fashion, travel, and data science, others have their own various passions that make themselves happy. Seeing others happy makes me happy.
  17. Electricity – Getting to be able to live in a place with electricity is such a blessing. Not only is it a blessing, but it is a privilege that I and many of us can take for granted. Having a heated home, chargers for our devices, and lights when it is dark outside is something that should not ever be taken for granted.
  18. Holidays (Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, New Year’s, etc.) – Even in the midst of Covid-19, having holiday’s is something that I love. Holiday’s bring others together and I love that – it is such a treat. Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter, OH MY!!!! Let’s celebrate!!!
  19. Togetherness – Whether virtually or in-person, being together with others is such a blessing. 2020 has taught me that I can and will continue to get together with others on a virtual format. That feeling of togetherness, even if it is virtual, is such a grateful thing to have.
  20. Access to Running Water – Several people in this world do not have access to running water. I feel really really really lucky that I live in a home with running water. Running water keeps all of us healthy and that access right then and there in our homes is a privilege that we should all be thankful for.

2020 was not easy, but there are so many blessings that we can still count like never before. This year has taught me to look at the simple things in life – the things that simply keep us going on a daily basis. Remember to count your blessings today and everyday and in 2020 and beyond.

XOXO – Katie <3

thepinkchickadee1 Comment

A List of Small Businesses to Support – Small Business Saturday 2020

Now more than ever, it is so important to support our small businesses this year. There are so so many small businesses striving to make ends meet this year. With 2020 being such a tough year for us all, one of the best ways that we can all do is to support small businesses. Below, I have provided a round up of several small businesses to shop at this year. The best part?! Many of them are offering sales this year!!!

Fashion

Artwork/Handlettering

Lilly Pulitzer Signature Stores

Happy shopping!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

thepinkchickadeeLeave a comment

Black Friday Deals to Shop this November 2020!

With everything going on, one thing that remains consistent is the Black Friday Sales. In fact, they may even be better than in years past (they always seem to)!!! While it is not the safest option to shop in-stores this Black Friday, several stores are offering online Black Friday deals to enjoy right from your couch. That being said, I have provided a long list of Black Friday deals from your favorite stores and MORE!

Fashion

Beauty

Home

Miscellaneous

All of the Above

Happy Shopping!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

thepinkchickadeeLeave a comment

My Friend Shivani Speaks on Adjusting to Post-Graduate Life During Covid-19

From what my parents and friends have told me, adjusting to post-graduate life is not an easy transition. But, imagine that you are graduating college in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic? This has become the reality for several Class of 2020 and potentially Class of 2021 college students/recent graduates like myself. As I embark on this journey myself like many others around and before me, I decided to sit down with my good friend Shivani (a Class of 2020 college graduate) about her transition into the post-graduate world in the midst of Covid-19.

Tell me a bit about yourself!

So I was born in Boston,MA in the late 90’s and I lived in Delaware for most of my cognitive development years and life, then moved to Ohio and I’ve been in NC since 2014. My main interests are reading, dancing, working out, journaling, watching TV, and doing a whole bunch of nothing. I really enjoy now more than ever doing a whole bunch of nothing because I have a job now and I look forward to the time where I can relax. I went to two different high schools, and enjoyed both of them very much. And I graduated from Meredith College with a B.S. Public Health. I would love to have two Siberian Huskies one day and move back up north– North East area and settle down with my future husband and future kids!

So, I know you are also an influencer! What content do you like to share with others (drop your handle here too if you so choose!)?

I am all about mind, body and soul. So currently it’s a lot of selfies as I take social distancing and Coronavirus very seriously and I want everyone to understand the severity of our pandemic. Other interests include makeup and fashion! My handle for instagram is @shivanideva2020.

Where did you go to college and what was your degree?

I graduated from Meredith College in 2020 with my Bachelors of Science in Public Health with Minors in Biology and Chemistry.

How were you involved at Meredith?

I was heavily involved in Meredith in clubs and took up leadership positions. I wasn’t always this involved. My freshman year I took it quite easy and participated in clubs and made sure that my presence was known to the board members of the clubs. It’s because I did this that I was able to land a position on the MHPS board and move my way upward. Other clubs I was a part of were ISPE, SCUR, Tri-Beta.

So, you graduated in May 2020, what did Meredith do to commemorate you and your classmates’ achievements?

So since I graduated in the middle of the Pandemic I didn’t get a proper graduation. However most of us were able to get Graduation Pictures and I for sure certainly took mine!

Is there anything you wish Meredith could have done differently?

Honestly no, because at this point in time most of us have gotten the closure we needed and have moved on.

How did you cope with completing your degree from your house rather than at Meredith?

At first I was in denial because all I wanted was an extended spring break– senioritis in college is very real as well, hehe! But then it slowly sunk in that i wasn’t going to be ableto see my friends or socialize with anyone due to the pandemic and that doing my best to stay home and be socially distant was the only option I had. It allowed me to have to myself and really focus on my studies and finish it out strong and surprisingly my GPA was the highest its ever been!

Knowing that you graduated from college during a pandemic, how did you move beyond those college years into your post-graduation years all while mainly staying at home?

So for me looking for jobs was really hard because my initial plan was to go to graduate school within a year. After much consideration i realized that right now is not the time for more academia as I was really burnt out from undergrad. I took a SAS Programming course 2 months post and I was working towards a certification. And now I am employed at CCNC as a Case Investigator for COVID-19 and am working remotely!

What is one high of the past 6 months since graduating from Meredith?

Getting a job! Because it finally gave me the break I needed to get back up on the horse and start my career as well as use my degree.

What is one low of the past 6 months since graduating from Meredith? 

Well this is a heavy question but I have had to face the loss of a dear family friend alone compounded with the burden and fear that if I went out anywhere that I would get the virus and jeopardize my parents who are both at high risk for contracting the virus.

How have you stayed connected to your friends from Meredith since March? What suggestions do you have for others who struggle to remain connected to their college life?

Technology and Facetime are a GODSEND!!!!! Use that phone for something else other than watching the same YouTube Video over and over again. I kept in contact with all of those who are near and dear to me and they did the same as well! My advice for those who are struggling is keep making the effort and showing that you care about the other person; if you are meant to be in their lives and they yours then things will work out. Use your social media and constantly check in on one another, use your email to stay in touch with your professors–they still care and want to know what’s going on.

How do you stay involved at Meredith as an alumni? How can others get involved at their own alma maters?

 think having connections with professors and staying in contact with other alumna helps. Also have friends who are younger and are underclassmen and can get you on panels to talk to students!

What strategies did you use to cope with going into adulthood virtually?

Yoga, working out a lot, and not lashing out at everyone and everything. It was hard at first, bit a good thing that came out of journaling was that I journaled everyday and didn’t cluster together days or weeks. I also used my zoom classes as a way to see friends and looked forward to those meetings!

How did you process the fact that you missed out on the last weeks of your college experience?

This is again a very hard question to answer because truthfully I was in denial, and then I was angry. The anger lasted for about 3 months and I realized that I was fighting a battle alone that just had no end result or goal really. I couldn’t fight the pandemic on my own, the population of the GLOBE had to get it into their head that the situation is serious and it shouldn’t be ignored. But later i was able to reflect and honestly the pandemic gave me time to think. Most of my life has always been go-go-go, like running a race of some sort. So it was very nice to see how I had this time where there was no pressure on me to meet a deadline or attend a conference.

How did you move beyond college life during Covid-19 into your post-graduation life?

Again the time from graduation to getting a job for me was 6 months and during that time I kept myself busy. An idle mind is the devil’s workshop! So keep yourself busy and also think about life in the bigger picture and make plans for what your purpose is and how to go about fulfilling it! And I look at everything as a stage or phase of life. High School was a phase, College is one as well. Each and every step teaches you something so learn and learn honestly and take those lessons and move forward in life implementing them.

What are the major differences between college life and post-graduation life from your experiences?

So academia is a process and a progression whereas working a job is very boxed in and has a time frame. For example in college if you didn’t get to study for the material for an exam on a monday you still had time to do it the whole week before the exam–meaning you have to work outside of classroom hours. With work, all of your knowledge and work ethic have to be displayed and put to use during that 8 hour time frame, but afterwards you are free to do whatever you want to do.

For those who struggle with knowing what they want to do post-graduation, what would you say to them?

You are the creator of your own timeline. I listen to a lot of Jay Shetty and he has incredible wisdom so I recommend his podcasts to begin with. But with that being said as Jay stated, be in control of your own timeline but make sure it is fulfilling and busy for you. I wouldn’t not recommend sitting idle and doing nothing. Make vision boards, pick up a job, find a new hobby and see if you can make an interest of yours a passion and a career.

Our world is changing and has changed so much. What are some tips that you have for soon to be or recent college graduates with adapting to these new changes as they enter the workforce?

Looking for a job starts before you graduate. The job market is hard and so make sure you are going to networking events and make sure you stay in contact with those contacts. After a certain point it’s not what you know it’s who you know that gets you your job.

The Class of 2021 (including myself) is graduating in May and even December with mainly virtual college since March 2020. What is one piece of advice that you have for students graduating in December 2020 or May 2021 as they make this transition?

Take it in stride. This is not your karma or the universe trying to get back at you because you can’t graduate like the classes before you. Remember that you are and always will be strong to get through this. You just have to keep repeating it and believe in it and yourself.

Last but not least, what is one thing that you would say to yourself a year ago from today knowing what was about to come?

Reach out to those people who you were shy to reach out to or afraid to reach out to. More than likely chances are that they will remember you and want to say hi as well. Break the ice. And also don’t take for granted what you have before time makes you realize how precious it was what you had.

As Shivani has shared, remember to make the best of every moment even if that moment looks a bit different due to Covid-19. Chances are, you will not have that time ever in your life again. Most importantly, pandemic or not, the best is yet to come!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

thepinkchickadeeLeave a comment