How To Launder Lilly Pulitzer

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

*Disclaimer: Please note that this post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase through one of my links, then I will receive a small commission. This commission is at no extra cost to you. Additionally, this post is sponsored, and all opinions are my own.*

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

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

How To Launder Lilly Pulitzer

Laundromats

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

Tips

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

 

Do’s

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

Don’t’s

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

Detergent & Bleach

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

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

Regular Wash VS Delicate Wash

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

Regular Wash

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

Delicate Wash

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

Wrap-Up

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

XOXO – Katie <3

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

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My Summer Staple: The $20 Rattan Crossbody

Today, I am GUSHING over a $20 crossbody bag. In recent times, I have LOVED finding a fun happy hour spot around the Washington, DC area and partaking in my favorite activities such as baseball games and mini golf and enjoying a nice rooftop skyline and/or waterfront view. I ALSO despise carrying around heavy bags like I do on the very few times a year that I spend in the office and in general after hours. Once I clock out, I want to feel lighter both mentally and physically, which this rattan crossbody does for me. Now, it has become a summer staple of mine!!!

*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.*

I have a confession to make … Rarely, did I shop or even think about purchasing bags from Target, Walmart, Amazon, the likes. HOWEVER, earlier this year, when in Dallas back in February, I had the opportunity to style an Amazon bejeweled football clutch for my best friend Lindsay’s Super Bowl Birthday bash (here and here) and discovered the beauty of Target, Walmart, Amazon, the likes for purchasing *none other than* staple or even occasion-centric bags. SO, when I saw this rattan crossbody ALLLL over my Instagram feed just a few weeks after my Dallas trip, I *of course* placed an order for and have since fallen in love with this now-Summer staple for $20 aka AMAZING from … Target! And, not only does this rattan crossbody come in brown, but it also comes in yellow and there are similar styles including a tote and another crossbody style as well!

If you know me, then you know that I am a HUGE fan of rattan. I know people see rattan as “trendy” and/or perhaps “old fashioned” BUT I see it as a fun classic staple. While rattan is making a comeback, it is also timeless. Just like my rattan Target crossbody is succeeding demand-wise according to my many many many visits via the Target Circle app in the now, I believe that rattan bags will be succeeding in the decades to come, too.

Usually, rattan bags have been sold at a higher price point hence the likes of brands such as Mark & Graham, Lilly Pulitzer, and J Crew. There are ALSO some gorgeous vintage rattan bags which can be found if you’re lucky at a thrift/vintage shop!! I have definitely purchased some pricier rattan bags, too, over the years. And, I am beyond excited that Target decided to bring rattan bags to the masses at a much much much affordable price point than the likes of other pricier brands or the luck of a jackpot at the thrift/vintage shop. Through it all, I have never been more impressed with the practicality for my post-work and weekend runs happy hour lifestyle of this rattan crossbody from *none other than* Target than any other rattan bag that I own!

As a fellow and proud Grand Millennial, rattan handbags have since become a Spring/Summer fashion staple in my wardrobe! And, now that Target is carrying a rattan crossbody bag that I LOVVVEEE at an affordable price point, it brings me SO MUCH JOY!!!! Target is carrying SO MUCH rattan at a great quality and price point, too. I definitely strive to stay in my own lane when it comes to what the world deems as “trendy” in the moment and simply just do me. However, rattan is a “trendy” thing that I’ll hop on the “trendy” train for any day!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Memorial Day Weekend 2021 Sales Going On NOW!

Tis the season for a sale! Memorial Day weekend is such a great time to stock up on some excellent deals throughout the sweet summertime. Today, I have rounded up some of the current sales going on, so you can have them all in one place!

*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.*

Fashion

Beauty

Home

Miscellaneous

All of the Above

My look:

  • Dress: Hatley (thrifted years ago)
  • Hat: Marley Lilly (currently out of stock)
  • Earrings: SugarFix by Bauble Bar at Target (got a few years ago)

Cheers to those great deals!!!

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My Summer 2021 Beach Essentials

With summer just around the corner, the beach season is beginning!!! As exciting as it all is, the process of deciding what to get to bring on your beach and/or pool excursions can be daunting. But don’t fret, I have rounded up my favorite beach essentials for this Summer 2021 season in order to help you out!

*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.*

Beach Essentials

Shop my Look!

Happy almost-Summer and cheers to the many memories you will make either beach or poolside!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Affordable Easter Decorations

I am a sucker for any holiday, especially when it comes to the decorating aspect. However, decorating for every holiday can come at an additional cost and can really add up really really fast. So, today, I have shared some super fun and affordable Easter decorations, courtesy of Target, Wayfair, and Michael’s, to meet your budget’s needs and decorating desires.

*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.*

  1. Happy Easter Paper Garland
  2. Metal Tabletop Eggshell Basket
  3. Pack of 6 Multicolored Easter Eggs
  4. Green Moss Bunny Figurines
  5. Yarn Carrot Tree
  6. Easter Egg Wreath
  7. 6ft Big Egg Garland
  8. Pink & White Gnome Figurine
  9. Tabletop Bunny with Flower

Happy decorating!!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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How I Have Saved While Grocery Shopping

Groceries can be such a cash cow! Especially when we feel tempted to add different food items to our carts, grocery bills can easily rack up pretty fast. From my own experiences, I have spent a lot of unnecessary expenses on groceries. However, over time, I have saved my dollars on groceries, which has been a game changer for me! Today, I am sharing how I have saved while shopping for groceries.

Delivery/Pick Up Service

I have used Instacart since the pandemic began for my groceries. Through using Instacart, I have saved so much money on getting groceries. Although Instacart may appear as more expensive with the additional delivery, service, and tip fees, I have been able to actually save more. I have been known to be an impulse buyer, especially with items on sale or at a great price at the grocery store. With a delivery service such as Instacart, I have been able to choose the items that I need for the week and only the week. I have been able to use the ~$10 in fees to compensate for the lack of $15+ in impulse buys that aren’t used weekly. Services like Hello Fresh that pre-prepare your meals for you are also great ways to save and have your and your family’s meals ready at your doorstep.

No Name Brand Items

I strive to shop the generic brand items at the grocery store where I can. While I do have some name brand grocery items that I purchase regularly and will continue to do so, I buy mostly generic brand items. Some of the name brand grocery items that I will not turn back on include: Polly-O string cheese, Bai, Boboli pizza (a childhood favorite of mine), California Pizza Kitchen’s frozen Margherita pizza, Barefoot Wine, Bagel Bites, Fa!rlife Milk, and Crystal Light. We all have our own preferred name brand products, and definitely do not skimp on getting those if you enjoy them. On the same token, basic items such as flour, sugar, spices, pasta, and eggs can easily be bought from generic brands. I also switched my K-Cups from Starbucks to the generic store brands and have, in fact, liked the store brands better than the Starbucks brand; my wallet does too. Unless the product is something that tastes weird or does not do its job, then getting the generic brand is definitely the way to go!

Frozen Vegetables Over Fresh

My mother told me this snippet if advice a long while back, and I have sworn by it since! The snippet is to purchase frozen vegetables over fresh. You can heat up the frozen vegetables in the microwave and cook them, accordingly. The frozen veggies can also be healthier in a way, too. In fact, as someone who loves to roast vegetables, I have found the frozen veggies microwaved to taste just the same as the fresh. At the same time, I have also saved a bunch of time on cooking, as frozen vegetables come pre-chopped, especially when chopping recipes that require the dreaded chopping of the onion. Lastly, frozen vegetables can stay in your fridge for quit a while. The same can go for fruits, too!!!

Shop at Lidl and Aldi

Recently, I have discovered the beauty of Lidl and Aldi! Both stores have amazing deals on great food items. While not all items are not the best to get at Lidl and Aldi such as wine, there are some pretty great items and even name brand products at an extraordinary price. I have saved so much money by shopping at Lidl and Aldi, especially for staple items. The best way to check out Lidl and/or Aldi, is to check the aisles out for yourself! Trust me, you will spend a lot less on what you need plus/minus some!!!

Plan Your Meals!

Whether you use delivery services like Hello Fresh or primarily stock up at the grocery store, planning your meals are an effective way to save some money. My Aunt April told me this amazing tip that stuck with me for four years now – to limit your grocery store trips to once a week if that. Similarly, my Aunt April plans her meals for the week and my cousins’ snacks, so she only gets what she needs during her weekly grocery trips. Especially with using delivery services, shopping only once a week or every other week, I can save some cash on fees, too. That way, you can save your time AND money!!!

Go to Name Brand Stores and Wholesale Stores Once a Month/Few Months

Some of the name brand and wholesale grocery stores that I can think of, including Costco, Target, Wegman’s, Whole Foods, BJ’s, and Trader Joe’s, sell similar groceries at a much heftier price tag than others. Like many others, I love a fun trip to Wegman’s or Trader Joe’s for groceries, but it comes at a much heftier price tag than others. So, going to one of those grocery stores once each month or few months, will allow you to solely stock up on what you need/enjoy from there and save it for a given period of time. My mother goes to Costco once a month to get protein and snacks for the month, which saves her a bunch of money and our whole family and plans meals with each protein for the month, accordingly. That way, we can all save and buy less at the grocery store each week/every few weeks.

Grocery shopping can add up, especially really quickly. However, when you make a few changes to your shopping regime, then you are able to save a bunch of money on those hefty bills!!!

HAPPY SAVING!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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The Drugstore Beauty Products That I Swear By

I have always been a sucker for a super fun beauty product. At the same time, I have always been one who wants to save her money where she can – if there is a drugstore option that does the just as much the magic as a high end makeup product, then I am going to use it! Over the years, I have accumulated a lot more makeup products than I had ever anticipated – drugstore and high-end alike. I have found several drugstore products that have become favorites of mine, ranging from shampoo to skincare regime to makeup. Below, I have linked (via Target!) and listed my 20 favorite beauty products that are available at any drugstore.

  1. Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Pressed Powder
  2. Batiste Dry Shampoo
  3. L’Oreal Paris Colour Riche Original Satin Lipstick
  4. Maybelline Eyeshadow Palette – 20 The Nudes
  5. Dove Renewing Peony & Rose Oil Body Wash
  6. Garnier SkinActive Miceller Cleansing Water – For Waterproof Makeup
  7. Maybelline The Blushed Nudes Eyeshadow Palette
  8. elf Baked Highlighter Moonlight Pearls
  9. L’Oreal Paris Colour Riche La Palette Nude Eyeshadow Palette
  10. Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso
  11. Essie Nail Polish
  12. elf Makeup Brushes
  13. Vaseline Original Lip Therapy Stick – 2 pack
  14. Maybelline City Mini Eyeshadow Palettes
  15. COVERGIRL truNAKED Scented Eyeshadow Palette
  16. Revlon Ultra HD Lip Mousse Hyper Matte
  17. Rimmel Lasting Finish 25HR Breathable Longwear Foundation
  18. Neutrogena Fragrance-Free Makeup Remover Cleansing Wipes
  19. Eos Better Shave Cream
  20. Maybelline The24KT Nudes Eyeshadow Palette

Makeup has always been a way for me to feel as if I can have fun and express myself. Along with fashion, I look forward to getting up each morning and putting on some cute clothes and some fun makeup products. Beauty products that aren’t makeup products have also been great ways for me to feel empowered on the daily, especially during quarantine and on a budget!

XOXO – Katie <3

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

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

2020 Reader/Follower Survey Results:

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

Demographics:

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

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

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

Where They Follow Along:

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

Blog & Social Media Content:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2021 Blogger Goals

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

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

XOXO – Katie <3

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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

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Black Friday Deals to Shop This 2020

With 2020 being one ride of a year for us all, it only is necessary that our favorite stores start offering Black Friday deals right now. You heard me right: several stores are offering Black Friday deals right now!!!! Today, I have rounded up a bunch of stores that are offering deals for your own online Christmas and/or treat yourself shopping sprees. Happy shopping!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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