If there are two things I love, it’s a) a good creative writing prompt and b) being a total wackadoodle.

So, in an effort to combine both of those things, in true Katie fashion, here is a list of silly creative writing prompts, conversation starters, or whatever you wish to use them for. (I was heavily inspired by ’s lists of silly questions, which I highly recommend reading for extra giggles.)

Some of these prompts are cute and creative, others are a whole other level of ridiculousness. Interpret them as you wish and be as creative with them as you’d like.

Buckle up, silly gooses. It’s about to be a wild ride.

1. Choose a fictional character to represent each of your friends. It can be from any media you’d like (except Harry Potter because fck that TERF)!

2. If you were a dessert, what would you be and why?

3. A flash mob just broke out in the exact location you are in right now. What song is it set to? What is the choreography like? Please tell me there are special effects?!

4. Do you still have stuffed animals as an adult, and how many? More importantly, do they all have names?

5. Make a playlist of songs you should never play at a wedding or a funeral.

6. What school subject is each color folder? Plead your case with as much evidence as possible.

7. What kinds of plants, flowers, fruits, vegetables grow in your dream garden? Any magic plants, perhaps?

8. What do fairies eat?

9. What do unicorns eat?

10. What was the weirdest dream you’ve ever had?

11. Which children’s book character would win in a fight?

12. Describe a movie/TV show you watched as a kid that felt like a fever dream.

13. If you were to cast an audiobook narration, what book would it be for? Who would voice each character, or would one narrator read the entire book?

14. What would make a good alternative to the classic “Happy Birthday” song?

15. What would your default outfit be if you were a cartoon character?

16. Which Disney character would you trust to babysit your future child?

17. What is the funniest thing you wrote for a school assignment/project as a kid? Explain (what might have been) your thought process at the time.

18. Invent an imaginary friend for yourself right now. What’s their name? What do they look like? Do they have any magical abilities?

19. Plead your case on whether toy collectors should leave valuable collectibles in the box or take them out to play.

20. What word do you absolutely love the sound of? Use it in a sentence or two!

21. Name someone in your life who is very demure, very mindful. Explain your reasoning.

Okay people, we are now in UNHINGED TERRITORY. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

22. Write an enemies to lovers story starring Bert and Ernie. Snuffleupagus must be a side character.

23. Watch a full episode of Teletubbies and write a review/analysis of it.

24. Write a story or poem where the first line is: My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard.

25. Rewrite a movie as a Muppet Movie. Which character would each Muppet play and who would be the humans?

26. What was the funniest, most unhinged pretend play you played as a kid?

27. What famous album or piece of music should be rerecorded entirely in kazoo?

28. Do you think we will actually live underwater in the Year 3000?

29. Six was afraid of Seven because, 7 8 9 (seven ate nine). What caused Seven to eat Nine?

And now for the grand finale prompt!!!!

30. What is Toby dreaming about?

Anyways…Happy writing, sillyheads! (And please comment below what Toby is dreaming about.)

Thank you, my sweet friend, for stopping by my Little World!

Here, you’ll find the musings of a twenty-something year old who is always trying to add a little whimsy to her life, all while hopefully still being relatable. I’d love it if you would stick around and subscribe!

Subscribe now

Stay sparkly, Katie xoxo

I’ve written essays on figuring out my dreams and breaking my chronic people pleasing habits, but still, there is another piece to all that that I don’t think we talk about enough- the actual feeling you get when you realize something is meant for you and then continuing to get lost in what you love. I often talk and think so much about letting go of and subtracting things that I forget to add something meaningful in their place.

This is my case for being CHALANT! Being excited about our interests and our hobbies, even if they are weird or childish! EMBRACE THE WEIRD!!!!

(Okay, I definitely got excited there…BUT THAT’S THE WHOLE POINT!!!)

One of my favorite things that we do as humans is become so passionate and excited about the things we love (especially as an autistic person with special interests, which you can learn more about here). I love when I can tell someone’s interests or aesthetic or favorite color just by looking at the stickers on their laptop or the charms on their bag or whatever (unless it’s Harry Potter or Taylor Swift or something problematic, but I digress). The other week, my friends and I were on our way to the mall when we saw a car decked out in Kuromi bumper stickers and a Kuromi license plate frame. My friend decided to be silly and pull a sarcastic “I wonder who their favorite Sanrio character is!!”, but now whenever I see any Kuromi merch in a store, I think of how much this person would like it. I can seriously imagine their Kuromi collection at home taking up their entire bedroom. I looovvvvee people like that.

One of my love languages is picking up on someone’s hobbies and obsessions and then sending them things that remind me of them: whenever I see this, I immediately think of them. This could be a social media post, a picture of an item I saw in the store, or even just said interest being randomly brought up in conversation. And I will gladly sit through an entire tour of your collection and a lecture about your favorite movie or book or niche interest. Like, yes I wanna see your Giselle from Enchanted collection! Yes, I want to hear you lecture me on theme park history! Yes, I absolutely wanna hear your favorite Pokemon and generation of My Little Pony (btw, anyone who wants to answer these questions in the comments should feel free to do so. Mine are JigglyPuff and G3, in case you were curious.)

I say all this not only as a passionate person, but also, as someone who often feels jealous of others who are so invested in what they love. I know social media is not real and what we see of people is never as cut and dry as it seems, but the thing I envy is not the consumption of it all or not being able to become an expert in this one specific skillset, but the feeling that people get when they have found where their heart has called them to. 2021 was the worst year for my mental health that I can recall; between still staying home, being in my second semester of school entirely virtual, and having the winter isolation blues, I was forced to come to terms with the fact that some of the things I was holding onto were not making my life better at all. So, what did I do? I started remembering the things that made me happy and finding new interests, even finding new ways to enjoy the interests I already had. And most of all, I remembered I was a writer. This is my calling, and there are very few things that give me as much euphoria as typing up a new draft and later hitting publish.

I look back on some of the things that I love that might be “weird” or “childish” for my age and wish I didn’t carry any embarrassment or hesitation that comes with embracing them. I still check out children’s books at the library. I absolutely believe in fairies and unicorns in my heart. I’m invested in Pixie Hollow and Disney Princess Lore. I can’t sleep without a stuffed animal (or 4, or 5!). I love wearing bows and glitter on my face and getting lost in a good book. And I’m a full proponent of carrying a book and a notebook and pen over constant doomscrolling.

This Sunday I will celebrate one year posting on Substack and sharing my writing with this lovely community, sharing my true self after years of unanswered questions and time spent stuck in places I don’t belong. I couldn’t be happier to get lost in what I love on and off of this platform. You really are never too old or too cool for what makes you happy. We certainly don’t owe anyone nothing, but we owe it to ourselves and others to share what makes us happy and embrace it in others. The things we love shouldn’t be embarrassing; life’s too short to hide them.

Pleaaaaasseee tell me in the comments your niche interests, your favorite media, your obsessions, the things you love to get lost in! I wanna hear! This is a safe space! :)

Thank you, my sweet friend, for stopping by my Little World!

Here, you’ll find the musings of a twenty-something year old who is always trying to add a little whimsy to her life, all while hopefully still being relatable. I’d love it if you would stick around and subscribe!

Subscribe now

Stay sparkly, Katie xoxo

It’s messy,
nearly impossible
to clean up,

but why would
you want to
something so
beautiful?

It looks like 
nothing
From a certain angle,
But when the light
hits it
juuust right,

It is the most
Dazzling
thing you’ve 
ever seen, 
That you didn’t
Know you needed.

And it shimmers
And it glimmers
And it sparkles.
And it spreads
all
	over
		the
			Place.

Good things
should
s p r e a d
and be
impossible
to clean up. 

Thank you, my sweet friend, for stopping by my Little World!

Here, you’ll find the musings of a twenty-something year old who is always trying to add a little whimsy and creativity to her life, all while still keeping it real. I’d love if you would stick around and subscribe!

Subscribe now

Stay sparkly, Katie xoxo

I’ve always wondered what it’d be like if every one of us who couldn’t leave home without our phone clung to a book instead, or, at least read instead of doomscrolling, (because remember, there are all different ways to read that work for different people, and they are all 100% still valid!).

That said though, I, like many others who are able to, love to have a physical book in hand, flipping through pages and getting lost in words and symbols and metaphors. Belle is my favorite Disney Princess, so immediately my mind goes to her strolling around her village immersed in far off places and daring sword fights (hence the title of this post). Watching all the men judge her (ahem, Gaston) because they could never be as well-read as her is *chef’s kiss*. Sure, it’s not ideal to be walking around with your face buried in a book, and I certainly wouldn’t want people so busy reading that we wouldn’t have time for genuine human connection and conversation. Then again, it’s even less ideal to be walking around staring at a screen!

Imagine how much different our brains would function if that was the case. We could share all the things we’re learning and the worlds we’ve been exploring with others. We would be supporting our local libraries way more than billionaire corporations (because yes, reading is indeed, political!). Maybe our self esteem would be a whole lot higher because we wouldn’t constantly be comparing ourselves to others. Maybe we wouldn’t be spending too much money on shit we don’t need because influencers wouldn’t be constantly trying to sell us new stuff every month.

Anyways, I digress. But the point here is: I. Love. Books.

I’ve loved reading ever since I was a kid. I loved being read to before bed and in school, taking books out of the school library (usually a Disney Princess or animal book), and you bet I felt like a queen walking into the Scholastic Book Fair with my envelope of money my parents gave me to buy cool erasers and biographies of all the cutest boys in Hollywood.

Surprisingly, I had a hard time reading as an elementary school kiddo. Like a lot of kids, I pretty much just looked at the pictures or skimmed through the words (this is ironic considering I have hyperlexia, which is when a child learns to read earlier than average, often a trait of neurodivergence), and of course there were times where I would rather watch TV than read. Nevertheless though, I still loved books and the joy they brought me all my life, and I wish I could have told my younger self that reading is actually the complete opposite of boring once you get started. I’ve always loved a good story, which I’d be hard pressed to find someone who doesn’t, even if it meant watching Scholastic animated retellings of said books on DVD instead of reading them (please tell me someone else remembers those????). No matter how addicting these algorithms are designed to be, the only emotionally charged content I’m interested in is bawling over an elementary school boy getting a school visit from Walter Dean Myers to cope with his dead dog.

Books are so much more to me just an escape from technology or something I have to do to track it on my Bookstagram or fill out my middle school reading log. Books yield such an important power to unlock so much about the world, and build new fantastical ones. To foster empathy, emotion, relatability, learn and celebrate all kinds of people and perspectives. And for my fellow literary nerds out there, we can appreciate the narrative voice and writing styles that make stories so creative, unique, and fun. Seriously, one of my favorite a-ha moments is when I realize how this foreshadows that, or how xyz is a symbol or a motif for something important.

Ever since I moved almost six years ago, I have been lucky enough to live within walking distance to my local library, and it is now where I spend so many of my days. As I explore what genres I enjoy the most and add a copious amount of titles to my TBR, I feel an indescribable euphoria. It’s the same excitement that I got from taking out books in elementary school library that I get to experience all over again as an adult: damn, am I excited to read this! I can’t wait to get lost in the words and characters and literary devices!

And when I open the book? That’s when the party really starts.

Now, how on Earth could I possibly vent about my love of books without sharing some of my favorites?

Please enjoy this list of non-AI slop to indulge in and escape to. Happy reading!

• Nostalgia Itches Like a Bug Bite- Pileigh Anoush Shahinian: Poetry book using insects as a motif for empathy, nostalgia, and relatability. Plus, I went to college with the author; she’s pretty amazing!

• The New Book- Nikki Giovanni: This is Ms. Giovanni’s last poetry collection and damn do I wish I gave her her flowers before she passed. So many amazing poems and “blurbs” about her life, family, nature, empathy, and her experiences as a Black woman. Her narrative voice and stream of thought especially stand out.

• Mascot- Charles Waters and Traci Sorell- my current read! Very intriguing story about young people exploring the racism behind their school’s Native mascot. Told from different perspectives and will deepen your understanding and empathy. It’s a middle grade novel, but still a great read.

• Stargirl- Jerry Spinelli: A classic. 10/10 no notes. I need to read this one again.

• Love That Dog/Hate That Cat by Sharon Creech: Beautiful, emotional novels in verse that incorporate famous poems to help the protagonist with the grief of losing his dog.

Thank you, my sweet friend, for stopping by my Little World!

Here, you’ll find the musings of a twenty-something year old who is always trying to add a little whimsy and joy to her life, all while still keeping it real and appreciating the magic in the mundane. I’d love if you would stick around and subscribe!

Subscribe now

Stay sparkly, Katie xoxo

After a very dreadful winter here in NY, not only is the natural world “springing” back to life, but it feels like I am as a human being.

So far, this spring has been filled with sunshine, (slightly) warmer days, and choosing to be more present in the moment. If winter is the season for slowing down, then spring is the season of awakening and starting to take in as much whimsy as possible.

These first few weeks of spring, I have really been trying to be present, joyful, and calm in whatever way possible, which certainly isn’t easy when you have a racist pedophile dictator in office, but I digress. I believe that fully allowing myself to remember what I once loved and intentionally pour into it, spend less time doomscrolling and more time connecting with others and engaging in what I love is the antidote to getting out of the winter funk, and I’m excited to share with you, though this log, how I’ve been doing just that.

Let’s get whimsical, shall we?

• Anti Scroll Journal- Perhaps ironically, I got this idea from @thejournalcorner on Instagram. It’s exactly what it sounds like; whenever you feel the urge to scroll you pick up a pen, open the journal, and write down whatever the hell you want. I’d take a pen and notebook over a phone any day, but it is so hard to break the addiction of instant dopamine; luckily my journal always helps me stay present and less overstimulated. I usually keep a note of happy moments throughout my day, make lists of who-knows-what (my autistic ass loves making lists), write gentle reminders to myself, and jot down books, movies, podcasts, and other things that have been bringing me joy. Then after that, I can refer to the pages of my journal to remember the things that get me out of that scrolling funk. Talk about a win-win!

• Candles: I have so many candles collecting dust in my kitchen that it’s about damn time I stop waiting for a special occasion to use them. I have a spring flower scented candle full of real flower petals, a peach scented candle from a small business that smells like heaven, and a pink candle with a golden K for Katie on the vessel (I don’t know what it’s supposed to smell like and it comes from an ex best friend, but I still love it). They’re good to light while cooking dinner, baking banana bread, writing at my dining room table, and even while I’m in the shower. Adding a little bit of whimsy to my day to day tasks often makes me look forward to doing it more. I even have LED candles that I got as a Christmas gift that I put on my desk in my room for some *ethereal* mood lighting.

• Slow, cozy mornings: I got the idea from a new favorite podcast of mine (which I’ll plug a little bit later) to intentionally greet the day, which is a wonderful thing to do in the spring. Every morning, I open my windows and say “Hello, outside!” no matter what kind of weather it is. And my new rule is that I must say hello to all 7 (yes, 7!) of my cats before breakfast and going on with the rest of my day. Having something small to look forward to, like tea or orange juice in my favorite teacup shaped like a flower or a “pancakes and podcasts” for breakfast day takes the anxiety out of seeing what the next day brings. I love how simple, cute little rituals like these can change my whole day in the best way!

• Enjoying nature: This one is totally obvious for this time of year, but getting outside and noticing everything I can is such a game changer. The amount of flowers in front of neighborhood houses grows (pun slightly intended) by the day. All the teeny little flower buds getting ready to bloom on the trees are soooo cute! I see a spring robin almost every time I step outside and wake up to birdsong every morning. And I can hardly wait for more cherry blossoms and dogwoods to start blooming and for all the ducklings and geeselings to be born!

  (And we all say in unison: AWWWWWWW!!!!!)

Not to mention I went to the most STUNNING flower show at a local garden store/nursery! The displays were all themed after different games; they were unbelievable!

Below is my favorite inspired by Candyland!

• Library trips: This one’s pretty self explanatory. I am a bibliophile and literature nerd first and a person second!!! Crafting events, writing workshops, physical media, library of things, and of course, finding more books for my TBR than I am currently reading at the moment, lol. I don’t know how on Earth it collectively took us this long to start utilizing and loving our libraries, myself included.

• WHIMSICAL HUMANS CREATING WHIMSICAL THINGS! There are so many other cool, creative humans on the interwebs curating their own whimsy that have inspired me and made me smile, not to mention who have given me a lot of ideas. , who writes and is a fellow cat lover and Disney adult, and so funny. My new favorite whimsical podcast is in the meadow; the host, Victoria, has a lovely soft-spoken voice and shares a lot of her ideas for cozy living and being a villager that I have to give her credit for. And Wild Gina, a Black woman botanical photographer who I’ve been following for a little over a year now, captures some of the coolest plant pics I’ve ever seen! I highly recommend buying a print and supporting her work.

Thank you, my sweet friend, for stopping by my Little World!

Here, you’ll find the musings of a twenty-something year old who is always trying to add a little whimsy and creativity to her life, all while still keeping it real. I’d love if you would stick around and subscribe!

Subscribe now

Stay sparkly, Katie xoxo

Unlike this cat, I don’t fit in a box.

You could argue, perhaps, that no one does. You can hear it said and nod in agreement…but it’s only until you start exploring and doing outside of said metaphorical box that you truly believe that cliche to be true. As I’ve found out, it’s true in more ways than one.

It’s common sense that every human is different and has different interests, hobbies, styles, personalities, you name it, but even that comes with an invisible set of rules: read this many books, listen to every song by this artist and like it, wear this because xyz on the Internet is wearing it all in the name of “self expression”.

That is the complete antithesis of individuality. If even our self-interests and self-expression supposedly have a “right” and “wrong” way, where’s the fun in that?

Although I have written before about the realizations and the steps needed to lean into my authentic self, I feel like nobody talks enough about how enthralling it is going from letting go of expectations of what others want you to do to realizing that there are endless ways to do so, if that makes sense.

There are so many cool, creative people out there, on the Internet and in real life, that are using their creativity and passion in extraordinary ways. Social media and the Internet often allow us to only see the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what we humans are capable of. When we begin to see that there’s more to life than just what’s on paper and that following our dreams goes beyond simply “don’t let anyone tell you what you can and can’t be”, we can let our imaginations run wild and open doors to seemingly limitless possibilities.

I’m not just a writer here on Substack- I’m a poet and a hobby girl who bakes a mean chocolate chip cookie and is learning ballet while scouring Dollar Tree for beads to add to my friendship bracelet kit! I’m a grad school student studying library science AND creative writing who wants to open a bookstore that doubles as a cat cafe! I’m an interesting person! And there are so many other interesting people out there who I’ve learned this from: people who have multiple hobbies outside of their day jobs, artists who create in their own special style and excel well in their favorite mediums, or who make their art accessible to everyone, people who combine their passions in flawless ways. They inspire me and let me know that none of us fit in a box, and that “it’s not criminal to be an individual”!

Personally, I’ve come to realize that it’s not just my whole self that doesn’t fit in a box, but neither does every small part of me that makes it up. That might sound like a “no, duh” type of statement, but if you really think about it, it’s mesmerizing to ponder. We get to choose not only the parts of ourselves that we want to embrace but how we embrace them. As a student I love that my graduate program is so flexible and allows me to design my own degree program, to combine passions and even design electives instead of just sticking to what’s in the curriculum. I am constantly inspired by my peers and the areas of interest that they want to pursue, as well as meeting others who share my love of writing and literature with their own unique perspectives and fortes.

But who says that our creativity and our life paths are only limited to our degrees? As I practice my creative hobbies and explore my interests outside of degree planning, mostly my writing of course, it affirms that there is truly no one right way to create or enjoy myself. My poems are often more to the point than the literal vs. figurative meanings of poetry that I learned about in undergrad; often it’s not until after I finish writing the poem that these deeper meanings are unearthed. I started learning ballet as a hobby, not because I want to be the next Sugar Plum Fairy on the biggest stage in the world. I own up to how I can enjoy something without wanting to participate in it, or even that I don’t have to be a part of it in any and every way. In my heart, I am already the fairy princess ballerina I’ve dreamed of being since I was a little girl.

And of course, that brings me to my work here on Substack. I started out in the blogging world giving reviews of places, movies, and events, but having loved writing for most of my life I wish I realized beforehand that there were so many more directions I could take with my craft. Now I’m jotting drafts away in my notebook and pouring my heart into every character I type before I hit publish. I’ve always wanted my writing to reflect me and now, in 2026, I feel like that has been accomplished more than ever before.

I think the best way to close this blurb is with a stanza from one of my most recent poems. It was written for one special person in particular, but I think it captures the essence of our uniqueness and creativity. So, I leave you with this:

If everyone had
your outlook on life,
we would all
walk around
in rose colored glasses.

We wouldn’t recognize anyone anymore.

If I could
share all the best things 
about you
with everyone,
I would…
as long as they
Remember:

There is
only
one 
you.

Thank you, my sweet friend, for stopping by my Little World!

Here, you’ll find the musings of a twenty-something year old who is always trying to add a little whimsy and creativity to her life, all while still keeping it real. I’d love if you would stick around and subscribe!

Stay sparkly, Katie xoxo

Subscribe now

If you are in NY, click here for more information on protecting our immigrant neighbors.

Donate to orgs such as CARECEN and OLA Long Island.***

Darlings, I don’t know about you, but I always struggle with the period between the winter holidays and New Year’s, not to mention January is always the slowest, most depressing month. Luckily, there’s nothing a little whimsy can’t fix in this Little World!

(Of course, I am not proposing this as a one size fits all solution. I understand that some folks might have their own mental health challenges with very different solutions- and “think positive” will not fix everything!)

These are some of my “Winter Whimsies”- when the season is cold and dreary, I look for things that make me smile and give me “the warm fuzzies”, if you will…

• Twinkling lights! Even when Christmas is over, I love when people leave their lights up for weeks after. I think the rainbow colored ones look like gumdrops or candies on a gingerbread house.

• Sparkling snow! This is something you have to look really close up to see. I know a lot of people don’t like snow, especially here in the Northeast where it snows a lot. But the sun shining on the snow giving it a glittering, sparkling effect is proof that magic is real if I ever saw it. The Pixie Hollow fairies MUST be behind this.

• Treating my stuffed animals like my BFFs- something I love to do at any age! A little holiday village I go to every year had its own “Stuff A Bear” this year (which is basically a knock off version of Build A Bear), so I knew I had to stop by. I also had my Build A Bear frog to cuddle for New Year’s Eve- I definitely wouldn’t have been able to make it to midnight without him.

• Physical EVERYTHING! Physical books, photo albums, DVDs, junk journaling, even printing out recipes to make instead of reading them off my phone. I love how 2026 is becoming the year of physical media- for so many good reasons. It reminds me of my childhood and being able to slow down and create things instead of getting wayyyy too used to hyperconvenience.

  • ( I’m definitely interested in making a physical vision board, too. Pinterest is fun, but the feeling of cutting and gluing and arranging pictures would be so healing. Reminds me of the school projects I made in elementary school using paper bags, old magazines, and more.)

• Some new neighbors just moved in, and they have a beautiful bright yellow door. I love seeing it every time I pass by, and, quite frankly, I’m dying to know if there’s some significance behind it. Get to know your neighbors, people!

• Speaking of which, some other folks a few blocks away have a Little Free Library, and I. AM. OBSESSED. I love putting books inside, I love taking books for myself. I think every house should be required to have one.

However you spend this winter, be well, stay magical, slow down, and have fun!

Thank you, my sweet friend, for stopping by my Little World!

Here, you’ll find the musings of a twenty-something year old who is always trying to add a little whimsy and creativity to her life! If that’s your vibe, I hope you’ll stick around and subscribe! Love ya lots! xoxo

Subscribe now

I don’t mean to sound like a Grinch here, but…We sure aren’t acting like we understand the reason for the season.

The holiday season is a magical time that gives us an opportunity to slow down, be with our loved ones, and show generosity to all. I always look forward to spending time with my loved ones, having fun, and closing out the year in joy. But riddle me this… how do many people watch classics like The Grinch and A Christmas Carol and appreciate the messages, yet in real life it goes completely over our heads? Why do we only root for the message of giving to those less fortunate and thinking about the holidays as a time of love over consumption in the movies without practicing what we preach? This past week I heard the song, “Grown Up Christmas List” for the first time, and all I could think of is how easily we forget to slow down and be good to our fellow humans. The lyrics are emotional and beautiful, and so true. I would think that the majority of humans would agree with them, but if only we didn’t get so caught up in how many gifts we get and how much money we spend that we don’t actually put those values of no more wars and right always prevailing into practice, in our words and especially our actions.

Now, am I saying that anyone who gives and receives gifts and spends time with family is inherently a terrible person? Hell no! This season is a special time, one of the only times of the year where we get to experience this genuine happiness and connection…the key word being genuine.

What I’m saying is, I cannot fathom how many people are using said joy as an excuse to look away from all the cruelty, the trauma, the unnecessary evil being committed in this country and the world day by day. How many of us are stressing out about our last minute shopping yet don’t realize how many people in our own communities and around the world do not even have a roof over their heads and access to basic needs. How so many people practice kindness in the name of “tis the season!”, but voted for a white supremacist, pedophile, convicted felon dictator that preaches anything but. And the people who celebrate and eat and buy things we don’t need while they turn their heads as an unfathomable amount of evil in this country is normalized.

Getting together with our own families while Black, brown, and Asian folks are torn apart from theirs by the Dictator’s racist Secret Police.

Feasting while too many families are starved in order to overfund said Secret Police.

Gathering in our warm homes, and our families’ homes, while people freeze out on the streets BECAUSE OF POLICIES PUT IN PLACE that criminalize being unhoused.

Buying stuff we don’t need from large corporations for the sake of convenience…that we should be boycotting. Cheap perfume and socks are not worth it for stripping diversity efforts.

And, I say this every damn time but it’s true…imagine if we took all the money we spent on gag gifts and donated it to mutual aid funds to help those more marginalized than ourselves (which, in all honesty, should be a year-long practice, not just one month a year).

As much as I love holiday time, as happy as it can be, I hate how ingrained this culture of consumerism and individualism is in us to the point where it has taken over such a meaningful time of year. How did we forget that “right will always win, and love will never end”, just like the song says? Shouldn’t that be the standard for these last few weeks of the year, and the year ahead, and…forever?

So yeah, take this as my own “Grown Up Christmas List”, my lifelong wish. Whatever you celebrate, my sweet friends, may it be full of neverending peace and love!

Thank you, my sweet friend, for stopping by my Little World!

Here, you’ll find the musings of a twenty-something year old who is always trying to add a little whimsy and creativity to her life! If you’re the whimsical type, too, I hope you’ll stick around and subscribe! Love ya lots! xoxo

Subscribe now

Last week, I had one of the most dopamine filled days in a long time after attending a poetry prompt workshop at my local library! The facilitator of the workshop, dressed head to toe in purple and with her vibrant personality on display, shared so many fun ways to come up with prompts to write about instead of just waiting to be inspired. It was full of laughter, creativity, meeting new writer friends, whimsical, playful, and fun.

I wanted to share some of the poems I wrote since then in the hopes that I can show you that writing doesn’t have to be Walt-Whitman level perfection to be fun. Heck, it doesn’t even have to be published (which I know is ironic considering what I’m doing right now). I just wanted to give a glimpse into the creative process and practice not taking myself, and my writing, too seriously.

Alliterative Poem #1- “B”
I would blush
if someone were to bring me
a bouquet of bluebells
tied up in a bow,
or take me for
a brisk walk
in the berry patch
to fill our baskets
with bushels of blueberries.

One of the first exercises we did was write a list of words that started with the letter C, then write a poem with our favorites off our list. I decided to do the same with the letter B, and honestly, this might be one of my favorite things I've ever written. With its length, it feels like a happier, more alliterative version of the old, "For sale, baby shoes, never worn"...proof that even the shortest poems can still be worth writing and reading. I can’t wait to write more of these…should I try and do all 26 letters?!

Untitled
A sunny day
outside:
 is perfect if you love:
Jump rope,
Bike rides
Water balloons,
Ice cream,
rainbows.

A rainy day, though, 
is perfect
if you would rather
stay warm
 inside:
board games,
fireplaces,
tea and cookies.

As for me, though,
The only thing I am perfect at,
on a rainy day,
is being ridiculous,
and stamping my feet 
into puddles. 

This wasn’t a prompt from the workshop, but rather by @waffel_writing on Instagram (thank you!). I was so inspired by all the creativity from the workshop that I have been on the hunt for even more ways to come up with silly and fun things to write about; trust me, there’s more than you think! This one was based on choosing five words in a book. My book of choice was Wings of Starlight by Alison Saft, which is a prequel to the Disney Fairies movies, and the words I chose were: warm, ridiculous, games, perfect, feet. Can you spot them each in the poem?

Paper Chain
Paper, scissors, 
glue, and tape:
just imagine what 
our many hands can create!

Red and blue and 
yellow and pink:
We work together
 to cut each link.

It’s inspiring how far 
our chain can stretch
when we learn to love, 
collaborate, and connect!

Of all the prompts from the library, this was probably my favorite. The facilitator passed around what she likes to call "magic paper"- basically, printer paper with different decorative borders around it. The one I picked had a design that reminded me of a construction paper chain; it also evoked a memory of making a very long one with my Girl Scout troop in elementary school. I had thought of how amazed I was how long we were able to make the chain...because we all worked together! My great grandma also used to say, "Many hands make life work", which is where the fourth line of the first stanza comes from.

So, yeah. There’s a glimpse of my silly little life writing silly little poems! As you can see, creativity has absolutely no limits, and there is no right or wrong way to create and write!

I would love to know which poem you liked the best, if you feel so inclined! Until then, stay silly, my gooses! :-P

Thank you, my sweet friend, for stopping by my Little World!

Here, you’ll find the musings of a twenty-something year old who is always trying to add a little whimsy and creativity to her life! If you’re the whimsical type, too, I hope you’ll stick around and subscribe! Love ya lots! xoxo

Subscribe now

I have always loved celebrating my birthday ever since I was a little girl, but as I get older, I also use growing up as a leeway for reflection: of how I’ve changed since the past, how I carry it into the present, and how I will continue to change and grow in the future. Even as I remind myself that I can hold onto my kindred spirit and embrace childlike whimsy at any age, that doesn’t make growing up any less, dare I say…scary.

I’m learning to proudly say, I deserve grace. I deserve compassion. I am doing great, even if it’s trifficult.

So, in the spirit of aging and new beginnings, here are 23 things I would tell younger me, ranging from toddler to teen. Think of this as my Letter To My (3 and) 13 Year Old Self a la Laufey.

1. There is no age limit to achieving your childhood dreams. You don’t have to be silly all the time, nor do you want to, but you don’t have to take yourself too seriously, either.

2. You have nothing to prove. Having different needs and emotions that you need (and deserve) to express doesn’t make you a bad person.

3. Even on our birthday, or other special days, we still have to do grownup things: finish that paper, help Mom clean, and eat actual food besides chocolate. That doesn’t mean the day won’t still be special…and fun!

4. No matter how many presents and trinkets you buy, there is nothing like quality time and experience. There are so many interesting experiences in life for you to try. You don’t have to stick with the same old just because your parents are paying for it.

5. And on that note, you don’t have to feel pressure to try something: a new food, a new place…there’s no deadline!

6. It’s okay, and normal to have butterflies in your stomach about growing up…

7. …and, it’s totally normal if you don’t feel any different first when you wake up on your birthday. You’re still beautiful you!

8. Change takes time; sometimes it’s lifelong. That doesn’t mean it won’t happen. And, all changes are difficult. Some are good, some are bad. When bad things happen, it’s okay to be sad, but keep your head held high.

9. Your body is beautiful at every shape and size. Give it more credit, without it you wouldn’t be here!

10. You are surrounded by so many people, family, friends, teachers, neighbors, who love you for who you are…some you haven’t even met yet.

11. Pink is ALWAYS in style, every season. We don’t have to wait until Valentine’s Day anymore.

12. No matter how many presents you get, the best things in life will be the small joys, the places you go, the ordinary moments that make you smile.

13. Forget about wanting a puppy…cats are WAY cooler!

14. I’m sorry your second and third grade teachers were such assholes to you. They should be ashamed of themselves, and should know better as teachers than to bully autistic kids.

15. You don’t have to outgrow Disney Princesses, tiaras, unicorns, or dressing up. It’s made our adulthood a whole lot cooler.

16. You don’t have to “should” yourself. You are capable of making your own choices. Choosing to do something good for yourself makes it even more meaningful!

17. Show yourself compassion as much as possible. SET. THOSE. BOUNDARIES. You are a human being on a floating rock, don’t be so hard on yourself.

18. Your kindness and compassion is valued by so many people. Keep using it; it truly does make the world a better place.

19. Your laughter is CONTAGIOUS. Sure, there’s a time and a place, but when you find it, laugh anyway.

20. There’s a difference between inconveniencing yourself to genuinely help someone you care about and completely sacrificing yourself. Don’t overthink it, trust your intuition.

21. Homemade gifts are totally in. Yes, you absolutely can “make it yourself”! And, an old nail file wrapped in tinfoil is so much better than the next microtrend that ends up in a landfill.

22. There are lots of different ways to enjoy something. No one is judging you or policing you on how you choose to have a good time,

23. YOU. ARE. AMAZING! Every beautiful, messy, silly part of you is! You are embarking on this journey called life just like everyone else. Don’t compare yourself to anyone and keep blooming at your own pace, finding what you love, and showing yourself some grace. You deserve it!

I love you so much, Katie. Every single version of you.

Thank you, my sweet friend, for stopping by my Little World!

Here, you’ll find the musings of a twenty-something year old who is always trying to add a little whimsy and creativity to her life! If you’re the whimsical type, too, I hope you’ll stick around and subscribe! Love ya lots! xoxo

Subscribe now

(Well, candy bars are probably more expensive these days, so I guess that puts things into perspective. Also, if you got that reference, I hope both sides of your pillow are cold every night for the rest of your life.)

Jokes aside, I don’t think I’ve really ever shared exactly what I do to add more whimsy into my life on here. And honestly, that’s on me not keeping track of it all! So naturally, I’ve decided to use this space as a way to log all the whimsical, fanciful, and fun things that keep me going more than anxiety meds ever could.

So without further ado, may I present my first ever…WHIMSY LOG!

• Using a blank sketchbook and some colorful markers, mid last month I started keeping a “Monthly Smiles” list of one small thing that makes me smile each day of the month.

  This past month or so, these things have ranged from thrift trips to making friendship bracelets to cooking healthy meals and moving my body. Examples such as the latter help me be extra grateful for the things we too often take for granted.

• Walking home from the library at golden hour listening to my fall playlist. My go to fall soundtrack these past few years has been It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. 10/10.

• Leaning into creativity and connection over consumption! Especially with Halloween on its way and the -ber months chock full of overconsumption, it’s fun to make things and choose experiences. like apple and pumpkin picking, instead of buying more stuff.

• Interacting with nature in silly ways. On said walk home from the library, I said “excuse me” to a swarm of gnats and felt bad walking through them, lol. Of course, I also say hello to every bird, squirrel, and stray cat I see.

• Wearing a literal tiara when cleaning or doing chores. I saw this one via Instagram, and as a fairy princess at heart, it really does make it more fun. I feel like Cinderella!

• Embracing seasonality and taking in every last fall/Halloween decoration I see: inflatables in front of people’s houses, painted windows in storefronts, endless hay bales and pumpkins! I can’t miss a beat before Christmas goes up literally on Halloween (seriously, I I HATE how marketing always rushes the seasons).

• And the crowned jewel on this list: Visiting one of my favorite places to go on Long Island during the fall since childhood and trading friendship bracelets with a ghost that I literally see once a year but we are still best friends forever. This is an Otto stan account.

Until next season, stay magical and have fun!

(Pssst- let me know in the comments if you like these and if I should continue doing them monthly or seasonally!)

Subscribe now

A year later, I was still on Cloud Nine. I knew I had to use my newfound “Disney adultification” as a way to express myself through my other greatest passion: writing. Like most kids, I had already been introduced to the magic of Disney from a young age, but my first Disney blog was the first time I felt like I was able to pursue my passion as a form of self-expression and be a part of a community. But deep down, I had a desire to be like all the “Disney influencers” I saw on my Instagram feed. The ones who had a seemingly endless collection of Minnie ears hanging on their walls, carefully planned outfits for literally every attraction and show opening you could think of, ranking all the best snacks from the Epcot festivals.

As I’ve gotten older though, I have had a breakthrough. As creative people, most of us have probably had that “wait a minute” moment that we are stuck copying others for likes and fame and not leaning into our original strengths. Me? I found this to be true in more ways than one. Sure, I didn’t live near the parks, so I had to come up with creative ways to put out more Disney content, but something else just wasn’t clicking. Dare I say, the slipper wasn’t fitting?! (Okay, I promise that will be the only bad joke).

From the moment I published that first post in 2019, I will always stand by being a writer first. I enjoy treating Instagram as a “photo diary” to accompany these written posts, but I’m learning to value creativity and originality over trying to sell you a product.. Sure, there are the Disney blogs that have written posts of the best restaurants, rides, attractions, you name it. It just didn’t mesh well in the ways that I wanted to write and create.

That’s a weapon I feel I yield as a writer; I don’t need to worry about going into credit card debt and can produce my own original ideas instead of buying and manufacturing them. I can choose what I want to write instead of being paid to advertise anything. And of course there’s the sense of community, too, I can support other writers and their originality and creativity instead of corporations.

Of course, I’m referring to what happened very recently with Disney agreeing to pull Jimmy Kimmel’s show after criticizing that cold hearted, gun loving, Black woman hating son of a bitch with a podcast (which, if you defend him, this page is not for you), but also as a general note that even if a company creates beautiful stories and communities of fans who love them, DISNEY. IS. STILL. A. CORPORATION. Though I am not a Disney-centric creator, I know that I, and many others, shared our love of Disney through the Internet because we genuinely loved it. But I am ashamed that it has taken so many of us this long to wake up. Where was the outrage when Disney walked on eggshells around LGBTQ content, donated to Republican politicians, and decided to cancel shows about Black protagonists YET GREENLIT ANOTHER CINDERELLA SERIES?! I wholeheartedly believe that you cannot actually be a fan of something if you do not criticize it for its wrongdoings.

I talk a lot about authenticity here; one of the most authentic things you can do is stand with your morals and values over companies and corporations. And I have certainly learned to appreciate people, community, and nostalgia over any company. Do I still love Disney? Abso-hecking-lutely I do. But through this journey, I have learned that a multitude of things can be true. I don’t have to create like everyone else does, and I don’t have to bow down to authoritarianism and tolerate companies putting money over people, be it fans who seek a safe space or the Cast Members who create every ounce of magic we experience in the parks. There’s nothing more magical than that.

How did empathy, compassion, and human rights become a debate, a talking point, a political discussion, instead of basic common sense among all people on all “sides”?

What kind of sickness has spread over this world, this country specifically, that has allowed us to become so divided over protecting our neighbors, not just ourselves? How have we gotten to a point where politicians have to sit in a room and debate for hours over whether certain lives matter, whether citizens deserve care and compassion and to have every basic need met? When did thinking that every human deserves a roof over their head and healthcare make me a “woke liberal” rather than a human being who gives a damn about my fellow human beings?

When I was very young, my mom comforted me after a mass shooting (it’s very telling that I can’t name which one), and said, “There are far more good people in the world than there are bad”. I agree with that to an extent, sure, but think of it this way: You know how when you go to a concert, the audience cheers, and the singer tells the crowd they can be louder no matter how loud it is?

Maybe that’s what we need to apply to our lives. Even if there are more good people than bad, even if a vast majority stand against the evil of this administration, we really can do more and better, and DO the good things that match our beliefs. It is no longer enough to believe with our words, the actions we take, no matter how big or small, make all the difference. So we HAVE to lock in.

There is no way to argue against keeping families together, from our immigrant neighbors here in America to families being bombed, starved, and torn apart in Gaza to Israeli hostage families mourning their loved ones.

There should be no debate when it comes to trans people accessing healthcare and doing everything they can to affirm their true gender identity.

There is no justification for people worrying about being gunned down at their schools, places of worship, and other places where we should feel safe. How does one protect guns over human lives?

There is no reason not to be open minded when it comes to teaching Black history and wanting to reckon with this country’s racist past, so we can learn from it and protect our Black cousins.

There is no way in hell to justify any argument against every human deserving to be housed, fed, hydrated, clothed, and protected.

There is no good reason for war and genocide, from Ukraine to Congo to Sudan.

There is no universe where it is acceptable for a parent to not love their child unconditionally regardless of how they identify.

And for the love of Pete, how are we still having to convince people that Nazis and slavery are immoral and cruel IN TWENTY-EFFING-TWENTY-FIVE?

As I mentioned in a previous newsletter, our rage for this administration and these systems are absolutely justified, but I hope our common sense of what is right from what is wrong, our desire for a better world for EVERY HUMAN BEING will motivate us even more.

Going back to that concert analogy, when a singer tells a crowd they can scream louder and better, it’s just a joke to get their attention, right? Not in this case. We can do better, love louder, and commit even more to standing with our communities, ALWAYS. No matter how “nice” or “good” we and others think we are. If cruelty is the point, then empathy, community care, and policy change are the solution. And it’s gonna take all of us to stand against it!

(Before you scroll away, please listen to this poem by Melodie Ntumba, from Congo. Sit with her words. Feel the pain in her voice. Tune into your empathy and take action.)

Turns out, dreams are complicated. My dreams have changed over the years, I’m not sure I have just one dream, and I've realized that not all dreams stem from what you major in in college.

Subscribe now

When I was in fifth grade, graduating elementary school, we were asked where we saw ourselves in 15 years to put in our yearbook. My answer? “Acting on Broadway”.

Yeah, it’s safe to say that almost 15 years later, that dream of little Katie’s has NOT been achieved, nor did she, or I, want it to. I was raised in the generation of Hannah Montana, Camp Rock, and High School Musical, so now I understand that this dream was probably just a sign of the times. What little girl growing up in the 2000’s didn’t want to be Sharpay Evans?

That brings me to a crucial step of achieving dreams: actually seeing what it entails to do so. I have the tendency to think very idealistic and romanticized, so I often have trouble looking at the bigger picture. You know the saying, “If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life”? Well, let me give you a different spin on this age-old adage. How about- “If you find the hard work that it takes to achieve your dream worth it, that’s how you know it’s good to stick with it”. All dreams take some steps to achieve, and with many, there will still be hard work, but it will also feel lighter.

Like I said before, I always thought I was going to end up a theatre kid, a Broadway performer, a pop star. I was awestruck by the end goal of performing and signing autographs for my adoring fans, but didn’t realize the barriers I would face when it came to sensory issues with harmonies in music, stage lights, a packed house of cheering spectators, not to mention the fact that I pretty much only enjoy Disney musicals, like Frozen and Beauty and the Beast. Six years of theatre camp and school musicals helped me realize that the Broadway route I had dreamed of in fifth grade wasn’t right for me.

Then came the next path: a short lived dream of being an elementary school teacher. When I enrolled in college as a child study major, the first verse of Whitney Houston’s Greatest Love Of All played in my head as I imagined having my own classroom and inspiring the next generation of little ones. Again, it seemed so intriguing and rewarding, but that quickly took a turn after doing observations and experiencing a stressful, overstimulating day in the classroom. I honed in on the most exciting parts, the end goals of dreams I thought I had, without realizing what it would take to get to those end goals. And hey, at least I tried, right? I wouldn’t know that these weren’t my dreams had I not had these experiences, even if they were trifficult (if you know, you know.)

If you’re on the hunt to achieve whatever dream(s) you’ve got, big or small, serious or unserious, remember that nothing you do is ever a waste. It’s a bumpy road, sometimes one that lasts your whole life long, but it’s worth the push, and you never know when your next new dream will arise.

So, my dreamers, keep on believing, exploring, and having fun!

It was so nice to get away for the weekend surrounded by nature, playing games, talking and laughing with folks I haven’t seen in a while, and eating WAY TOO MANY Hershey kisses, lol. When the world feels as heavy as it does right now, it’s normal, and encouraged, to find moments of joy and softness whenever we can. But I’d be lying if I said it didn’t also feel weirdly abnormal.

Just days before we left, Congress voted to defund public media. For every photo I posted or sent to my friends of my view of the lake, I doomscrolled through more posts and news articles about Stephen Colbert’s show being cancelled just because the asshole holding the highest office in the nation took personal offense to it. My heart sank for a short moment, but then it was back to comfortably sitting by the campfire. Even saying, “we are in a fascist government” feels normal for this country at this moment…and that might be what makes my heart sink most of all.

I will say this though…I still found this weekend good for my soul, and my emotions, in a “I know that the world is on fire, but this is genuinely calming my nervous system”, kind of way. Like pretty much every American with a moral conscience right now, I have been going through a roller coaster of big feelings: anger, disgust, anxiety, sadness, grief for what could have been, guilt for the privilege of experiencing joy while others have everything taken away from them. As I was out in my family friends’ boat on the lake, I felt so present. I intentionally chose to leave my phone at the lakehouse (because who wants to scroll their life away on a boat?) and it felt so good to not cave into doomscrolling and overwhelm for just a little while, so I could be ready to get back into the fight.

And then, it hit me…this is what we are fighting for.

Subscribe now

I’ve heard many activists and organizers say this in the context of Black liberation (Monique Melton), climate justice (Pattie Gonia), and more: Doom and gloom can only sustain us for so long. When we use joy as our motivation to resist and practice rational hope (a term I learned from Eliza Petersen on the Thoughts About Feelings podcast), we do so to wish the same joy upon others. For so long, I’ve struggled between using the many privileges I have for good and partaking in meaningful activism, and understanding that my neurodivergent brain processes information differently and feels much stronger in this climate. That moment on the boat really showed me how to acknowledge my feelings, process them with a mindful moment, and then get back to work.

I absolutely SUCK at taking my own advice, but I will remember my weekend at the lakehouse as a time where I found my calm…in order to fight for a world where EVERYONE can thrive, be free, and be happy.

Consumerism is something that I often think about from an environmental perspective, that comes up in a lot of conversations about climate justice. I don’t want to deny that at all, but today, I am choosing to focus on it from a moral standpoint.

Some of my closest family members are big shoppers, so I grew up doing a lot of it. My aunt, my two oldest cousins, and my grandma, have always offered to take me shopping as an outing. I even went Black Friday shopping with them once, that is, before I realized how effed up that day was. Whenever we went to the mall, I was ALWAYS offered for them to buy me something, more than likely a new outfit or something from Claire’s, which is a DANGEROUS place for me in the best way possible, lol.

Even when I said no, I was coaxed with, “Are you sure? I can’t buy you just one little thing?” More often than not, after a lot of convincing, I gave in anyway (damn you, Claire!). I felt bad at first, but then I was met with “Don’t worry, Katie, it’s okay to buy things for yourself!”

Of course, I don’t mind treating myself sometimes. As an adult, I sometimes make thoughtful purchases that I feel help me express myself and my interests. But as I get older, and learn to live a life free of constant, rapid consumption, I realize that material things: clothes, accessories, and other tchotchkes, are only a small part of what shapes my values. Miniscule, in fact.

Subscribe now

I want to heal myself enough to realize that not every problem can be solved with a new “trinket”. To learn to live with less and be satisfied with what I already have. And sometimes, being satisfied with what I have means the people in my life that I love and the happy memories that I can choose to make for myself, seeking out experiences that bring just as much happiness, if not even more, than shopping. Even when I go to a thrift store just to browse, I want leaving empty handed to be as much of a problem as stubbing my toe.

In my last newsletter, I mentioned how being whimsical and fun is not about a perfectly curated Instagram feed or a house full of all the things that influencers have told us to buy. Whimsy and joy, my friends, are a state of mind! Sometimes, the novelty of frivolous purchases only lasts so long. Memories, however, can last forever. And the best part? We don’t have to wait for a Disney vacation or a wedding or Christmas morning to create them. With the amount of small, silly little details and moments I remember, I would say I have much more of those than material possessions, and I would only like to see that number increase. Watching a bird take a bath in a puddle. My cat sleeping in the corner of my dining room as I type this. Bursting out laughing over the most mundane, ridiculous things. Making friendship bracelets at my friends’ house, and we only had enough letter beads to spell out “DO” on a bracelet. People audibly singing “How Deep Is Your Love” by The Beegees on the beach, and us cheering them on. Doing a random act of kindness for someone else or helping those in need, because EVERYONE deserves that same joy. Doesn’t all that sound so much more pleasant than drowning in “stuff”?

Let’s end this post in a fun way! My question to you, friends, is this: What is a small, simple moment that you vividly remember, that means more to you than a material possession ever could? You can think about it and reflect on it yourself, or comment below so I can read it!

Until then, stay joyful and keep smiling!

I, like a lot of other 2000’s kids, miss when my world was filled with whimsy and fun. We played outside, made believe, and used our imaginations and creativity instead of staring at our phones for hours a day. Corporate minimalism didn’t take over every store at the mall (Build a Bear bathtubs, anyone?). Our biggest concerns were if the stuffed animals that fell off our beds at night got hurt or how much money the Tooth Fairy left under our pillows.

Like many other kids who had the privilege of doing so, many of my happiest childhood memories took place at my grandparents’ house. I was there last week, looking through childhood photos, and one particular photo of me as a little girl, outside with pigtails in my hair, presumably blowing bubbles, awakened something within me.

I often look back on my childhood with a sense of unease as a late-diagnosed autistic girl who spent so much time masking, but uncovering this photo gave me a sense of hope. I felt an urge, stronger than ever, to get that youthfulness and magic back, so I could continue feeling the way I did in that photo as a little girl, and how big me felt looking back at it.

Subscribe now

I’m not here to give a tutorial, so to say, on exactly how you can accomplish this, because there really is no one way to do so. But I will say this: the best way I’ve found is to just be silly, have fun, and let my imagination run wild. That might not seem like much help. Heck, I’m still practicing how to do this; it’s harder than it sounds! But it doesn’t matter if my life is romanticized as perfectly as an Instagram photo shoot, it’s always worth a try.

I like to tap into what little Katie liked to play and create and then expand upon it, while also knowing that there are dreams that are never too late to make come true. Even before I became a writer, I always had a story in my head, and I still do! I love making up fun little stories about things I see out and about that make me smile. Maybe a fairy uses a daisy or a polynose as an umbrella, or the top of an acorn as a hat (anyone else’s lore start with the Disney Fairies movies?). Maybe mermaids like to collect shells under the sea to share with their friends, just like we humans do when we go to the beach. When I see a cool house on the street, I imagine what sort of magical things might be happening inside!

In this age, to say it’s not easy to do so would be an understatement, but putting down the phone is also a big part of preserving the magic. Of course, I didn’t have one as a tot, but knowing that I still found ways to entertain myself would put a Gen Alpha kid in a coma. I want to experience more things just because they are fun and silly, not solely for an Instagram pic that boosts my ego. Social media is good at making us feel like we always have someone to impress. Sure, there are some creators out there who can inspire me to embrace what I love, but the rest is all up to me! If I can find time to scroll my life away, I can find time to color and put stickers on my Build A Bear house box, visit the fish tank in the children’s room at the library, admire the plants in my garden, reorganize and line up the dolls on my dresser, or write my next poem about something as simple and ridiculous as not being afraid of bees, or the emotions I feel looking through my high school yearbook.

Think of the line from Mary Poppins, “In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun”. Whimsy is not about being endlessly flawless, it’s about finding that element of fun wherever it exists. Our whimsy is and will always be there for us, if we know where to look.

I can’t wait to keep looking for more of my own whimsies…because I know little me will be excited to find them again. ♡

If you have ever wondered what you would have done during the eras you read about in history books when atrocities happened, you are doing it now. Please read, when you are in the headspace to do so, and take action in any way that you can.

Fight Against ICE and Show Up For Immigrant Communities

If you haven’t been keeping up with the news, ICE has detained almost 3,000 people in LA. Let that sink in. Trump has also ordered thousands of National Guard troops to tear gas and FIGHT AGAINST protestors for standing up for what is right. If you’d like more information, click here.

From elementary school graduates to a high school volleyball player, ICE has not been stopping. Most of the people taken under their custody have ZERO. CRIMINAL. RECORD.

I’m not gonna sugarcoat it- I AM DISGUSTED. Anyone with a beating heart should agree that this is beyond unacceptable and cruel. If you are silent in the face of this horror, this STATE SANCTIONED TERROR, you are complicit in it. Standing idly by allows more people to be taken for no good reason other than a war on brown people. Here are some things you can do:

• Make sure you KNOW YOUR RIGHTS, and make sure your community does, too. Watch these videos from ACLU.

• Read this article from American Friends Service Committee about how to show up for your immigrant neighbors as an American citizen.

• Sign this petition to denounce the LA ICE raids. (thank you to Laurie Woodward Garcia for bringing this to my attention).

• Sign this petition to ABOLISH ICE.

• Call your reps and tell them to stand up for immigrants’ rights. You can check my feed to see the post from “Messages From Mayday” that I restacked about how to do so.

• Donate and volunteer your time at your local immigrants’ rights organizations. If you’re in New York, check out CARECEN.

• Reach out to your local schools to see how they are protecting students at risk. (I hate that I even have to say this).

Pride is Not Just A Party, It Is A PROTEST.

This past weekend, I attended Pride as an ally (though I use that word for lack of a better term, because it really is the least we can do). While I was happy to show up and support the LGBTQ community, especially in this political climate, I knew deep down that just marching in a Pride parade in solidarity isn’t enough. Not long after, I came across a TikTok by a non-binary creator about how they wished this year’s pride was less “party” and more “protest”.

Fellow cishet folks, especially cis-het white women, I am so serious. We do not get to show up at Pride festivals wearing rainbow tshirts, waving flags, and gawking at drag queens if we are not SHOWING UP LOUDLY for our LGBTQ community members. Businesses, you don’t get to put rainbow flags in your windows for one weekend in June without shutting down anti-LGBTQ rhetoric you hear in the workplace. And I better not see any of my fellow cishet “allies” post a rainbow “Love is love” graphic without acknowledging that the FIRST PRIDE WAS A RIOT AGAINST THE POLICE, LED BY A BLACK TRANS WOMAN. Queer and trans people and drag artists put their lives on the line for THEIR LIBERATION, not so straight people can wear glitter on their faces and bring their dogs in a rainbow bandana.

Last time I checked, we are living under…FASCISM!!!! Queer and trans people are in danger like never before. We can’t just be here for the fun stuff; we have to speak out and show up even when it is uncomfortable.

(Of course, I understand that joy can be a form of resistance, and small gestures can mean a lot. I did enjoy and applaud seeing so many people be their authentic selves and put their creativity on display, especially when that right is being stripped away. I even saw a drag queen I have been following for a while. But at the end of the day, the best thing I can do is to stay in my lane and help spark conversations with those who hold the same privileges that I do about how to do more and better.)

So, here are some actions allies can take under this FASCIST REGIME to support the LGB (emphasis on the T) Q community:

• Donate to Black trans people’s gender affirming care funds, like this one for Zyn. There is also a fundraising bingo on my Instagram @shesinherownlittleworld that you can participate in.

• Educate yourself on the history of Pride, and queer history even before Stonewall.

• Purchase Elle Deran’s Ebook “The Heart of Allyship” to learn how to affirm trans and nonbinary identities.

• Support Drag Story Hour and local drag artists, but remember to do it intentionally.

• Shut down any anti-LGBTQ rhetoric that you hear, anywhere, from anyone.

• Learn correct terminology, pronouns, and more. If you are cis, share your pronouns with others!

• I’ve heard it said that allies are indeed welcome at Pride, but beyond partying, show up at protests and rallies if you are able!

• I know you’ve heard this one so much, but call your reps, especially your local lawmakers. Show up at town halls and school board meetings.

• Pay the LGBTQ creators that you learn from, especially if they are Black, Indigenous, trans, disabled.

• And please, for Pete’s Sake- INCLUDE THE T IN LGBTQ!!!!!!

General Actions

• Attend your local No Kings rally or protest this Saturday, June 14, if you are able.

• Join the Messages From Mayday Discord server for actions and to connect with those in your state/communities.

• Join The People’s Sick Day Discord server and learn about The People’s Sick Day initiative.

If anyone has any additional resources/action items they would like to add, I welcome them. I sincerely hope that you all will utilize these resources, talk about what’s happening, and take action.

To my immigrant and LGBTQ friends, family, and readers- I am sending you all my love, in the form of words and action. Your communities deserve better. This page will always demand better for you.

Everyone else- take a breath, and get to work. Every small action helps.

Letting go of the expectation that I have to write for everyone but myself, and feeling the freedom and excitement of choosing what ideas I want to share, is the most healing part of all. Unlearning this expectation has been quite a journey, one that I am still on, and probably will still be on for a very long time.

Enter: years of constant people pleasing.

People pleasing is a hard habit to kick. We are all taught from a young age the importance of caring for others and not just doing unto ourselves. In the past, I’ve had the tendency of taking this sentiment way too “all or nothing”, and quite frankly, I still do sometimes. Either you pour all your heart and soul into others, or else you’re selfish and stubborn (and that’s BAD!).

I was the girl who raised her hand for every question in math class, even if I didn’t know the answer fully. I felt bad my teachers were not seeing enough participation and I wanted to be the one to impress them. When my parents signed me up for theatre camp as a kid, I “happily” obliged for six summers. I didn’t have the guts to tell them that I’d much rather be doing anything other than perform in a cabaret show on a Friday night, because that would be rude after all the cash they shelled out, or disrespectful to my theatre teachers who wanted us showing our utmost enthusiasm every day.

It feels absurd knowing there was ever a time in my life where I had such a lack of a sense of self that I thought I only existed to please others…and not only that, I even tried to force others to do so. I shamed people for not dressing up for spirit week in eighth grade, not cheering at pep rallies, or not smiling on stage. I remember a conversation I had with my old therapist about this: “I can be me, they can be them”. What I realized now is…they already knew how to be them. It was I who didn’t know how to be me.

Subscribe now

So, where have I gone from here? Well, I should preface by saying that I am very much not in a perfect place by any means, and I honestly don’t think I ever will be…and that’s okay. Unlearning perfectionism is the first step in this tedious process. I very much still do have those moments when I worry that people are depending on me to be their loudest supporter, even when I can’t or don’t want to. The good news is, though…I certainly believe it a lot less now. Do I still love to be there for the people in my life and cheer them on? No doubt about it. But I’ve learned to go about it in a much more genuine way, and I’ve chosen to surround myself with understanding people who want the best for me.

And, I’ve actually developed a sense of self! I’ve given myself a lot more time to explore my interests and figure out my needs and boundaries. I’ve also learned that there is no right or wrong way to have a good time, and however I choose to enjoy myself is valid. It’s okay to pick and choose what parts of something I enjoy. It’s okay to feel totally comfortable in some places and to not want t be caught dead in other. I don’t have to want to do anything. And when I let myself feel all these emotions and sensations, I understand that everyone has their own unique profile, too, and I’m less likely to judge.

So, maybe I am still a little bit of a people pleaser. But I sure am glad I’ve learned to include myself as part of “people”!