I’m excited about this blog post! Recently I was nominated for a “Get to Know Me” post by my friend Melody, whom I met at the BlogConnect Conference in April (shout out to the PHL Bloggers). It’s just a fun way to get to know me beyond just my About page.

Keep scrolling for some random facts about me, be sure to check out the bloggers I’ve nominated at the bottom & just for fun, comment 3 things about yourself. I’d love to hear them!

What inspired you to start blogging?

Fun fact: I had another blog before I had Ampersand! When I studied abroad in Italy during the summer after my sophomore year of college, I started a blog (Summer in Siena) to keep my family & friends up to date with all my Italian adventures (read: a lot of gelato). I’ve always been a writer so keeping a travel blog seemed natural, but I didn’t anticipate how much I would grow to love it. Fast-forward a couple months into my junior year of college when I launched Ampersand. It’s definitely grown & changed since I’ve started, but that’s the beauty of blogging–it can be whatever you want it to be.

Where is your favorite place to eat in your city?

Ugh that’s such a hard question. Philly has such an underrated food scene. I’m all about brunch (obviously) so I love Bud & Marilyn’s, Parc, Mission Taqueria, FARMiCiA & The Gaslight. I make it a point to try new brunch places around the city & have a small section of Ampersand dedicated to Brunch Reviews (under the Eat & Drink tab!) Beyond that, for dinner and/or drinks, I’m obsessed with El Vez, Lolita, The Dandelion Pub, Sampan, Little Nonna’s & Tria.

Where did you grow up and where do you live now?

I grew up in North Jersey in a small town (forever a Jersey Girl who knows a good bagel & slice of pizza) & now I live in Philly.

What did you study in college?

I went to Villanova University (#gocats) & studied Communication with specializations in PR and journalism, with a minor in psychology. I’m actually in grad school now (still at Nova, can’t stay away) working on a graduate certificate in organizational communication & leadership.

If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?

Siena, Italy (see above!)

What was your favorite hobby as a child?

I used to play make-believe a lot. And I was obsessed with the Disney Princesses. So often time you would find me pretending to be Ariel (even though I’m the furthest from being a redhead!) or Belle (more realistic). I also loved coloring (but I’m not artistic now) & always, always reading (still holds true).

Where is your favorite place to shop?

For everything & anything? Target. If you read this blog enough, you know that I love love love Target. But what millennial girl doesn’t? For clothing, I swear by Banana Republic’s dress pants, most things from J. Crew, H&M, Express and occasionally Francesca’s.

What is your favorite holiday or time of the year?

My favorite holiday is definitely Christmas (I start listening to Christmas music RIGHT after Thanksgiving or a little before…), but my favorite time of year is the summer or the month of October.

What are your goals as a blogger?

To write content that resonates with people. It doesn’t matter if I’m writing about a 5-minute makeup routine or discussing how timing is everything or how to let go, I hope what I post affects someone in some way, and they can relate to it.

What is something unique about you that others may not know?

I’m left-handed! A lot of my good friends didn’t know that until recently, believe it or not. And my first name, Kasia, is Polish (pronounced “Kasha”) & it means “Karen” which is my mom‘s name! So I’m sort of named after my mom (who’s the biggest Ampersand fan ever).

As for my bloggers I’d like to nominate: You, Me & DC, Large Cold Brew, Chloe’s Cravings, Bianca Blogs and Maya Ashley Blog.

Your questions are:

1. Why/when did you start blogging?
2. What’s one of your favorite posts to date? 
3. Favorite place to write (& what are you drinking?)
4. What’s your favorite meal? 
5. Favorite hobby/what you like to do in your free time? 
6. What’s your dream job? 
7. Best memory from college? 
8. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
9. Best pick-me-up when you’re having a bad day?
10. Random fact that your readers may not know about you!

Hope you liked getting to know me a bit! Leave me some fun facts about yourself below &.