The Life of Katie!

From celebrating Easter with the family, to starting to get into the groove of going back to church again, to Birthday celebrations galore, to redecorating at home, and everything in between, on my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!), I have been sharing ALLL the excitement. Recently, these past couple of weeks, there’s been A LOT of excitement when it comes to the life of Katie!

  • Celebrating Easter Sunday with my family – A few weeks back, Easter Sunday rolled around and I got to celebrate with my family altogether for the first time in a few years. The last time we were altogether was before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019. My Mom hosts every year a beautiful Easter brunch. In 2019, there were 35+ people in attendance at her Easter brunch. Even though there wasn’t nearly as many as 35 people this year, it was still a very special meal as my step siblings were in town from their respective colleges in West Virginia and Pennsylvania and we were just all simply together. We even had an Easter egg dying party the Friday before, too. I got to wear my gorgeous Easter hat (which, by the way, was a ribbon tied in a bow around a hat which were both from The Dollar Tree!). Blessings all around!
    Going back to church again – After a few trials and error, I have finally gotten in the groove of going back to church every Sunday. Over the Easter weekend, my Papa and I went to an Easter Egg Hunt hosted at my church for our local community. We also went to church there for an Easter Service on Easter Sunday. Going back to church on both occasions that weekend, I saw a lot of folks that I hadn’t seen in years from within my church community. Fun fact: I was SUPER involved in church youth group in high school! Seeing everyone again made me miss those many memories I had at my church and has made me since strive to make a habit of going every Sunday that I am around to go.
  • My Birthday Weekend! – This weekend is my Birthday weekend. And, in case you didn’t already know, around here, I live my life like everyday is a party and everyday is meant to be celebrated. Everyday is a blessing! That being said, I am oh so blessed to be able to have two of my very best friends – Hannah and Alanna – come to visit me for my Birthday Weekend up here in the Washington, DC area. We have some super duper fun Washington, DC plans this weekend, too. But, most importantly, I am super excited to simply see them and spend time with them. I truly value their friendship!
  • Office Redecoration – Currently, I am redoing my office space/Lilly *Pulitzer* lounge! My company just announced that we are able to work remotely full time if we so choose to even beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. My company is EVEN switching to hoteling full-time. And, confession, my office space is a HOT MESS that needs a makeover REALLLL bad. On my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!), I shared an Instagram Reels showing off my brand-new Lilly Pulitzer wall decor – complete and all with *maybe a few* holy grail printed pieces. This weekend, I plan to share my updated office redecoration on the blog!! But, in the meantime, check out my office space pre-redecoration: https://pinkchickadee.com/2021/07/25/my-office-space-reveal/#/
  • My Favorite Looks from recent times! – And, now, I am going to share some of my many favorite looks from recent times 🙂

XOXO – Katie <3

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When The Sistine Chapel Came to the Washington, DC Area!

Flashback to July 4, 2018. It is a hot and humid day in Rome, Italy. I am wearing a long sleeve white top, tassel earrings, and pink capri pants with lobsters printed on them (courtesy of Crown & Ivy sold at Belk!). The subway is crammed to the max like none of us have ever seen before in our lives. I clutch my then-brand-new pink Italian leather crossbody to my chest. I am walking with my classmates and professors on our group outing to The Vatican (which is a WHOLE other country!!). We, then, get to The Vatican. We get to our tour and, low and behold, it is just as crammed and hot and sweaty and humid as the subway was in Rome. Every single tourist and their sister and brother and Aunt and Uncle times 200 is there. While I feel extremely blessed to have seen The Vatican and the iconic paintings within the Sistine Chapel, I felt miserable and disappointed at the hot and humid environment packed to the rim full of people. So, when I heard that an interactive exhibit of Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel paintings was coming to the Tysons Corner Center Mall in Tysons, Virginia, I knew I needed to book a ticket pronto!

Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel exhibit was held at Tysons Corner Center located in Tysons, Virginia – a Northern Virginia suburb of Washington, DC notorious for its booming business district and malls (one of which is Tysons Corner Center where it was held!). I happened to find the tickets on Facebook via an advertisement which is typical for me to find EVERYTHING nowadays – haha! – and then went into the Fever app (the same app where one can purchase tickets to an interactive Vincent Van Gogh exhibit, Claude Monet exhibit, or iconic Netflix’s Bridgeton Ball in their own respective cities across the United States) to order my solo ticket. Then, my adventure awaited.

Although this Sistine Chapel exhibit isn’t still on display at the Tysons Corner Center at this exact moment that I am writing this blog post, it still felt like a dream come true. I personally didn’t stay for long, as I have seen many of these works of art either in real life or very similar works of art when I studied abroad in Tuscany, Italy and London, England and traveled to Paris, France to see ALLLL of the extraordinary works of art including the iconic Mona Lisa at the Louvre. But, it was still super amazing to see the several works of art that I had barely gotten to enjoy while visiting The Vatican amongst the sweltering heat and crowds. While at Tysons Corner Center, I got to view every single painting that I saw at a distance within a sea of people up close. It was a pretty amazing experience if you ask me.

Having studied abroad in Italy, it was so nice to see a touch of Italy here in the United States and especially in my hometown of Washington, DC.

XOXO – Katie <3

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The FREE Smithsonian After Hours Parties You Don’t Want to Miss!

So, if you’re living in the Washington, DC area, then you don’t want to miss this FREE opportunity! The Washington, DC’s Smithsonian is notorious for its free museums that boast of variety of historical and cultural exhibits, including paintings by Claude Monet and Vincent Van Gogh, portraits of all of the United States Presidents, the Hope Diamond, and a collection of all of the Inaugural gowns worn by almost every United States First Lady. The Smithsonian’s museums are also ALL free to the general public. BUT, what you may not know is that the Smithsonian offers FREE events to the general public after hours, too. A few weeks ago, my good high school friend Wyatt and I went to the Smithsonian’s National Gallery of Art’s FREE Flowers After Hours After Party.

For the National Gallery of Art’s After Hours events, look no further than here: https://www.nga.gov/calendar/community-events/nights.html

On my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!), I posted a few weeks back about the National Gallery of Art’s Flowers After Hours event. The National Gallery of Art is one of my favorite Smithsonian museums, as it is the home to paintings by both Vincent Van Gogh and my favorite artist Claude Monet (whose historic home I visited in Giverny, France while studying abroad in London). The museum was DECKED out in a beautiful array of floral arrangements from head to toe. There was a bar with drinks and snacks at a price for attendees to enjoy a sip as they admire ALLL the gorgeous art work. Essentially, all attendees could admire the beautiful artworks while enjoying a drink or a snack (or two!).

The Smithsonian’s After Parties are usually free for all, but you do have to sign up first tickets online in advance. Admission to get in is offered all throughout the duration of the event, with lots of people arriving right at its event start time. I usually check the Smithsonian’s website for all of their many FREE events: https://www.si.edu/events

As for me and Wyatt, we ended up arriving on the early end (right when the doors opened at 6pm) and leaving about an hour later. We, then, got beer and burgers nearby at MatchBox in Metro Center and caught up on life.

Personally, I most definitely want to check out even more of the Smithsonian’s FREE After Hours Parties, especially as they reopen after COVID-19 put literally everything to a halt. I, especially, want to check out events at other Smithsonian museums, too.

XOXO – Katie <3

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My Go-To On-The-Go Makeup & Hair Products

After many trials and errors over the years aka in middle school (CRINGE!!!!), I had *finally* in high school of all times laid on my go-to make routine. Confession: I didn’t really slay down my hair routine until my working from home of ALLLL the things days, but here we are. My go-to hair and makeup routine takes me LESS THAN 20 minutes to do on any given day, making it easy to do on a whim when plans and work meetings that require the Zoom video on arise and *of course* for any day which for me is on-the-go. My regular content shoots including my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!), Facebook, Pinterest, and of course here on the blog ALWAYS involve this routine and on-the-go makeup and hair products that I plan to share today, too.

*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.*

Now, before I get into it all, I want to pre-phase that not each of these products will work for every person. What works for me will not work for somebody else and their lifestyle, even *yes, even* if it is on-the-go! My go-to on-the-go makeup and hair products work for me and my combination dry and oily skin, and fine, naturally wavy hair that I rarely style – well, unless it’s with my Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer!!! Read more on my Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer here: https://pinkchickadee.com/2022/04/14/the-one-step-hair-dryer-that-i-love

Makeup Products

So, for makeup products, I was successfully able to find *almost* all of my favorite makeup products that I use on-the-go for my under 20 minute hair and makeup routine. Sadly, the pink highlighter that I wear the most from Kat Von D was out of stock and is nowhere to be found. However, I found a similar highlighter palette from Too Faced – my frequently-used highlighter and eyeshadow palette brand (along with Tarte, L’Oreal, and CoverGirl). I also use A BUNCH of Araceli eyeshadow palettes – they’re GREAT for a quick and easy pick me up – and Ciate London watermelon burst-scented facial primers and setting sprays brought to you by my Ipsy subscription that gives me ALLL the goodies!!!

Hair Products

When it comes to my hair, I regularly use my John Freida Sheer Blonde shampoo and conditioner, which I’ve been using since … drumroll please … middle school! I also recently fell in love with my Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer for styling. And, not to mention, I ALWAYS live off of my dry shampoo (I have multiple favorite brands) and Dove Extra Hold Hairspray.

Happy hair and makeup inspiration!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Hill House Nap Dress Dupe Shopping Guide

***Please note that this Hill House Nap Dress Dupe Shopping Guide will be updated and recirculated periodically to reflect the most up-to-date information. This guide was most recently updated as of April 2026.***

If you have been following along with some of the latest fashion brands, then you probably know about Hill House. Perhaps, you may have even heard about the “Nap Dress Nation” – surrounding Hill House’s well-known Nap Dress. Hill House has designed beautiful Nap Dresses that are classic and timeless. They give off to me preppy, Grand Millennial, and timeless vibes. As much as I love the Hill House Nap Dress (which I review here!) and have multiple Nap Dresses within my closet (see my first purchase here!), the price of it is pretty hefty. Most Hill House Nap Dresses retail for over $150 and upwards of $200 and sometimes even $300. For many people including myself, a dress for $100+ is a lot of money and comes at a pretty hefty price tag. Over the past few years, I have been shopping and browsing around for Hill House Nap Dress dupes and, to my surprise, I saw not one but several Hill House Nap Dress dupes for under $100 and some for under $50. And, I have become OBSESSED with finding several affordable and accessible options for all to be apart of Nap Dress Nation!!

*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.*

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

Hill House Nap Dress Dupe Shopping Guide

This Hill House Nap Dress Dupes Shopping Guide will outline multiple brands that regularly carry dupes. It is worth noting that most of these nap Dress Dupes retail for under $100.

Where To Buy Hill House Nap Dress Dupes

Wrap-Up:

Ever since the Hill House Nap Dress became popular, I have LOVED being apart of Nap Dress Nation! With “Nap Dress Summer (and Spring!)” upon us, I am SO happy that there’s SOOO many accessible options for all of us to enjoy being apart of Nap Dress Nation via Nap Dress dupes. 

XOXO – Katie <3

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I Went to The Bachelor Live in Washington, DC!

If you know me, then you know I am a major major fan of ABC’s The Bachelor franchise. The Bachelor franchise presents shows related to The Bachelor, including its spinoffs The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise that each air on ABC each year. My Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!) also double as a The Bachelor franchise superfine account in my Instagram Stories on occasion – haha! So, you can most definitely say I am a HUGE The Bachelor Franchise fan!!! Needless to say, when I saw that The Bachelor Live sponsored by Kendra Scott was going on tour with former The Bachelorette lead Becca Kufrin and a rotation of Bachelor leads (Justin Glaze from Katie Thurston’s season of The Bachelorette being The Bachelor lead for the Washington, DC show) and coming to Washington, DC’s Warner Theatre, I KNEW I needed to attend!

*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 was scrolling on Facebook on one magnificent day which is VERY typical for me – LOL! – and happened to see that The Bachelor Live tickets were being sold. So, I went onto the website and happened to find a ticket for under $60 in the center of the Orchestra section at the end of an aisle. I also bought a VIP Lounge add-on to avoid the LOOONGGG bar lines for $30 and of course ticket insurance. I posted about it on my Instagram Stories, intending to go solo, and to my surprise my coworker and friend Katherine booked the seat right next to mine so away we went!

The Bachelor Live was such a blast! Essentially, this show is a mini accelerated season of The Bachelor with roses and ALL with contestants being women from the crowd who also purchased tickets themselves. Very entertaining is an understatement of describing the night. There was a lot of photo opportunities, fun merchandise, and LOTS of entertainment all throughout the night. Not to mention, the fact that I got to see former The Bachelorette Becca Kufrin host it all live with a surprise cameo from her boyfriend and Bachelor Nation alum Thomas who surprised her with a sweet Birthday treat (it was her Birthday the night we went, too!!). All in all, very romantic, entertaining, and a blast!

I wore my floral one-shoulder ruffled dress that I got on clearance while in college from Altar’d State. I, then, paired it with my black sparkly Kate Spade crossbody, black Kendra Scott dangling drop earrings, black with gold chain Kendra Scott necklace, and my black rock stud Valentino Rock Stud dupe flats from the Mix No6 brand sold at DSW (however, I got these for $1 at the Philly Aids Thrift Shop when in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania this past September). Since The Bachelor Live was sponsored by Kendra Scott, I HAD to wear my favorite Kendra Scott jewelry pieces! Last but not least, I pulled off a classic Taylor Swift and did a cat eyeliner look and paired it with red lipstick. Needless to say, my outfit was ALL from my closet and I didn’t shop for any of it before the performance.

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Now, I am very very very excited to be able to hopefully go to The Bachelor Live again next year. But, in the meantime, I will link some pieces from my outfit for your shopping pleasure!

XOXO – Katie <3

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The One-Step Hair Dryer That I LOVE

Since I’m publishing this blog post on a Thursday, let’s do a throwback Thursday to when I purchased my new love on a Black Friday Sale at Walmart. This new love of mine is my Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer. On my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee), I post A LOT about the events that I attend within my home base of the Washington, DC area. Many of those events involve me using my Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer!

*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.*

Before purchasing my Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer, I was using my ordinary hair dryer and hair brush to do my own blowouts. I, in fact, did my first-ever solo blowout for my Senior pictures for college graduation (see all of those beautiful photos taken by my lovely friends Hannah and Quinn here: https://pinkchickadee.com/2021/05/06/my-senior-photos-reveal/#/). I got SOOOO many compliments on my hair those days and in those posts, too. I loved having the beautiful hair of a blowout without paying even a penny.

If you know me, then you know that I LOVE a good deal and saving where I can for the same exact thing. I knew I wanted to try this product and purchase it as I LOVE LOVE LOVE getting the look of a blowout, yet I really detest the price of going to the hair salon for one every time I do. At the same time, I SUCK at doing my hair – I have NO hand-eye coordination and have never been gifted when it come to drawing, painting, or even hair styling. So, when I saw it on clearance at Walmart this past Black Friday for under $40, I knew it was a must-buy. My Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer gives me that blowout look and feel but NOT EVEN at the price of going to the Drybar or Hair Salon for a blowout. Similarly speaking, I don’t have to worry about styling my hair with a hot tool that I will 9 times out of 10 loose my grip on. All I got to do is simply sit at my vanity, plug in my Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer, turn it on, and start styling.

The funniest story of when I first purchased this beauty was nothing short of intimidation. I turned on my Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer after plugging it in and then got fearful because of the heat coming from it to have it potentially touch my face. BUT, the best part of it all?! It’s JUST air like any other hair dryer. Unlike your typical curling iron or straightener, the Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer is all air just like any other ordinary hair dryer. My Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer is most definitely an easy-to-use product. All I simply have to do is dampen my hair with a pink spray bottle I got from The Dollar Tree (the Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer works best on damp hair) or blow dry it with a hair dryer until my hair is damp, plug in my Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer, turn it on, and style it. And, BAM! I am looking like a 10/10 and feeling like a 10/10.

Shop my Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer that I LOVE here: https://rstyle.me/+cW79O2Mwf6Gucvl25Q1msA

XOXO – Katie <3

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The Historic Hidden Northern Virginia Gem

The other week, Papa and I went back in time to the 18th century to visit George Mason’s Gunston Hall, located in Lorton, Virginia along the Potomac River just outside of Washington, DC. On my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!!), I have shared a bit about my adventures at Gunston Hall already. A few months ago, I found a Groupon for two tickets/$8.00 to tour a historic Virginia mansion. Best part?! It was located about 15 minutes from my house! It turned out to be the home of George Mason – a Founding Father. BUT, today, I am here to share a bit more about this magnificent historical experience of mine and Papa’s.

So, George Mason was an influential player in the creation of the Bill of Rights. He was also at the Constitutional Convention and fought in the American Revolutionary War. Although he may not be as notable as Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, James Madison, or James Monroe to us all today, he made a major impact on our country and with providing equal rights to ALL humans. In fact, within the museum at Gunston Hall, there’s an exhibit placing an emphasis on ALL of the rights that George Mason helped grant fellow Americans, including women, BIPOC Americans, Americans with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ Americans. George Mason may just have been the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg of his time. Indeed, George Mason paved the way for Ruth Bader Ginsburg to pave the way, herself. That exhibit within Gunston Hall’s museum, to me, showcased the importance of the impact that he made and helped create on all Americans, despite his name not being as prominent as others’ within our history textbooks.

Gunston Hall is located about a 25 minute drive from George Washington’s Mount Vernon. Both mansions are located along the Potomac River, which runs through Washington, DC. Historically speaking, ships could come directly to both George Mason’s and George Washington’s homes, bringing in goods from abroad after most likely arriving from abroad in Alexandria, Virginia. Fun fact: Alexandria, Virginia is a Northern Virginia suburb of Washington, DC with the CUTEST Old Town Alexandria in its heart and also located along the Potomac River. Alexandria, Virginia ALSO used to be the United States capital way way way back in the day aka centuries ago! Mount Vernon is located in Mount Vernon, Virginia just South of and around Alexandria, Virginia while Lorton, Virginia is South of Alexandria, Virginia. Lorton, Virginia is right by where I grew up and reside so it’s crazy to think that such a historic gem is nearby!

Unlike George Washington’s Mount Vernon, George Mason’s Gunston Hall is not as well-known. Y’all, I am from the Lorton, Virginia area and hadn’t had been to Gunston Hall in the decades that I have lived here. CRAZY!! Gunston Hall is definitely not as big of a property as Mount Vernon, but it does have some beautiful trails to explore along the Potomac River nearby and a complimentary tour offered every hour or half hour – I forget which since we signed up when we arrived for a tour – HAHA! The mansion was definitely a Grand Millienial like myself’s paradise!!! Not to mention, Gunston Hall has a museum featuring historical significances of George Mason’s time period and emphasizing his pioneering of providing all humans with equal rights here in the United States.

For $8.00 total, I got two tickets to tour a historic mansion, walk its gorgeous grounds overlooking the Potomac River, and visit a museum. While a lot smaller than other historic mansions, George Mason’s Gunston Hall is definitely worth the $8.00 for you and a guest to enjoy a historic afternoon along the Potomac River, admire the gorgeous historical mansion, and learn a few fun facts. It’s a hidden gem for sure that I wish I knew about sooner. My biggest piece of advice is to check Groupon for tickets and get a 3 month voucher, so you can pick a date that works for you or plan ahead on their website. Do whatever suits you fancy, but be sure to have a great time!

For more information on George Mason’s Gunston Hall, check out their website: https://gunstonhall.org

XOXO – Katie <3

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Weekly Menu Round-Up: April 11-15

Well, it’s been a while since I’ve last done a Weekly Menu here on the blog, so here we go! If you follow me on Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee), then you probably see what I cook in the kitchen via my Weekly Menu’s on my Instagram Stories. I definitely feel like the last time I did a Weekly Menu, it created via my HelloFresh subscription. Well, y’all, I have CANCELLED – yes, cancelled – my HelloFresh subscription. Why?! It was a lot of money for a lot of meals that I wasn’t eating given my lifestyle and time-consuming. So, now, let’s get into this week’s menu!

Meal 1: Roasted Chili Line Cod. I found this recipe online (https://fashionablefoods.com/2014/06/27/2014618roasted-chili-lime-cod/) and am SO excited to try it. It not only looks Uber-healthy but also Uber-delicious. So, I will be serving this healthy and delicious-looking creation with roasted broccoli and cauliflower and couscous.

Meal 2: Kale Caesar Salad with Air Fryer Shrimp, Roasted Chickpeas, Cherry Tomatoes, and Croutons. This recipe is actually based off of one I tried when subscribing to HelloFresh and I loved it so so much that I wanted to create my own, more affordable version! I’ve always been a sucker for kale salads too and my local Food Lion grocery store sells a HUGE head of kale for about $1.00. So, I am going to be serving this recipe with soup of all things – haha – if I feel the need to add something on the side though.

Meal 3: Honey Garlic Shrimp with Brown Rice & Roasted Broccoli. I found this recipe (https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/quick-healthy-dinner-20-minute-honey-garlic-shrimp/) for Honey Garlic Shrimp when I saw that my local Food Lion grocery store was having a sale on the shrimp that I like. This recipe consists of soy sauce and honey, so it’s a bit of an Asian fusion dish (which I LOVE!!!!).

With Easter coming up, I am SO excited to be able to celebrate with my family. My Mom is putting together a beautiful Easter celebration meal and we plan to dye eggs just like during my childhood years. Here’s to a great week with LOTS of blessings!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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My Car Shopping Experience + Tips!

These past few weeks have been a blast, especially since I purchased my first big girl purchase – my Volvo S60 T5 Momentum that I named Daisy! Daisy and I have been cruising around town ever since I purchased her, from a road trip to Charlottesville, Virginia to a bunch of drives of I-495 to my office about 45 minutes away from my house and *of course* to my nearby Metro station (Washington, DC’s subway transit system) to go into downtown Washington, DC. If you follow me on Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee), then you have probably seen a peak into my adventures since purchasing Daisy. What people don’t know about my pre-purchasing journey to getting Daisy is that it took me around 6 months to make a car purchase. So, today, I will be sharing ALL the details into my car shopping process, what I learned, and tips – especially in this tough tough tough-to-buy current car market.

*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.*

So flashback to October 2021 and I went on my first-ever car shopping experience. My Papa and I went to a local Honda dealership to test drive some Honda’s. Initially, I wanted to go for an SUV and my two car models that I kept looking at were the Honda CR-V and the Toyota RAV-4. However, when Papa and I got to the dealership, I fell in love with a Sedan Honda model known as the Honda Insight. I loved loved loved the Honda Insight’s huge truck and its small, adorable look. Unfortunately, when we went to the Honda dealership, I wasn’t even able to test drive a car due to the lack of inventory and supply chain issues that still persist to this day (aka April 2022). I did, however, get to sit in that adorable 2022 Honda Insight! Even *yes, even* the car salesmen at the dealership were discouraged by the current supply chain issues. Papa and I left the dealership empty-handed and discouraged.

In October 2021, I was driving a family car which I shared with my step-siblings while they were away at college. I decided then to continue to drive my family car for the time being. I felt hopeless with the idea of purchasing a new car at that time and didn’t want to deal with that tough tough market. On the same token, car prices were skyrocketing. There was little room for negotiation and the prices seen on a car’s sticker at the dealership was the price that you would buy the car for. There was barely ANY room for negotiation or even wiggle room. You were indeed lucky if a couple hundred dollars or less was taken of the price of your new car. So, given these current car market failures and struggles, I felt fearful to even think about starting to buy a car. So, I decided to take a break from the car search.

Initially, for the time being, I decided to focus on a Honda and only a Honda to purchase. BUT, that all changed in March 2022 – a flash-forward y’all – when I started the car shopping process yet again. This time, my Mom and I went back to the same Honda dealership and got to test drive the Honda Accord (Honda Insight’s were REALLY hard to come by then even for a test drive). So, we can all assume that the car market’s supply chain issues persisted into March 2022 and still persist today. The test driving experience was super strange – we only drove a whopping 3 laps around the parking lot. That being said, we left the car dealership and went to another Honda dealership nearby. We test drove the Honda Civic and Honda Insight even on the highway and left empty-handed. I, then, went onto TruCar and started searching for Honda Accord’s since I enjoyed the Honda Accord even with the whopping 3 laps around the parking lot test drive of mine and got price quotes, BUT the prices were sky-high upwards of $40,000 for a new car. $40,000 was definitely out of reach for me when buying a brand-new car. The car prices for the Honda Civic and Honda Insight were ridiculously high, especially for the used models that I test drove yet didn’t fall in love with.

Later that week, my Mom and I started looking into used Volvo’s. For some context, my Mom purchased a used Volvo a few years back and LOVES hers. I also love that sweet white Volvo of hers, too. She has the Volvo S60 T5 Momentum 2017 or 2016. I looked online at cars that were used Volvo’s from 2019 or 2020. It was then that I found an adorable white Volvo S60 T5 Momentum 2019 at a nearby dealership that had been sitting at the lot for over 2 months. I ended up calling the dealership to test drive this car, not even thinking much except that I’ll test drive this car and see if I even like the idea of purchasing a Volvo. Well, when Papa and I showed up at the dealership to test drive this car, I fell head over heels with it. I found the test drive – which was on the highway and through windy roads – to be a great test drive and better than those of my Honda test drives. I sat on the idea of buying this car for a few days, but I knew that I would probably try to pursue purchasing it. A few days later, Papa test drove the car. Then, later that day, Papa and I went back and bought the car! That car is Daisy!!

Papa and I also had a great time at the dealership, too, the other dealerships we went to were trying to force a sale, unlike this dealership that wanted us to get a car that was a good fit for us and also get to know their clients beyond their perspective sale. We even got a few hundred dollars off of the sale price, which was nice, and purchased an extended warranty package aka my biggest concern with purchasing my new car. Since then, I have really enjoyed my brand-new white car. I have always wanted a white car and a week before purchasing my friends made fun of me for wanting a white car – HAHA!!

Car Shopping Tips

When car shopping and making that big, exciting purchase, make sure that you have ALL your ducks in a row when you do so. Trust me, there’s a lot of ducks that have to be put in a row when purchasing a brand-new (or used like myself) car. You want to make sure that you’re well-equipped both financially and safety-wise. These tips helped me when buying my car!

  • Get an auto insurance quote on the exact car model and/or VIN before purchasing it
  • Make sure you’re auto insured BEFORE you take your car off the lot
  • Choose an auto insurance company that you’re comfortable with using
  • Have a set budget in mind that you’re comfortable with (for both down payments and monthly payments)
  • If you don’t have much credit, consider having a cosigner on your car loan, to lower the interest rates
  • Shop around for auto loan interest rates to get the best rate for you
  • Make sure you test drive the exact model and year of the car you’re considering purchasing and DO NOT drive it for a whopping 3 laps around the parking lot before deciding that’s the one you’re going to buy
  • Be willing to negotiate on car purchases and perhaps bring someone who may be more experienced than yourself
  • Make sure your car has a decent warranty before purchasing it, even if that is an add-on purchase
  • Lastly, make sure that the car you purchase is the RIGHT CAR for YOU 🙂

In the meantime, I have linked the my outfit details below!

Happy car shopping/car shopping learning!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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