Louisville, Kentucky Dining: March 2023

To both me and my Mom’s surprise, Louisville, Kentucky is a HUGE foodie city! Pretty much every place we ate (our favorites I am sharing in this blog post) was really incredible. The people of Louisville are SO beyond friendly and the food there is incredible – a melting pot of cuisines, too. On my Instagram about a month ago (follow me @_thepinkchickadee), I shared on my stories about ALL of the places that my Mom and I dined at while in Louisville, Kentucky (read my experience at Churchill Downs here!) dining out AND today I am talking about our favorite spots!

I am a BIG fan of getting reservations at restaurants as I am a HUGE planner. When in Louisville, Kentucky dining especially on the weekends, the locals and visitors alike love to dine at many of these spots listed as they are popular. Mom and I made reservations at each of these spots with the exception of the bourbon-heavy places aka The Old Seelbach Bar and Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co which were both easy walk-in’s. Luckily, many of the restaurants mentioned do take reservations and offer some pretty great Kentucky charm while you dine there, too!

For more United States travel inspiration, check out my Exploring 50 States expedition page.

Where We Ate:

The Old Seelbach Bar (500 South 4th Street)

The Old Seelbach Bar is located in the iconic Old Seelbach Hilton Hotel AND was F. Scott Fitzgerald’s favorite bar when he was in Louisville! The Old Seelbach Bar is an early 1900’s bar which features an expansive bourbon collection and bar snacks. People from all across the world flock to this bar when they come to Louisville. Mom and I enjoyed bourbon cocktails with a window-side table to admire downtown Louisville. At the same time, we checked out the Old Seelbach Hilton Hotel, which attracted some of the most well-known gangsters including Al Capone who came to parttake in poker games. The Old Seelbach Hilton Hotel is STUNNING and offers so much 1900’s charm.

Bar Vetti (727 East Market Street)

Mom and I met up with some of her friends here before they headed back to the Washington, DC area for brunch. Bar Vetti’s brunch was AMAZING! We enjoyed unlimited coffee and to die for food – I got a sandwich with prosciutto and arugula and home fries on the side. The staff was super friendly and the atmosphere was GREAT and gorgeous, too. In addition to brunch, Bar Vetti has a delicious Italian dinner menu AND is located on East Market Street right by some incredible small Kentucky-owned businesses.

Holy Grale (1034 Bardstown Road)

Holy Grale was Mom’s and I’s FAVORITE place that we dined while in Louisville!!! Holy Grale is located in an old church-turned restaurant. Inside the restaurant, you can see A TON of the unique touches and charm of the building’s history as a church. While the building was restored into what it is now aka Holy Grale, you can still see so much of what it was back in the day. Mom and I split cauliflower gnocchi and a kale salad and each got the house beer. The staff are super friendly and told us A TON about Louisville and the history of Holy Grale! I have always wanted to dine in an old church building so getting to dine at Holy Grale was a dream come true.

Agave & Rye (426 Baxter Ave)

Agave & Rye offers traditional Mexican street favorites along with some pretty unique tacos (such as lobster tacos!!). While a chain with locations across Kentucky and Ohio, I felt as if Agave & Rye were just a one-location place. I got a mac & cheese taco while Mom got the lobster taco. Each taco is filled to the rim and super filling on its own. At the same time, I CANNOT forget to mention how gorgeous the bar at Agave & Rye was and the murals on ALL the walls of the restaurant. Our waiter was super friendly, too!

Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co. (120 North 10th Street)

Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co. is a family generations-owned distillery in Louisville. The staff were super friendly and they have two rescue cats who live there and are spoiled full-time! Their bourbon is authentically made in-house in much smaller batches than some of the other nearby Kentucky bourbon distilleries. However, their quality is bourbon is hard to beat. Mom and I did a guided tasting where we each got to try a flight of different bourbons of our choosing AND learn how bourbon is made and came to be along with the history of the family that still owns Kentucky Peerless Distillery!

Jack Fry’s (1007 Bardstown Road)

Jack Fry’s is one of the most well-known restaurants for fine dining in Louisville! Opened in 1933 by Jack and Flossie Fry, the restaurant has become a Louisville icon offering a high-end historic feel with Southern fare and cocktails. You truly feel as if you went back in time! I got a Mint Julep and their burger and Mom and I split the shrimp and grits which were some of the best that I’ve had! The bar, atmosphere, staff, and all around vibes were amazing!!! The best part?! Mom and I met the sweetest couple who had been married for 60+ years who spoke so highly of Jack Fry’s and are a true testament to true love as we were leaving – so beautiful!!

Wrap-Up:

I LOVE Louisville is an understatement! The people there were so friendly and their food was seriously so incredible. If I ever go back, I would literally just go to eat and chat with the locals while doing so as Louisville, Kentucky dining is wonderful!

XOXO – Katie <3

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A Unique Perspective at Churchill Downs!

Ever since I was in high school, I had always wanted to visit Churchill Downs! Coincidentally, on the same token, I had wanted to visit Kentucky since I was in elementary school singing the lyrics “I’m going to Kentucky and I’m going to the fair” on repeat on the playground. SO, when my Mom and I made it to Louisville, Kentucky where I visited her to explore the city after her conference there, we both KNEW that we had to go to Churchill Downs! While I had expected a very formal showy showy tour of Churchill Downs, my Mom who booked the tickets opted for the stables tour, where we got the more authentic tour of Churchill Downs and truly got a unique perspective of the place and the people who work countless hours to make it happen.

For more United States travel inspiration, check out my Exploring 50 States expedition page.

Churchill Downs is apart of the Kentucky Derby Museum – the place that plays homage to the historic significance of the Kentucky Derby and horse races at Churchill Downs. Along with our Barn and Backside Tour tickets, we got museum admission – all for $45/person. Click the link to book your ticket, too: https://www.derbymuseum.org/plan-a-visit/tours/winter-season-barn-and-backside-tour

My Mom and I are ALWAYS big fans of learning about the unique cultural aspects of different places AND the Churchill Downs Barn and Backside Tour (we did the Winter season one since we went in early March). Our tour guide was a staffer at Churchill Downs who works in the stables herself with the horses. On the tour, we learned that many of those who work at Churchill Downs live at the stables, to be close to and tend to the horses before and during racing season. We saw the stables where winning horses have lived during their time at Churchill Downs (there are plaques to honor each Kentucky Derby winning horse at their stable!!), including the stall that Secretariat called home! We also saw some of the apartments, dormitory-style homes, church, and academic building that the community of Churchill Downs staff live and work at. One of my favorite things learned on the tour is that all employees get access in the academic building to free certifications, United States citizenship assessments/test prep, and tutoring for their kids. The employees go to church on Monday (I think!) to mesh well with their work schedule at the stables. Mom and I both learned SO much and truly got an authentic taste into the life and culture on the Backside of Churchill Downs.

Our tour guide, being a Churchill Downs staffer, provided my group and I with a unique lens into life at Churchill Downs. Our tour guide grew up with parents working at Churchill Downs before she, herself, decided to follow in their footsteps. She is super passionate about the work that she does, despite the long and countless and sleepless hours that she has put into make iconic horse races like the Kentucky Derby and MANY others during horse race season at Churchill Downs and it truly showed. On top of horse race season, our tour guide ALSO does tours to show the place that she loves and calls her home. What our tour guide gave me and Mom and the rest of our group was the weight of how much work is put into making horse races like the Kentucky Derby and many others happen every year. There are SO many people who put in countless hours doing the “less glamorous” work to make horse races appear as magical as they look. It’s much more than just wealthy people putting down their money on which of their horses will win the race – it is passion, a love for horses, and countless hours of hard work. I hope more people can see and learn this, too.

Along with a touring the stables at the Backside of Churchill Downs, Mom and I also got to see the horse racing tracks which was SO cool (!!!) and check out the Kentucky Derby Museum that we had admission included for. The Kentucky Derby Museum had some beautiful horse portraits and stories on the history of the Kentucky Derby. My favorite part of the Kentucky Derby Museum was watching the film “The Greatest Race” – which is 18 minutes full of being at the center of the epic Kentucky Derby. You see ALL the hard work that goes into making the Kentucky Derby happen and the emotions that go into it all. Having done the Backside Barn and Stables tour beforehand, I loved the tribute that this film gave to the people who worked in the backside stables and all the work that they put in year after year into making this event occur.

I am SO glad that I was able to go to Kentucky and see where the Kentucky Derby happened at Churchill Downs! My Mom and I had both always wanted to go and it was such a special time with so many unique perspectives learned.

XOXO – Katie <3

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In My Corporate Queen Era

New season, new era!!! I’m a HUGE Swiftie (Taylor Swift fan) in case you cannot tell :)! If you follow me on Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee), then you have seen a preview into my brand-new Corporate Queen Era with my new look. Yes, YOU heard that right: I *finally* got my hair done and chopped most of it off and went blonde. Trust me, I feel like the Corporate Queen that I AM!

Before I get into the meat of this blog post, I want to thank my amazing hair stylist Yaleena who I have been trusting with my hair for the past 10+ years and in 3 different salons over the years (my Mom goes to her too!) for doing an AMAZING job on my hair!! You can follow her on Instagram @yaleenahairdesign. A fun fact about Yaleena is that she went to high school with my Aunt Amy in Northern Virginia back in the days. Now, she is currently at a hair salon in gorgeous Old Town Fairfax, Virginia just 20 minutes away from my house. THANK YOU, Yaleena <3

2 years ago, I was about to graduate from college. April 2021, I landed my current position at my incredible company in consulting. I started at my company in July of 2021. I LOVE my company and the culture that they thrive on and share with their employees with pride. My company does incredible connection events for networking (two of which I’ve supported in October and in March) with putting on, allows for their employees to pave their own unique career paths and the flexibility to do so, and extraordinary benefits including support for certifications and graduate school along with employees to create their own schedules and have a strong work-life balance. In July, I went to a Washington Nationals baseball game with a BUNCH of coworkers which was a blast. I have also attended several happy hours with coworkers who are Early Career Professionals (like myself!) and with coworkers of all ages and career levels. I have gained a HUGE passion for networking within my company, too. I admire my company and their values very much. Not only do I LOVE the people that I work with on my team (I am full time in the Health Market in an insurance-focused role), but I also LOVE what I do and the benefits that come with it.

One of the biggest parts of my company work that I LOVE is getting to work in the Health Market full time. Very recently, I moved onto a health insurance-related project that I had been on part time along with another project to a full time role on this project. I LOVE that I get to hone in on my skills within my healthcare project and explore different avenues within it, including management, technical writing, data visualization, coding, and policy. I get to learn a ton of different softwares on this project which is great experience. I truly get a GREAT opportunity to dabble in a TON of different aspects pertaining to my project and further develop my skills and expertise. At the same time, I LOVE my teammates. We are a 30 people+ team and everyone is super friendly. Although I don’t work with everyone on the team on a regular basis, I do get opportunities to see them all virtually weekly and have met many of my teammates in-person. I am also blessed to have developed friendships with a few of my teammates who I work closely with, too. I was told by my friend Lorena that I talk about health insurance A LOT – LOL! Needless to say, I am VERY passionate about the work that I do in the Health Market.

Another strong role that I play in my company is through co-leading my company’s Women in Data Community of Practice (COP). Women in Data is focused on facilitating discussions surrounding diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility and all things pertaining to women who are working in and with data at my company along with *of course* discussions surrounding all things related to data, whether it be data science, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), data visualizations, coding, data analytics, and much more. We also have male employees participate in events and present, too, which I think says a ton about my fellow coworkers and it makes me happy. One of my company’s biggest goals is to increase ALL employees’ digital enablement (DE), including knowledge on different aspects within data, which makes it fun to spread the word. We do several fun events, whether it be Brown Bags, networking events, panels, service activities/awareness, and informal chats. ALL very fun. I recently attended an event to kick off my company’s Disability Affinity Group which was incredible for networking and a group that I will be collaborating with when it comes to the data behind disabilities and the growing awareness and need for accessibility. All in all, I LOVE getting to lead a COP as an early career professional and support and empower others within my organization.

My passion project is promoting equity pertaining to women in STEM and people with disabilities JUST in case you didn’t notice from my social media stories already! Talking about career opportunities in STEM with people who may not feel as if they would succeed in a STEM career despite having interests in STEM is a big passion of mine. Unfortunately, women and people with disabilities are less likely to pursue careers in STEM along with the BIPOC community. STEM For Her, a nonprofit I volunteer with and LOVE is striving to change just that. A highlight for me was doing STEM For Her’s onsite social media at their first-ever STEM For Her Day in December 2022. I am also looking to get involved with The Arc of Northern Virginia, a nonprofit focused on empowering people with disabilities, including participating with Papa in their run/walk 5K in June at a nearby park. I also send out A BUNCH of professional development and networking events to my friends, too. I definitely want to share even more on the blog about this passion of mine, too!

Currently, I am on the leadership track which those I work with fully support. I do not know exactly what leader I would like to be, but I love the opportunities and options that my company has to offer. At the same time, I want to continue to volunteer and maybe serve on a nonprofit board someday. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility is a big interest of mine which I get to see in my project work daily. I plan to get professional certifications, including one in Human-Centered Design this October. In a few years, I have aspirations to get an MBA at a local Washington, DC area program part time while working. I am also looking at programs in leadership focused on young professionals in the near-term future (more to come on this!!). A lot of my free time in the evenings is spent at professional development events, whether with Women in Technology (an AMAZING Washington, DC area-based professional society), STEM For Her volunteering, or other networking events. I definitely see myself staying in the Washington, DC area for my career. My company is headquartered in the DMV, I have many opportunities both personally and professionally in this area, and many of my friends and most of my family are nearby (whether in Delaware just a few hours away, Annapolis in Maryland, Northern Virginia, or Philadelphia/New Jersey also a few hours North). Needless to say, I am blessed and lots of great things are to come!

One of the biggest things in my Corporate Queen Era for me will be preventing burnout by setting limits and being more intentional both personally and professionally with my time. It is SO EASY for each of us to get very busy with our work and personal life. We cannot do it all. As much as I dreaded accepting this reality, it is the truth. To be able to accomplish what we set our minds to, we NEED to be able to set limits, make time for our passions, dedicate time to check in with those we love both friends and family, enhance our professional skills and grow in our jobs, seek out new opportunities, and take a vacation on occasion. I have some exciting vacations planned in 2023-2024, including to: San Francisco, Honolulu, Nashville, Boston, Edenton, the Maine coastline, Charlotte, London, Edinburgh, and Dublin! Needless to say, I am very lucky and excited for my Corporate Queen Era AND what is to come!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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My 101 in 1001 Bucket List 6 Month Update!

I have ALWAYS been a sucker for a bucket list! Back in September 2022, I *finally* started my own 101 in 1,001 days bucket list. The 101 in 1,001 bucket list is *surprise* a bucket list where one completes 101 goals in 1,001 days. Today, I am sharing my first-ever update into completing my 101 goals in 1,001 days. Needless to say, I am very proud of how much I have accomplished since kicking off my 101 goals just 6 months ago. Here’s to accomplishing many more goals until June 2025.

Start Date: September 22, 2022 (aka the FIRST Day of Fall and a year post-my undergraduate college years!)

End Date: June 19, 2025 (I’ll be 26 and 4 years post-my undergraduate college years)

Career:

  1. Attend a leadership seminar
  2. Be making a certain salary
  3. Attend an in-person healthcare-related conference
  4. Reach a certain level of leadership within my projects
  5. Join a healthcare-related professional society
  6. Attend a Women in Technology Leadership Awards Gala
  7. Volunteer at STEM For Her Day/other STEM For Her events in relation to promoting company exposure – Ongoing
  8. Host a meet and greet or event with my company and my alma mater, Meredith College
  9. Continue to network within my company and beyond – Ongoing
  10. Attend the Women in Data Science at the University of Virginia conference again
  11. Continue to maintain and create connections with both my coworkers and clients – Ongoing

Education:

  1. Start the part-time MBA application process
  2. Complete a technical writing-related certification
  3. At least plan out when I want to obtain my PMP (Project Management Professional) certification
  4. Complete my company’s Human Centered Design certification – approved to start in October 2023

Personal:

  1. Start attending church more, whether it be Wednesday night activities, Sunday services, or special events
  2. Work on reorganization within my apartment
  3. Vote in-person in an election
  4. Donate blood
  5. Finish watching Gilmore Girls
  6. Paint my dresser hot pink
  7. Decorate a statement book shelf
  8. Buy a new laptop
  9. Adopt a rescue Yorkie
  10. Participate in a local charity walk
  11. Watch a play at my local high school
  12. Watch The Crown on Netflix
  13. Paint my family’s antique lamps
  14. Decorate my apartment with family antique pieces
  15. Start scrapbooking
  16. Start investing and continue to do so
  17. Open a Poshmark shop
  18. Make more intentional purchases when shopping
  19. Read a devotional
  20. Buy and read Reese Witherspoon’s Whiskey in a Teacup
  21. Try Korean BBQ

Relationships:

  1. Visit a vineyard with family
  2. Host a dinner party
  3. Have a fondue night with Papa
  4. Host a Christmas Holiday Tea
  5. Treat my Papa to dinner at The Capital Grille
  6. Host a White Elephant gift exchange
  7. Attend a Meredith College Cornhuskin’ as an Alumnae
  8. Go to a happy hour at a nearby restaurant with friends/coworkers (not planned by my company)
  9. Host a girl’s weekend for 4+ of my friends at my apartment
  10. Host a s’mores bonfire
  11. Plan a family crab feast in Annapolis
  12. Go see a Taylor Swift concert with some of my best friends
  13. Meet up in real life with my fellow influencer/small business owner friends Holly and Lindsay
  14. Join the DAR
  15. Attend a DC Bloggers Event/Meetup
  16. Meet up with DC-area-based influencer friends of mine in real life
  17. Meet up with my cousins Jack and Laura
  18. Reunite with my family and friends that I spent childhood summers up in Maine with
  19. Visit my coworker’s nail salon
  20. Tour the Library of Congress with my Dad
  21. Go to The National Christmas Tree with Papa and Aunt Amy
  22. Decorate Christmas cookies with my friend Sarah
  23. Have a DIY fancy picnic with friends

Travel:

  1. Visit two new-to-me countries
  2. Visit two new-to-me states – 1/2 complete visited Kentucky in March 2023 and visiting California in September 2023
  3. Visit a new-to-me Canadian Province
  4. Plan a girl’s birthday weekend away for my birthday
  5. Visit Charleston again
  6. Explore Uptown Charlotte
  7. Go back to New York City at Christmas time
  8. Attend another one of Papa’s family’s reunions
  9. Visit Papa’s family in Carlisle, Pennsylvania – happening Tuesday 3/28!!!
  10. Visit The Biltmore at Christmas time
  11. Plan a weekend away from our respective hometown’s with my bestie Amanda
  12. Drive myself to visit family and friends in New Jersey/Pennsylvania
  13. Visit my cousin Sabrina in Boston
  14. Visit Natural Bridge State Park, Virginia
  15. Go to New York City for the day with my Aunt Sherri
  16. Take a trip with my bestie Shivani
  17. Visit New Bern, North Carolina
  18. Visit my friend Cassie in her hometown of Winston Salem, North Carolina
  19. Explore my friend Alanna’s hometown of Chapel Hill, North Carolina
  20. Visit St. Michael’s Island, Maryland

Washington, DC:

  1. Attend Capital Pride with my company
  2. Go to a Library of Congress Happy Hour
  3. Visit Georgetown at Christmas time
  4. Explore 3 new-to-me Washington, DC neighborhoods
  5. Picnic at The National Mall
  6. Go on a Potomac River Cocktail Cruise
  7. Go to a National Gallery of Art’s After Hours Event again
  8. Tour the Old Postal Office
  9. Enjoy a High Tea
  10. Tour the White House
  11. Visit the DAR Headquarters/Museum
  12. Visit City Center
  13. Tour Mount Vernon again with my Dad
  14. Eat at Old Ebbitt Grill
  15. Visit MGM National Harbor
  16. Eat at Tupelo Honey
  17. Visit the SCOUT Bags Flagship store on a weekday
  18. Eat at Primrose DC
  19. Go on a Georgetown Canal Cruise
  20. Visit another Embassy (I went to the Jamaican Embassy as a kid!)
  21. Explore Dupont Circle again – happening Sunday 3/26
  22. Experience the Tidal Basin Cherry Blossoms at sunrise

Total Complete/Ongoing: 16

Total Partially Completed: 4

XOXO – Katie <3

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A Shapermint Crew Feature!

I have been lucky enough to work with one of my favorite body confidence brands: Shapermint!! On my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!), I am regularly sharing my top Shapermint picks over time. In case you didn’t know, Shapermint is *none other than* a shape wear brand that promotes body positivity for women of ALL shapes and sizes. So, when Shapermint reached out to me about being featured on their site, I couldn’t let this excellent opportunity go to waste!

Read my article here: https://shapermint.com/blogs/news/shapermintcrewlove-series-interview-38

Shapermint’s mission is ALL about empowering others of ALL shapes and sizes, as the intimates brand sells shape wear in sizes XS-4XL. When I was in middle school back in 2011, I remember reading Seventeen magazine and watching women of all ages and sizes, including celebrities and then-First Lady Michelle Obama speak on accepting their body and learning to love it. The magazine’s features on learning to love all of you was such a beautiful start of a body positivity revolution that has grown since my middle school days. Shapermint is literally a brand taking off on Seventeen magazine’s mission back in 2011 and even before then. Let’s be REAL here: girls are mean. And, we are usually are own biggest critics. SO, that all being said, having an extraordinary brand such as Shapermint featuring women of all shapes and sizes learning to love themselves is such a great thing that I hope continues to expand throughout our world moving forward.

Coincidentally speaking, Shapermint emailed me that my feature on their site the day after International Women’s Day aka March 8. I spent my 2023 aka this year’s International Women’s Day at my company’s headquarters helping put together and panel and reception event to honor this amazing day. It was an incredible event, and I am so proud of each of my colleagues and myself for all our hard work that was put into making this event happen. The theme this year for International Women’s Day is Embrace Equity – meaning how can we make sure that everyone has equitable access to succeed? Everyone’s needs are different in the workforce and so is everyone’s body in what they choose to wear and how they wear things. Shapermint is definitely transforming the world of fashion for ALL beautiful bodies and sizes.

I am SO honored to always speak on body confidence and positivity, especially with the iconic Shapermint brand. I have collaborated with several fashion brands since starting my blog in January 2020, but Shapermint has been one of the most special brands and one of my favorites to work with. It is such a compliment to see my hard work come to light and to be noticed by others. And, sometimes, we do not even know who is noticing us. Case in point: one of my fellow blogger friends got some GREAT exposure for her secondhand content. Little did she know, her page had been featured and recognized as a top secondhand content creator in her own city by a popular secondhand account. You NEVER know who is seeing your hard work, whether it be at work, creating content, or in your personal life. Just keep going!!

Read my article here: https://shapermint.com/blogs/news/shapermintcrewlove-series-interview-38

A special thanks to Lina and the rest of the Shapermint Crew for featuring me on your site via this incredible opportunity. Keep empowering others!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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An Early Bloom

I am a sucker for Spring! A fun fact about me is that I am a Spring Baby – born in May. One of the biggest highlights of Spring since moving back to the Washington, DC area is that there is *none other than* the iconic cherry blossom festival with places ALL around the city and beyond to see these gorgeous blossoms bloom. The Cherry Blossom Festival is a BIG deal for myself and my fellow Washingtonians, alike, along with many who come to visit from around the world. On my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!), I shared a bit on my stories about the early peak bloom of Washington, DC’s cherry blossoms this Spring.

This morning, the National Park Service (NPS) announced that the cherry blossoms are expected to peak on March 22-25 on March 1 and The Washington Post reports that they are expected to peak March 23-29 on February 28. While both of these announcements from NPS and The Washington Post have overlapping dates yet aren’t exactly the same, their predictions are ONLY predictions that one person can go off of. What most people (including myself!) like to do is use the estimated peak bloom dates as a blueprint for planning our adventures to see the cherry blossoms. This year, the National Cherry Blossom Festival is planned for March 20-April 16, 2023. These National Cherry Blossom Festival dates are planned with a wide enough range of dates to both attract visitors from out of town and to ensure that peak bloom is within those scheduled dates. Read more about the National Cherry Blossom Festival and ALL of their events here: https://nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/

What is SO monumental about this year is that we are expecting an early bloom. The other weekend, I was in Raleigh, North Carolina visiting my friends in honor of my best friend Alanna’s Birthday Weekend. Alanna and I went on a walk nearby her house in North Raleigh to see some trees and flowers starting to bloom. It was BEAUTIFUL and I got to take some photos while on our gorgeous walk on that overcast Sunday afternoon. Winter can be a tough time for many of us. The weather is super cold which makes it harder for me to want to do literally anything including going for a walk as the sun also sets before I finish work on a typical day. At the same time, after Thanksgiving and Christmas and New Years, Winter just feels boring, too, as there’s isn’t much to do and it’s a tougher season for businesses and people, alike. Not to mention, as a fellow single lady, Valentine’s Day can sometimes just SUCK and the hype around it isn’t so much fun for me either. However, I do like Galentine’s Day and love all things self love and empowerment. So, that all being said, I am SUPER happy to have an early bloom this year, just like many other people that I know!

Now that the weather is starting to get warmer, I am starting to feel revitalized. I always feel so much refresher and ready for new beginnings when Spring comes, as odd as it sounds. The National Cherry Blossom Festival, to me, is an opening to warmer weather, new beginnings, and a happy warmer season ahead of us. Last year was my first year truly getting to experience the National Cherry Blossom Festival (well, besides going a few times as a kid and once on a Sunday morning with my best friend Haley in high school!) that I can remember as an adult. I truly had an amazing time getting to go to the National Cherry Blossom Festival and see what ALL the hype was about. Many special memories were made on solo adventures and with my best friend Shivani. I am SO excited to be able to spend it this year with my blogger bestie Lindsay of Sunshine and Stair Climbs, college besties Cassie and Caroline and Shivani, my family members aka Papa and dog Rosie, and high school classmates Haley and Laura and James. Much fun is to be planned and already planned and I am SO excited to see the cherry blossoms sooner than expected this year!! Read more about my experience at the National Cherry Blossom Festival last year here: https://pinkchickadee.com/2022/04/02/my-experience-at-the-national-cherry-blossom-festival-2022/

February was a ROUGH month for me. I got into an accident around 8pm that was a bit traumatic for me. The accident was not my fault either. Luckily, I was not injured and my car wasn’t totaled but it took a major mental toll on me and still is to some extent. What sucks is that during that time, I was gaining a lot of confidence when it came to driving, so it was horrible to feel that it was robbed from me via that accident. I ended up taking 3 days off of work to communicate with insurance and process it all. It sucked. So, long story short, an early bloom to me is like a breath of fresh air and hope for new beginnings and more happy memories to come.

XOXO – Katie <3

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My New Favorite Washington, DC Area Trail!

Ever since I went on mission trips in high school with my local church, I was a sucker for a scenic view whenever we would pass them! Although back in my high school church years we never really stopped at really any of the scenic views, I always used to love when we passed by them! Up until recently, I discovered a Washington, DC area trail that is pretty much a scenic view at EVERY TURN! And, that trail is …. the Mount Vernon Trail!

Please note that this content is apart of my exploring the Washington, DC area series. For more information on planning your own trip to Washington DC (here), Northern Virginia (here), the Virginia Wine Country (here), Maryland (here), and beyond (here), please use the corresponding links for some recommendations and inspiration.

According to the National Park Service, the “Mount Vernon Trail is an 18-mile paved trail that stretches from George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate to Theodore Roosevelt Island. It connects with regional trails, including the Potomac Heritage, Custis, Rock Creek, Four Mile Run, and Woodrow Wilson Bridge Trails.” It is also a short walk from the Arlington Cemetery, Rosslyn, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Metro stations which are accessible from multiple Metro lines. It is open daily from 6am-10pm and there are several parking spots along different parts of the trail. Papa and I parked at a lot right by George Washington’s Mount Vernon via an offshoot of Route 1. For more information on the Mount Vernon Trail, look no further than here: https://www.nps.gov/gwmp/planyourvisit/mtvernontrail.htm

Papa, Rosie, and I parked, as I said before, right by George Washington’s Mount Vernon at one of the first pull off’s on the southern side of the trail. We walked not super far on the trail as Rosie aka my dog is a mega barker and guard dog when it comes to bikes and scooter and motorcycles, but the entire time we were there, I was beyond impressed with the trail. The trail’s scenic views at every turn, bridges, and flora, and nature make it worth a stop and a great place to workout while enjoying a great place. I find it super neat that the Mount Vernon Trail goes from George Washington’s Mount Vernon ALL THE WAY to the monuments in Washington, DC. Papa actually biked the entirety of the Mount Vernon trail from Virginia to the monuments years ago – how neat!! At the same time, my Mom has also biked along the Mount Vernon Trail for many of her workouts and LOVES it. Knowing the significance both historically and via the love that my family has for the Mount Vernon Trail makes me want to fall in love with this spot, too.

One of the things that I plan to do during peak cherry blossom season this year (which will be March 25-29, 2023!!!!) is to visit the cherry blossoms along the Mount Vernon Trail. Apparently, the Mount Vernon Trail is a GREAT place to see the cherry blossoms *without* the crowds of the Tidal Basin! Recently, I have been looking up places to see the cherry blossoms that don’t come with the crowds and lack thereof of personal space, so this trail favorite of mine will fit the bill.

A MAJOR perk of living in the Washington, DC area is the plethora of trails, parks, and scenic views that have some sort of historical and/or national significance and are FREE to all who visit and use them. The affordability and lack of money that it costs to visit some extremely notable sites is one of the reasons why I LOVE the Washington, DC area and city for others to visit, too. The Mount Vernon Trail is just one of MANY examples of affordable/free places to see in the Washington, DC area!

XOXO – Katie <3

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