July 2023 - The Pink Chickadee

Washington, DC Area Things To Do: August 2023

Is it JUST me or has summer just flown by wayyyyy too fast?! Happy almost-August y’all! As August approaches us *tomorrow*, I cannot look towards the future with anything but uber-excitement for this upcoming month with all that there is to do here in the Washington, DC area. Even though the heat and humidity are pretty brutal around here, there are still several ways to have fun (and stay hydrated!) both indoors and outdoors.

*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.*

The Washington, DC area offers a variety of multicultural and historical activities that are both free and extremely affordable. Needless to say, you can easily have a GREAT time locally while on a budget, too. Personally, I am REALLY looking forward to the Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Week at the end of the month AND seeing Moulin Rouge on tour at The Kennedy Center.

Events:

Enjoy a summer evening in the Hillwood Estate Gardens at Dance on the Lunar Lawn – featuring a performance by dancers of the Dance Institute of Washington. Tickets are $5-$20. (August 16 at 5:30-8:30pm)
Celebrate Vietnamese culture at Tysons Corner Center’s VietFest featuring vendors, live music, and traditional dance performances (August 12-13)
Commemorate 50 years of Hip-Hop – an artistry shaped by Black Americans – at the National Museum of African American History & Culture’s family-friendly Hip-Hop Block Party with free admission (reservation required) from 11am-11pm (August 12)
Wine & dine at some of the Washington, DC area’s top restaurants via Metropolitan Washington Week Summer 2023 starting August 28-September 3 (more to come in a future blog post!)
Enjoy a late night at the museum via The National Building Museum’s Summer Block Parties (August 10 and August 24)
Test your knowledge with Trivia Night: US History and Imperial Revisions at the National Portrait Gallery’s Kogod Courtyard from 5-6:45pm with free admission (reservation required) (August 15)

Activities:

Sip on summer-themed coffee flights and decor at Commonwealth Joe Coffee Roasters in Pentagon City
Cool off with some ice cream at Peterson’s Ice Cream Depot in Clifton, Pop’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream Co. in Old Town Alexandria, or Ice Cream Jubilee (multiple locations)
See Moulin Rouge on tour at The Kennedy Center (starting August 2)
Shop (back to school anyone?!) & stroll at Washington, DC’s Georgetown neighborhood – my favorites include the TJ Maxx, Scout Bags Flagship Store, and Shop Made in DC
Visit wonderful Harpers Ferry, West Virginia (see my day trips to this favorite town of mine here and here)
Take a stroll through Old Town Alexandria, Virginia & check out some of their incredible boutiques (including The Lucky Knot, Mint Condition, & Shop Made in VA), take in all of the live music and waterfront views and the Alexandria City Hall, and dine at a local spot (including Landini Brothers, Vola’s Dockside Grill, Thompson Italian, or Virtue Feed & Grain also written about here)
Go Back-To-School shopping at Tyson’s Corner Center and snap a photo at the summer-themed LOVE letters while you’re at it! (on display until August 31)
Catch the sunflowers at Burnside Farms in Nokesville, Virginia (must reserve in advance)
Check out one of the many Smithsonian museums (for a list of museums and to reserve a free timed-entry pass look no further than here)
See the limited-time exhibition of Leonardo da Vinci’s paintings at the Martin Luther King Jr. Library via Imagining the Future Leonardo da Vinci: in the mind of an Italian genius (until August 20)
Have a picnic on The National Mall or Gravelly Point Park at golden hour
Take in the cityscape at The View of DC with free entry and then grab a coffee or drinks at The Assembly just across the street in Rosslyn
LAST BUT NOT LEAST: Check out one (or two!) of the several nearby vineyards and/or breweries! (See more on a great deal below!)

Looking to check out and cool down at one of the MANY vineyards and/or breweries in the Washington, DC area on a regular basis?! Then, you are IN LUCK: Reserve Pass is the app for you. With Reserve Pass, you have easy access to app-only deals and discounts, reservations, and a map-view to plan your visit accordingly to ALL the local vineyards/breweries in your area. The best part?! Many vineyards/breweries within the Washington, DC area are participating, meaning that you can access all of the great deals and events (such as Oyster day at Barrel Oak Winery and Brewery!!), reserve your visit right on the app, and best plan your visit accordingly.

Use the code ktloveswine for 40% off a yearly Reserve Pass membership. Happy wine-ing and dine-ing!!!

**Looking for fun things to do in the DMV & beyond, continue to follow @_thepinkchickadee on Instagram & this site for more posts on fun things to do on a regular basis.**

XOXO – Katie <3

July 31, 2023December 29, 2025

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My Favorite Outfits Circa 2015-2017

I am someone that refuses to live with any regrets. I am a firm believer that everything was meant to happen the way that it is supposed to AND that whatever happens happens and shapes us into who we are today and to become. Moreover, on the other hand, one of my BIGGEST exceptions is the sole fact that I sometimes really wish that I started my blogging platform sooner. On my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee), I recently shared on my stories that I am SO excited that the circa 2012 fashion trends of peplum and statement necklaces are hitting city streets ALL across the country. My Lilly lover bestie Lorena and I were having *flashbacks* to walking through the aisles of Charming Charlie with ALL of the statement necklaces in color coordinated sections throughout the storefront. Needless to say, my nostalgia for fashion during my high school era (which were when some of my favorite fashion trends were around!!) aka 2015-2017 had me digging through some of my old photos and, hence, this blog post!

I will say, *just* like most people I know, I felt so so so much #cringeworthy feels over many of the photos that I saw via my high school years albums on Facebook. Otherwise, I feel super happy that I have some super adorable photos of some of my favorite outfits (that aren’t uber-blurry either!) from my 2015-2017 years. In high school, I LITERALLY took photos of all of my outfits that I wore, whether it be to school, church (yep – I was a big church-goer during that timeframe), travel, or outings with friends/family. I was VERY fortunate to spend many of my high school weekends shopping with friends and family via their support for my passion for fashion. One of my favorite shopping memories was going to the opening of the Topshop store at a local mall in my area and polling peers on two different white dresses I tried on (one of which I wore to be crowned Homecoming Queen in 2016!!!!) and seeing people’s interactions – I guess my blogger instincts were born in that moment 5 years before. Many of my community members during that era loved my style in high school and I am so so so glad I always remained true to myself style-wise.

A few things that still remain true to what I LOVED style-wise then and still do now:

Quilted vests
Statement necklaces
Jack Rogers sandals
Vera Bradley umbrellas
Hunter rain boots
Lilly Pulitzer
Peplum
Fur vests
LL Bean boots
Kate Spade handbags

My late grandmother sewn the patchwork fabric pants and I still have them to this very day!!

I LOVE how I paired this pom pom scarf – nothing more said here!

Honestly, my favorite part of this outfit is the Vera Bradley umbrella and my pink flamingo scarf. Not to mention, the gorgeous Prague riverfront and bridges for the backdrop.

I LOVE the Vineyard Vines-Jack Rogers-Kate Spade moment here (!!!).

This cupcake Kate Spade tote is a favorite of mine!!

My late Grandma sewn this dress, too, and I LOVE how I paired it with this blue necklace and tied a chambray button down! PERFECT for a day at The Breakers – Newport, Rhode Island.

I LOVE the purple and magenta color combination here. Nothing more to say!!

I used to LOVE this dress!! I got it at a Buffalo Exchange in New York City my Sophomore year and LOVE the pairings with the boots and my then-favorite L’Oreal lipstick (which I still have to this day!!).

I STILL have this Kate Spade clutch (it also has my monogram!!) – maybe I should get it out soon 🙂

I like to think of this maroon polka-dotted dress I got on one of my weekend shopping sprees as my “Meredith College” dress and wore it to my high school grad party, too. I LOVE this maroon and pink combination.

I remember doing a poll on my personal Instagram circa 2015 (with THE MOST cringe selfies!!) at the newest Topshop store in my area with this dress and another. I still have them both and glad I do, as this dress has a very special place in my heart (and, yes, I was Homecoming Queen and was crowned on a VERY rainy Friday night!!!).

This dress SCREAMS 2015. Nothing more to say!!

One of my FAVORITE scarves *even to this very day* is that J Crew plaid wool scarf with pom poms. The beanie I still have and got on a trip to Poland when I was 15 as it was FREEZING there.

I LOVE the wool/chiffon combination here – may need to try something similar again!!

Alas, the L’Oreal lippie makes *yet another* appearance. My skirt is a favorite of mine and I got several compliments on it when I wore it again during a big college event. Great memories!

This reversible scarf is SO SO fun! I am a HUGE fan of monogrammed bags to this very day, too!

& the J Crew pom pom scarf makes *another* appearance on a trip to Chicago.

This outfit is a little plain for me still to this very day – LOL! However, I LOVE the crystal necklace and pop of color via my Longchamp Le Pilage (which I still have!) with the navy-black combination.

Somehow, I can still manage to fit in this gorgeous Lilly Pulitzer dress!! One of my favorite trips in high school was to Vero Beach, Florida – somehow I was tan that week which is RARE for me. Aren’t the flip-flops SO fun?! I wish I still had them 🙂

One thing that reigns true to this *very* day is that I am grateful for dressing according to my heart’s very own desires. Throughout ALLL the fashion trends that come and go, one thing that remains the same is one’s own personal style and sparkle within their own wardrobe.

XOXO – Katie <3

July 18, 2023December 29, 2025

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6 Hours in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia

Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful … West Virginia! To many people’s surprise, I find West Virginia to be one of the most prettiest states that I have ever been to! While maybe not where I would want to live in the future, I have LOVED getting to visit West Virginia from time to time again over the years. During the height of Summer 2020, my Mom and I decided to take a day hike to Harpers Ferry, West Virginia where we went all the way up to the iconic Jefferson Rock (where Thomas Jefferson saw some of the most spectacular views in his life!!) and then into the town. And, since that day trip back in Summer 2020 (here), I have been going back to Harpers Ferry *almost* every summer since (here)!

For more Washington, DC area travel inspiration, check out my Exploring the DMV page. For more United States travel inspiration, check out my Exploring 50 States expedition page.

About + Getting There:

The town of Harpers Ferry has a population of ~270 people and no stoplight in sight (unlike its neighboring towns). However, the residents and national park rangers at Harpers Ferry National Park reign proud that the town’s name is in the national park that brings in visitors from across the country and beyond. The location of Harpers Ferry is approximately at the halfway mark of the East Coast’s well-known Appalachian Trail (that starts in Maine and ends in Georgia) at the intersection of the Potomac River and Shenandoah River. From Washington, DC, Harpers Ferry is about a 90 minute drive with an Amtrak station in the heart of the historical district and Harpers Ferry National Park. To be able to drive and park and sightsee within Harpers Ferry’s historical district and the adjacent Harpers Ferry National Park, it is easiest to purchase a National Park Service (NPS) day pass or use an already-purchased/borrowed NPS pass.

This time around, I visited Harpers Ferry with my Papa and dog Rosie. Papa had not been to Harpers Ferry with the exception of a brief visit there decades ago, so it was super fun for him to relive his past memories of this magnificent town. We ended up starting out at the visitor center which is about a 10 minute drive from the historic district (and has a complimentary shuttle that is NOT pet-friendly), which contains the bulk of the non-intense hiking activities. In order to enter the visitor center, all guests must pay for an NPS day pass or show that they have one, which Papa happens to have. We went into the visitor center, talked a bit with a National Park Ranger, and then went on our way to the historic downtown and parked at the Amtrak station there (which our parking was covered for by flashing our NPS pass on the dashboard of Papa’s truck), since Rosie couldn’t go on the shuttle directly from the visitor center. At the Amtrak station, we got a front row seat to … an Amtrak train coming into the station. We LOVED seeing a train come into the station in the midst of the gorgeous mountain terrain surrounding the train tracks as we enjoyed our picnic lunch.

My Experience:

The day that we ended up going to Harpers Ferry happened to be rather rainy and foggy, which limited what we could do. Initially, I had wanted to walk along the creeks, rock-covered bridge, and streams just outside of the historic district, however, the weather prohibited us from doing so this time around. The same goes for checking out the dog-friendly Harpers Ferry Brewing brewery (located in Purcellville, Virginia) that offers stunning views of the town and connecting rivers from afar, however, dogs are only allowed outside which meant that we needed to save this spot for a visit when it wasn’t a rainy day. SO, to the historic district and C&O Canal Footbridge we went (guide on it all here). While Papa and Rosie took in some more of the scenic views, I learned a bit about the part of the Lewis & Clark expedition which took place in none other than Harpers Ferry via a complimentary NPS exhibit. Long story short, Merriweather Lewis was stranded in Harpers Ferry for a few weeks, but if it wasn’t for the supplies and resources that they found locally within the town, they would not have made it across the now-United States on their well-known expedition where he would then-soon meet William Clark to do. Lewis holds gratitude for the town of Harpers Ferry. Afterwards, Rosie, Papa, and I walked alongside the town’s hilly streets to browse shops, grab some coffee, and then hit the road with some ice cream.

Wrap-Up:

Papa, Rosie, and I LOVED getting to check out Harpers Ferry! We LOVED getting to walk across the C&O Canal Footbridge which leads to train tracks through a mountain (HOW COOL!!!!) and taking in ALL the views of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers. What’s neat about Harpers Ferry’s C&O Canal Footbridge is the sheer fact that you can see 3 states in one stroll – Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia along with two iconic rivers to the area (as previously mentioned!). And, there’s SO MUCH history here (including a Civil War battle) in Harpers Ferry (!!!) which my history buff self LOVES knowing. Unfortunately, many of the exhibits (which are all run and complimentary to all guests via the NPS) were under renovation … all of which means that I got to come back at some point – haha!

For a future Harpers Ferry day trip, I’d LOVE to go back in the Fall for the foliage and do a drive by of some historical sites within the area via an NPS app driving tour. There are 3 driving tours at least that the NPS app offers to visitors that are free, accessible, self-guided, and all based on the user’s preferences. All of which I LOVE!

Harpers Ferry, West Virginia is one of my favorite places to visit for a nice and blissful day trip that feels *just as if* like you’re not in reality and so so so close to Washington, DC. I LOVE LOVE LOVE going to Harpers Ferry and feel so lucky that I got to recently and hope to again very soon!

XOXO – Katie <3

July 12, 2023January 28, 2026

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Guide: Shopping in Charleston, South Carolina

While many people view New York City as THE American fashion capital, I have ALWAYS fallen more and more in love with the fashion sense and Southern charm that comes with the style in *surprise* Charleston, South Carolina. I have ALWAYS admired the gorgeous preppy and Southern flair style and Charleston seems to have ALL the boutiques which I have dreamed of visiting in-person yet were too far from my Washington, DC area home base to do so. Just a few weeks ago, my best friends and I had a fun beach weekend in Isle of Palms, South Carolina (here) aka one of the prettiest places I have ever been (!!!) where we spent a day in Charleston (here). On THE top of my list of things to do in Charleston …. check out ALLL the shops. SO, I am sharing my own curated guide to shopping in Charleston, South Carolina!

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

From Madison Mathews to Lilly Pulitzer to LoveShackFancy, the charming fashion and shopping in Charleston, South Carolina is HARD to beat! Luckily for myself, the shops in Charleston’s Fashion District are primarily on the well-known King Street or within a few blocks away, making it an easy and fun afternoon activity. There’s *even* a Gucci and Louis Vuitton storefront there, too. A Target aka my favorite storefront is on King Street as well. Needless to say, I had an incredible time shopping and mostly browsing here in Charleston. And, I think YOU will have a great time shopping in Charleston, South Carolina, too!

Where I Went:

Madison Mathews (178 King Street) – I have been following Madison Mathews on Instagram for a few years now and have fallen IN LOVE with the brand’s gorgeous designs. I stopped in here to kick off my shopping stroll on Charleston’s King Street while my friends went in mainly for the air conditioning and free seating LOL! I LOVED finally getting to admire some of the most stunning designs by Madison Mathews in-person after seeing them on my phone screen for the past few years. The BEST part?! The store owners had their gorgeous dog there who LOVED visiting with me and my sweet crew (!!!).

Palm Avenue (251 King Street) – Palm Avenue is a Lilly Pulitzer Signature Store that was once one of 4 storefronts across the South. Now, Palm Avenue’s Charleston location remains the only storefront still in business since their Savannah and Raleigh locations went out of business. The ladies at Palm Avenue were SO SWEET and welcoming and *even* had a preview of Lilly Pulitzer’s Splash Sale on their sale racks! I invested in one of their hot pink belt bags for summer walks with my dog Rosie. My fellow Lilly Pulitzer loving best friend Alanna and I had a blast there!

Jude Connally (336 King Street) – I’ve known about Jude Connally ever since my high school years when my Step Mom wore their dresses on a summer vacation to Vero Beach, Florida. I own a Jude Connally dress of my *very own*, too! The designs that Jude Connally makes are super fun, preppy, and well-made, especially for the Southern heat and humidity. After our visit to Palm Avenue, I dragged Alanna into the Jude Connally storefront for a few moments!

Spartina 449 (231 King Street) – For YEARS, I have been a HUGE fan of Spartina 449’s designs. More speciafically speaking, I am a HUGE fan of the Lowcountry-based design house’s map prints on their accessories of which I own items in the Chesapeake Bay and Virginia map prints. It was SO MUCH FUN to stop in one of my favorite brand’s storefronts that are not super common up in the Washington, DC area. Not to mention, the ladies there were so sweet.

LoveShackFancy (218 King Street) – Well, I rarely feel like a 5 year old kid in a candy store nowadays, BUT I did when I stepped foot into THE iconic LoveShackFancy storefront here on Charleston’s King Street. The LoveShackFancy storefront is literally every grand millennial’s (like myself) dream come true in a store. I was so so so obsessed with the storefront the entire time and my friends LOVED all the sparse and plethora of seating options within the air conditioning *yet again*. The ladies working at LoveShackFancy were SO SWEET, too, and were happy with my excitement within their store. The day we went, an artist was custom painting on sunglasses cases which was complimentary with a purchase of one as apart of a promotion going on then. Needless to say, the vibes there were impeccable. Truly, a DREAM COME TRUE (!!!).

Charleston City Market (188 Meeting Street) – While it can get pretty overwhelming to walk through ALL the shops, the Charleston City Market has been apart of the city dating ALLLL the way back to the 1790’s. It also stretches four blocks of Charleston’s historic district and has markets of local businesses to Charleston, Charleston-oriented souvenirs, and small business owners. I ended up purchasing two of Sofya’s (here) stunning paintings to frame in my own apartment. (I hope to buy more of her designs someday, too!).

Old Whaling Company (409 King Street) – We stopped here *also* for the air conditioning – surprise!! BUT, we all LOVED getting to smell the plethora of lotions, body soap, and candles that Old Whaling Company has to offer its customers. Maybe, *just maybe*, I will be placing an online order soon after I write this paragraph. Old Whaling Company also has a mini storefront at the Charleston City Market AND a gorgeous mural of sea-like paintings on its walls within its King Street store.

Jean-Pierre Klifa (214 King Street) – The Jean-Pierre Kilfa storefront is brand-new to Charleston! I ended up talking with the store associate who was SO SWEET and explained the fashion house’s brand-new ties to Charleston. The Jean-Pierre Klifa brand is *just like* an affordable version of Emilio Pucci’s gorgeous designs with the bright and bubbly charm that comes about from Lilly Pulitzer. I had a blast browsing the new storefront and congratulating the associates there!

Where I Want to Shop Next Time:

Lake Pajamas (153 King Street) – I have seen SOOOO many of my fellow blogger/influencer friends raving about Lake Pajamas. I once found a pair of Lake Pajamas at my local Goodwill and sadly did not pick them up for some reason (there’s always a next time, though!). One day, I shall own a pair. And, next time I am in Charleston, I *most definitely* want to make a stop in this sleeping in heaven storefront!
The Finicky Filly (303 King Street) – Confession: I do not know much about The Finicky Filly besides the fact that one of my college friend’s Mom’s suggested it to me. HOWEVER, the name is WAYYYYY too cute not to pop in and make a visit at the next time I am in town.
The Tiny Tassel (46 Spring Street) – I have been connected to the store owner the ultra-adorable Mimi for a few years now and have been DYING to check out her stunning storefront for a few years now! I LOVE LOVE LOVE the designs that Mimi designs herself, ranging from beaded earrings and bracelets to clothing. I’ve had a pair of flamingo tassel earrings for over 3 years now! Well, what can I say?! There’s ALWAYS a next time!!

Wrap-Up:

The shopping alone would bring me back to Charleston just about *any* day. I will definitely be back in Charleston (hopefully) very very very soon!!

XOXO – Katie <3

July 11, 2023January 28, 2026

thepinkchickadee2 Comments

The Life of Katie – June 2023

June 2023 was a whirlwind month that started with being super busy and productive to winding down with none other than a spontaneous week-long vacation to the Carolina’s after a long weekend away for Father’s Day with my Dad, Step Mom, and childhood best friend Amanda (who came to visit from New Jersey!) in Bethany Beach, Delaware. Lots of excitement has been happening both on a personal and professional front. On a personal level, I traveled to 5 different states this past month along with a day trip to Barboursville Vineyards (here) in Orange County, Virginia: North Carolina, South Carolina, Delaware, West Virginia, and Washington, DC. Meanwhile, on a professional level, I have been learning A TON within my career discipline and my passion for my work has only increased over this past month. Nonetheless, through it all, June 2023 was a pretty GREAT month!

Due to my rather spontaneous for me end of June 2023 trip, I have been *just a bit* behind on blog posts. Early each month, I post a round-up of ALL the Washington, DC area places that I dine at that previous month (DC Dining) and a monthly Life of Katie round-up as opposed to every week. I also have some travel content from my recent travels (including a Charleston, South Carolina shopping guide!!!!). At the same time, having some time away from writing content on the blog and not posting for much of the past week has allowed me to reset and *even* think more creatively about future content that I want to share (!!!).

The following summer months aka July and August have nothing but summer adventures to come both near and far! Some of my near summer adventures include seeing fireworks locally in the Washington, DC area, time with family and friends, more Washington, DC area dining outings, and a few trips to the theater (whether it be The Kennedy Center OR the local movie theater). My adventures far away include a long weekend away back to Bethany Beach, Delaware to visit my Dad and Step Mom along with my Aunts and cousins who are coming to town for a mini family reunion weekend, a lake weekend in Lake James, North Carolina with Hannah and some of my other college best friends to reunite, and a long weekend flying into Indianapolis, Indiana to visit my fellow influencer bestie Lindsay of @sunshineandstairclimbs who visited me back in March for the Cherry Blossoms and then driving up to Chicago, Illinois for the second leg of our long weekend. I have never been to Indiana and I am SUPER excited to add another state to my list (!!!), as I want to venture out to visit all 50 states (and Puerto Rico!) at some point in my life. As for Chicago, I went there once back in the death of winter and peak of the city’s nickname “the Windy City” and wasn’t able to fully enjoy this incredible city, SO I am really excited to visit again and see it in the light of summer!

Highs:

A weeklong vacation to the Carolina’s! I flew into Raleigh, North Carolina on a Friday morning where I visited with my friends Alanna and Shivani before heading down to Charlotte, North Carolina with Alanna for our friend Bree’s belated Birthday and Graduation Party where we got to meet ALL of Bree’s (and our friend Hannah’s) high school friends as well as a few of Bree’s college friends, too, which was SO MUCH FUN! There, I did my first-ever display of jell-o shots along with a lineup of alcohol. Bree’s high school friends are such incredible people that I am glad I got to meet during my quick 24 hours in Charlotte this time around (I would LOVE to come back to Charlotte for a weekend in the future to explore and catch up with friends there!!). Afterwards, me, Bree, Alanna, and Hannah all headed down to Isle of Palms, South Carolina for some incredible hospitality courtesy of Hannah and her Mom at their home down there. While in Isle of Palms, we stayed at the Wild Dunes community and explored the area A LOT along with a day trip into nearby Charleston and Mount Pleasant (more to come in a future blog post on my incredible time down in South Carolina!). Needless to say, I am uber-grateful for the kindness, hospitality, bonds, and charm of the final week of June 2023.

The CUTEST wine shop – Taylor’s Wine Shop – in Raleigh, North Carolina

Bree’s Grad Party in Charlotte, North Carolina

Flight reads brought to your by Bethany Beach Books

Dining within the Washington, DC area is ALWAYS a high for me each month to month. This June 2023, I dined at some pretty incredible places, including Ada’s On The River in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia; Trattoria Villagio in Clifton, Virginia; and The Bazaar by Jose Andres in Washington, DC. At the same time, I enjoyed many meals (and wine!) at home with my Papa and our neighbors. Many memories were made with both friends and family via my Washington, DC area dining outings as always, too (more to come in a future blog post on DC Dining – June 2023)!

My weekend in Bethany Beach, Delaware was SO special. My childhood best friend Amanda drove to stay with us for the weekend which was SO SO SO nice. Amanda is practically like a sister to me and she truly fits in with my family, which was super sweet, as my Dad and Step Mom and even their Yorkie (my “Sissy”) Ginger joined us for practically everything. Our activities included: beach mornings/afternoons (where we *even* overheard the college-aged male lifeguards in the stand right by us talking about their girlfriends – my Dad called it “lifeguard love stories” – LOL!), dinners and drinks at some incredible Bethany Beach-area restaurants (I plan to write a dining guide soon-ish, too!), parasailing which was AMAZING for the first-time ever with Amanda, shopping on the boardwalk where I bought one wayyyy too many books at Bethany Beach Books and *of course* fudge at the local chain Candy Kitchen, mini golf, ice cream, and climbing a former World War 11 tower that is now free and open to the public and has amazing views, too. We all had such a special weekend together, too, as so so so many memories were made that will last a lifetime.

To kick off summer, just the day before I left for the Carolina’s, Papa and Rosie and I went for a day trip to Harpers Ferry, West Virginia (read more about my experience last summer here). We ended up picking a day to go that was rather rainy and foggy which meant for gorgeous views of the fog amongst the Appalachian Mountains and the rivers that intersect there. I saw an exhibit on Louis and Clark’s expedition that partially took places in Harpers Ferry, grabbed a cup of coffee for $2.50 (aka a steal for living in the Washington, DC area and being addicted to Starbucks to some extent), and took in ALL the views within Harpers Ferry National Park and the town which only has a population of ~250 people. It was a STUNNING and literally perfect day – MORE to come in a future blog post!
I hosted my first-ever summer dinner party!!!! I decked out my deck in *none other than* a flamingo summer theme and had pizza, salad, and charcuterie for 3 of my good friends and dog Rosie who were able to show up and celebrate the kick off of summer with me. We had a BLAST catching up with one another and talking about our summer plans. Each of my friends that showed up had either went to my high school or college, which makes me feel SO beyond lucky that we are able to still remain friends to this very day. ALSO, I LOVE that each of my friends has become friends in a way with some of my other friends – it truly is special!

Work has become nothing short of exciting this past June 2023. Firstly, my work OOTD’s have become a highlight of my day-to-day 9-5 life. In summary, I used to feel a huge lift in my spirits when I wore a cute outfit to school in my high school days and am glad I reinstated wearing cute outfits while working from home and sharing them on my Instagram stories (follow me @_thepinkchickadee) on the daily. Second, my passion for healthcare policy has only grown this past month so much that others on my team have noticed and are wanting to pull my into more policy work. My excitement has grown for my 9-5 world in many different ways, so much so that when I signed off for my out of office week at the end of the month I knew that I would have something to look forward to in July (along with my word OOTD’s which will continue!).
One of my fellow Lilly Pulitzer lover friends Lorena and I met up at Barboursville Vineyards (here) in Barboursville, Virginia near downtown Orange, Virginia. I took a day trip to meet up with Lorena and explore this gorgeous well-known to the area vineyard (it was about 2 hours away from me!) and the drive was GORGEOUS *just* as if I was transported into a STUNNING painting of the rolling hills of Virginia’s countryside. Lorena and I kicked off our day with a 3-course lunch at their delicious on-site restaurant Palladio before exploring the nearby Barboursville Ruins and taking in ALL of the scenic views along the meadow-filled trail there. Last but not least, we went into the winery where I bought some wine bottles as gifts for my parents. Later that night, I made the trek back home to Northern Virginia and enjoyed family time via a cookout with ice cream cake for my Mom’s Birthday. All in all, a GREAT day with many loved one’s all around!
Early June 2023, I got to experience *even more* adventure in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia aka one of my FAVORITE spots in all of the Washington, DC area. This time around, my friend Brittany and I went to paint pottery at a local shop called Paint This (where I painted a cupcake) before parting ways where I got Mexican food and a cocktail and then walked around the streets and explored some of the many shops there. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Old Town Alexandria, Virginia and its beauty SO MUCH that I hope to live near there in the next few years.

Lows:

While in Charlotte, North Carolina, my friends and I sadly ran into some … car issues. Sometimes, I like to joke that it seems that *every single time* I drive down to the Carolina’s, my friends and I run into some car issues. It sucks A LOT especially when it comes to traveling which can be so exciting and fun when there aren’t any. However, on the bright side, everything worked out and we were all safe and healthy through it all.
I had a rough mental week a few weeks back. While I won’t get into the details of what all was occurring during that week, I will say that it involved LOTS of sleeping and couch resting to the Food Network in the background. Needless to say, it is SO important that we all take care of ourselves and listen to our bodies both on a physical and mental level.
When there wasn’t any car issues, there was it felt like LOTS of traffic on the highway. Personally, ever since my car accident back in February, I have had LOTS of anxiety when it comes to driving. And, well, traffic is NOT my favorite thing to drive in, but whose is it?! The traffic on the way to both Delaware (a holiday weekend) and Charlotte (a car wreck which closed down a portion of I-85) took a major toll on me mentally. However, through it all, I am very proud of myself for simply plowing through the stress of all of the summer traffic despite my driving fears.

June 2023 was such a bittersweet month, filled with ever-growing bonds, great hospitality, lots of generosity, and several memories made along the way. Here’s to an even MORE special July 2023!

XOXO – Katie <3

July 6, 2023December 29, 2025

thepinkchickadee1 Comment

What I Wore to Work: May & June 2023

If you don’t already follow me on Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!!), you likely aren’t well aware that halfway through the month of May, I started sharing my work outfits on my Instagram (and also Facebook) stories. As I wrap up my June work month *just a bit earlier than usual* due to a much-needed beach week in South Carolina with some of my very best friends, I am filled with so much gratitude for deciding to share my work outfits here on this incredible platform. It has truly become such a highlight of mine to be able to share my work outfits with y’all. I *even* shared that I am sharing my work outfits with y’all on my LinkedIn of ALL places – LOL!

Back story: when I was in high school, it became such a highlight of mine to plan out my outfits the night beforehand, especially as my days became CONSUMED with AP course work, SAT prep, college applications, and extracurriculars aka the typical high school student life of an over-achiever like myself. Outfits were THE highlight of my high school years. I *even* had a blog where I literally just posted my outfits my Senior year of high school (like 2016!) called Katie’s Closet Blog! Then, into college, I began dressing a bit more casual as I LOVED getting to sleep in aka THE college lifestyle. And, then, COVID-19 hit at the end of my Junior year of college, which meant slumber wear all day every day with the exception of a few days here and there. This whole casual dress attire of mine continued into my post-graduate years with the work from home lifestyle. I actually used to HATE work from home, due to the fact that I missed getting to dress up in a cute outfit around others everyday. However, in recent months I have grown to LOVE the primarily work from home lifestyle, as I have so much freedom and flexibility and no commute within my day to day routine. BUT, I was missing getting to showcase my super cute outfits.

Innovate is the word for my work from home outfits. Innovate is ALSO one of the biggest key words of my company in the ways that its growing. As crazy as it seems, innovate is a word that I LOVE and see as key to my personal life in so many different ways. So, yes, innovation is what allows me to share my outfits with y’all without feeling like I am missing out on doing so in my day to day life. The highlight of my high school days, which kept me going throughout those loooonggg days of essentially prepping for college, now keep me going in my postgraduate life.

I decided to combine my May and June work outfits into one blog post, due to starting sharing my May work outfits in the middle of the month and going on vacation the last 7 work days of June. I have recently gotten away from sharing outfits via the Shop LTK platform, as I want my looks to solely serve as inspiration from one’s own closet, rather than a place to simply impose consumerism when it may not be right for others. Any how, I hope you enjoy!

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