My Fall 2023 Tablescape + My New Favorite Piece of Advice

September is SUCH A FUN MONTH (!!!!) – it is essentially the gateway to Fall y’all. From kicking off soup season to regularly drinking pumpkin spice lattes to the fashion to visits to the pumpkin patch to the leaves changing, Fall is such an exciting change of pace. The change of seasons and in climate is such a freeing feeling for me (just like the Winter -> Spring transition!). The change in seasons allows me to refresh my mindset for what’s to come. Not to mention, who DOESN’T love the ‘ber months (if you know, you know!!!)?!

One of my favorite parts of Fall (alongside all of those things previously mentioned!) is decorating for Fall in my own pad. And, more specifically speaking, I have recently gotten into doing seasonal tablescapes which I have done for Spring/Summer as well. One of my fellow Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee) friends @meganeuliss.art has been generous enough to gift me a set of her hand-painted mini pumpkin trios for Fall (she also sent me some goodies for Easter, too, some of which I keep up year-round!). Megan is a North Carolina-based Mom who hand-paints all of her merchandise with so much love. Megan customized my mini pumpkin trio to be pink, aqua, gold, white, and navy aka my favorite colors within my apartment! And, I LOVED getting to put Megan’s hand-painted pumpkin trio within my Fall 2023 tablescape, which I paired them with my Lilly Pulitzer-inspired hand-painted vase that I *surprise* thrifted at my local Goodwill for $3 in the Spring, mini straw pumpkins from *none other than* Target’s Dollar Spot aka the best place to find affordable and trendy seasonal decorations, and my Papa’s antique tiled tray that gives ALLL the Grand Millennial vibes. I LOVE how my Fall tablescape gives me such bright, bubbly, and very Katie vibes and my mini pumpkin trio made with love by Megan perfectly ties it all together!

With the changes in the seasons comes changes in thoughts when it comes to reflection and intentionally dating. Now, a DISCLAIMER is that I am very content currently as a single and FABULOUS woman. BUT, at the same time, I have chosen to reflect on what I do want in a partner (which feels *as if* it is an ever-evolving process) whenever I do decide to date somebody wherever we may meet. But, the other night, I was reading an article brought to you by Oprah Magazine (here) on love types. And, while reading this article and taking the interactive quiz, I found my new favorite piece of advice: think of the traits that you see in yourself as traits that YOU want in your future partner. For example, are you driven and goal-oriented in your corporate career? You may want to find someone who is also driven and goal-oriented in their own career. Similarly speaking with goals, does your date also want children, adventurous travel goals, or pets? The same goes for how they treat others, including people who work in customer service, their family, and their friends. And, do your values line up with your date’s? A mismatch in values can lead to relationship issues over time. Whatever the case may be, Oprah’s advice about looking within ourselves and our own desires will help us to better narrow our mindsets into whom we may want to date and eventually marry.

Personally, I have been thinking a lot about the type of partner I need in a long-term relationship, as opposed to the partner that I may want. As I’m writing this blog post, I am also listening to the Girls Gotta Eat podcast which I LOVE having on in the background while I am being productive, and, one of the things that was coincidentally just stated was that someone may look perfect on paper as to what we want, BUT be nothing close to what we need in a partner. Sometimes, what we need in a partner is anything BUT what we want in a partner. Personally, I can get very focused on little things and characteristics that I want in somebody and then miss the mark of what I need in a future long-term partner. Going back to Oprah’s advice, looking into myself and the traits and values that I want in life and see in myself on a regular basis is such a great way to find someone who has what I need in a partner.

Anyhow, this Fall 2023, I am focusing on falling in love more and more and more with myself and my Fall tablescape courtesy of Megan Euliss Art! The best part?! You can use my discount code KATIE10 for 10% off any set of mini pumpkin trios on Megan Euliss Art’s Etsy Shop (!!!): https://www.etsy.com/shop/MEulissArt

XOXO – Katie <3

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48 Hours in Indianapolis, Indiana

If you follow me on Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee), you likely have seen photos from my AMAZING August trip to Indianapolis, Indiana & Chicago, Illinois with my influencer best friend Lindsay of @sunshineandstairclimbs on Instagram (GO FOLLOW HER!!!). Lindsay currently lives in Indianapolis and has also lived in Chicago, and I had such a GREAT TIME getting to see both cities from Lindsay’s perspective. I am SO SO SO grateful that my fellow influencer best friend and I have formed such a close bond and have NOW both visited each of our hometowns. Lindsay is such a BLESSING! In this post, I am going to be sharing specifically about my lovely 48 hours Indianapolis, Indiana where I ALSO got to add state 24/50 to my bucket list of visiting all 50 states (with a post on Chicago to come soon, too!!!).

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

Getting There:

First things first, I am going to share about how I got to Indianapolis. “It is SOOOO green here” – me to Lindsay when she graciously picked me up at the airport – LOL! I flew into Indianapolis International Airport (IND) via a direct flight on United Airlines (aka my airlines of choice and for points!) out of Washington, DC’s Dulles International Airport (IAD) (the airport I personally prefer as people are SOOO friendly there despite it being much farther from me and not the best for Metro travel from my house). Initially, I was going to fly on a connecting flight out of Washington, DC’s other airport Reagan National Airport (the airport I also love for its Metro-accessible and much closer to home proximity) and on a different airline, but decided to pay a few extra bucks for the convenience and less of a hassle of not having a connecting flight. Personally, I prefer to not have a connecting flight and value paying those extra dollars to worry less when traveling. My flight had the most kind flight attendants who happened to all be Indianapolis-based and gave me such a sweet taste of Indianapolis (which residents proudly call Indy!). I gate-checked my carryon and it got mixed up with the other bags going to baggage claim upon landing and the flight attendants and airport crew were SO kind and brought my bag to me just a few minutes later. Needless to say, the greener space of Indiana and the kind souls helping ensure me and my flight made it there safely and with all of our belongings provided me with THE BEST welcoming to my 48 hours in Indianapolis, Indiana and where Indiana proudly calls themselves as “the crossroads of America”!

What We Did:

Friday: I arrived to Indianapolis around 6pm (I think?) Indianapolis time (which is Eastern time despite being in the Midwest) and headed with Lindsay to her apartment to get settled in. Lindsay has a GORGEOUS and super adorable and veryyy Lindsay apartment near her workplace outside of downtown Indianapolis. Her apartment looks out over a STUNNING lake, which was SOOO nice to watch the sunset and much more peaceful than back at home in the Washington, DC area. We, then, went out to dinner at a restaurant near her house (more on dining in the next section!!!) before heading back to her apartment to catch up *even more* after doing so a bit over margaritas.

Saturday: In the morning, we hung out at Lindsay’s gorgeous apartment and enjoyed some Starbucks while taking in the lakeside view via her deck. It was SUCH A NICE way to restfully enjoy the morning! Early that afternoon, we went to Carmel City Center in the gorgeous and well-known in America suburb of Carmel, Indiana to have brunch at The Cake Bake Shop By Gwendolyn Rogers (more on that here in my review!), window shop at some of the many shops there, and check out the gorgeous and very historic (rather, Washington, DC-like) Hotel Carmichael. And then, that evening, we checked out Indianapolis’s Broad Ripple Cultural District which was such a fun area. We got wine flights and popcorn at a spot there, before admiring ALLL that Broad Ripple has to offer – the rainbow bridge, a canal full of geese, the Indianapolis Arts Center, and many stunning (and VERYYYY green) walking trails.

Hotel Carmichael

Broad Ripple Cultural District

Indianapolis Arts Center

Sunday: Our last full day in Indianapolis!! We started our day on the early side with a trip to the Indianapolis Zoo – an award-winning zoo known for its conservation and extensive research and care of the animals. We grabbed lattes at a cafe along the way, before hitting the Indianapolis Zoo’s Sunday morning special known as Flamingo Mingle and then hitting up the Dolphin Show (both are open and complimentary with admission to ALL visitors!). Lindsay’s amazing friend Elias met up with us after the Dolphin Show and we continued to admire the lions, elephants, birds, and kangaroos. We also took a safari train around the zoo and then checked out the conservatory and gardens (AND met an adorable turtle!!) ALSO at the zoo. I LOVED getting to know Elias a bit more and look forward to getting to know him better more so over time! After the zoo, Lindsay gave me a driving tour of downtown Indianapolis, before we headed home for LOOONG afternoon naps. That evening, we headed back to downtown Indianapolis to have dinner and cocktails before walking a bit alongside the charming Massachusetts Ave downtown. We ALSO found one of many ‘Indy” signs that are all throughout the city (!!!) and danced with this automated “dancing woman” that brightens many people’s days.

Indianapolis Zoo

Mass Ave in downtown Indianapolis

Where We Ate:

Verde, Flavors of Mexico – Lindsay and I kicked off Friday night here and it was A BLAST. Both of us LOVE a good bar seat, so we took the two seats at the end of the bar. We got margaritas and chips and guacamole and simply took the time to catch up. Needless to say, I LOVED our time just catching up and reuniting after ~6 months since Lindsay came to visit me in Washington, DC for the cherry blossoms. It felt like brunch but Mexican edition!

The Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers – a magical magical magical experience!!! The Cake Bake Shop is ALSO coming to Disney Springs at some point, too. To be honest, Lindsay and I truly felt *just as if* we were at Walt Disney World within the magic of it all.

Just Pop In! – Just Pop In! is an award-winning gourmet popcorn company that ALSO does popcorn and wine flight pairings in the evening (!!!) via their gorgeous shop with a bar. SO, Lindsay and I *of course* got the popcorn and wine flight pairing which was SO MUCH FUN to try. A fun fact is that Lindsay got me a bag of Just Pop In!’s popcorn as a housewarming gift for me back in March – they are AMAZING. And, the bar/popcorn shop is SO SO SO cute. We had the bar to ourselves which was such a great way to wind down.

Foundry Provisions – A locally-owned Indianapolis cafe, Foundry Provisions strives to bring the Indianapolis community together. Lindsay and I grabbed iced lattes here on our way to the Indianapolis Zoo. While we didn’t spend much time here, Foundry Provisions comes HIGHLY suggested by the locals and had such a cute environment.

The Oakmont – Known as Massachusetts Avenue’s “favorite bar”, The Oakmont is a highly Instagrammable spot serving up brunch, bar snacks, and a highly distinguished list of cocktails. Lindsay and I *yet again* sat at the bar here and had a great time. I LOVED trying their delicious brisket nachos with a gorgeous cocktail. Here at The Oakmont is where I learned that truffle fries are THE thing in the Midwest – LOL! Lindsay ordered truffle fries and they were amazing, too. As I’m writing this post, I am CRAVING those brisket nachos (!!!!). Til next time!

Wrap-Up:

I had an incredible 48 hours in Indianapolis, Indiana and would LOVE to come back to visit again someday, too (perhaps another 48 hours in Indianapolis, Indiana?!?!). A few weeks before I jetted off to the Midwest, my coworkers and I shared on a team call where we were going for the summer. When I said Indianapolis, many of them, to my surprise, were SO SO SO excited for me. My coworkers LOVE Indianapolis and now I can see why. Indianapolis (just like many Midwest cities/states) is a highly-underrated city. Many people call the Midwest states the “fly over” states, but they are WAY more than that. There is a rich history, culture, and several kind souls there to meet and learn from.

I cannot wait to come back to Indianapolis sometime in the near-term future. As someone who wants to visit all 50 states in her lifetime, Indiana is definitely on my fly back to list, as there’s a lot to do, see, and learn about. I highly recommend that everyone spends 48 hours in Indianapolis, Indiana, especially if visiting all 50 states is on their radar! Until next time, Indy (and Lindsay!!)!

XOXO – Katie <3

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The 2010’s Are Coming Back?!?!

On my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee) feed, I saw someone post *in horror* about the return of peplum and statement necklaces aka Charming Charlie galore (!!!) one evening night in downtown Washington, DC. If you aren’t aware of the 2010’s fashion trends, then you would just now be learning that peplum and statement necklaces were popular fashion trends 10 years ago. Similar to peplum and statement necklaces, you may just recall the 2010’s ALSO being filled with a sea of plaid blanket scarves, tall boots, and feather extensions. The 2010’s were a time where the mainstream fashion was exciting (at least to me!), yet has left many others in fear due to seeing the fashions they once resented as mainstream making a comeback. Personally, I am extremely excited that the 2010’s are coming back. As I learn and grow both personally and professionally, I have done a ton of reflection of my middle and high school years (where I spent most of the 2010’s!) and grown from them while enjoying the parts that I loved and missed.

I regularly see influencers on both YouTube shorts and Instagram sharing ALLL the nostalgia from the 2010’s fashion and have since around Spring of this year. Into Summer 2023, I started to really miss when fashion and social media content in general used to be more on a casual note of simply sharing your outfit, vacation, or pet without much expectations tied to them. Simply speaking, the 2010’s and also the early days of Instagram allowed for true simplicity that I miss to this day with the pressure that comes from video content generated from Instagram Reels, Facebook Shorts, TikToks, YouTube Shorts, and even videos on Pinterest. Personally, I have chosen to focus more on photo-based content on my social media channels, however, I DO NOT discount the power and momentum that a video content can provide to others in this day and age. And, I think from that nostalgia that came from seeing the fashions of the 2010’s back on my social media feed again made me really want to dig through my closet ALL OVER AGAIN and relive the fashion era that I LOVED while in middle and high school (which I share my favorite flashback looks here).

I definitely think that nostalgic 2010’s fashion content on social media is a BIG component as to why the 2010’s are coming back into style. For my friends who regularly went clubbing in the early 2010’s (I definitely did in the late 2010’s), I LOVE hearing about the fun peplum pieces and statement necklaces that they excitedly wore during their outings and their excitement to have both staples come back into style nowadays. It truly brings me joy. One day at the North Carolina State Fair back in my college years of ALLLL places LOL, someone once told me “once a trend comes into style, it will likely come back into style again”. And, the 2010’s ring true to that statement, YET I did not think that the staples that I loved back then would be implemented into my mainstream fashion world again so so so soon.

My closet is filled with many many many staples throughout the years. Many of those styles were fashion staples within the mainstream fashion world during the 2010’s or remain classics to this very day. My closet brings me SO MUCH JOY and is growing and busting at the seams by the minute (which makes me LOVE IT even more!). I am so glad that I have saved so many pieces that have and still bring me happiness. My closet truly is my happy place and the 2010’s styles are a big component of styles that bring me joy. I have noticed that the thrift stores that I shop at have so many gorgeous pieces from the 2010’s (which makes my circa 2016 heart gleam!!!!) and I *of course* have snagged more than a few pieces to style myself, too. But, at the same time, I find clothing from all eras and styles at the thrift store, which makes it a sustainable, accessible, affordable, and unique place for everyone to shop at.

Personally, I think that anything truly goes in the 2020’s aka this era of fashion that we’re in. We have witnessed SOOOO many different unique styles within fashion over all of the 1900’s until today. WHY NOT embrace what we love the most?!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Do You Meal Prep?

Do you meal prep? Up until recently, I didn’t meal prep! However, as I got busier and busier in my week-to-week life, meal prep has been the way for me to go. Yet, since the pandemic winded down, it took me time (and lots of money spent on takeout – whoops!) to realize that meal prep was what worked for me (and my wallet!).

Throwing it back to my middle and high school years, I spent many nights out both during the week and on the weekends dining out. My Dad specifically would take me to his favorite restaurants in the adorable Arlington neighborhood of Shirlington as well as alongside Alexandria’s historic King Street in Northern Virginia and found cooking to be something that wasn’t a desire within his regular routine. My Mom would take me to places in the same neighborhoods alongside local restaurants nearby us in Lorton and Fairfax Station. We also enjoyed takeout A LOT (Chinese, Taco Bell, Chipotle, the likes). I learned that I enjoy the experience of eating out – the environment, the not having to cook, the interaction with my family members outside of the house while enjoying a good meal, and the many many many memories made. Dining out held and still holds a special place in my heart.

As I got into my post-graduate world, I learned that I will “all of a sudden” crave Taco Bell, McDonald’s, Chinese food, or Chipotle. AND, I would cave into those cravings on a regular basis, whether or not I bought groceries to make a home-cooked meal that night. I spent wayyyy too much money on food and my body started to feel the affects of eating out more than I should. I started to feel tired, stressed, and rundown way more often than not. The week after my 24th Birthday, I was eating out every meal. My friends and family were generous enough to treat me to Birthday dinners all throughout the week which I am SO SO SO grateful for. I also spent my 24th Birthday in the gorgeous town of Edenton, North Carolina (here) with Papa and my dog Rosie, so I went from a weekend filled with dining out to a week filled with dinners and lunches out on the town to bring in 24. That week was such a special week for me in 2023, and I am so blessed to have enjoyed that with those that I love. However, at the same time, I was SO SO SO tired and knew I needed to make a change with how I cooked and planned my meals.

The Sunday after my Birthday week, I got in the kitchen and I meal prepped my first-ever meal in a LOONGGG while. It felt AMAZING to be in the kitchen again. I finally *confessions* cleaned all the dishes from the week prior that I had been too tired to take on and enjoyed the experience of cooking a nice meal. I had a second to simply get off my phone, laptop, and the hustle and bustle of the world and enjoy the moment. And, at the end of the cooking process, I had a nice and delicious meal to enjoy. At the same time, I felt SO MUCH MORE awake and better when I’d gotten the chance to appreciate what was right in front of me. In that moment, moving forward, I just knew that I needed to meal prep a part of my regular routine more often than not. Realistically speaking, summer travel and, well, travel in general can make meal prep a bit tricky. I learned this fact when it came to Summer travel. On the same token, I noticed that meal prep made summer travel easier and more affordable. I found that I felt better, more awake, and healthier when I meal prepped (whether home or not). My wallet has been really grateful with meal prep, as well, as I am able to focus on some new-to-me savings goals, budget accordingly for upcoming travel, and place a greater emphasis on travel and activities both near and far on my bucket list.

I used to simply DREADDD cooking in general and felt as if it was something that I HAD to do every night. My work weeks and weeks in general are busy busy busy. 2-3+ nights a week after work, I have something going on outside of my house – whether it be networking, a happy hour, or dinner with a friend/family member, or a even a special interest group meetup. With starting events for the Ignite Young Professionals Program cohort that I am excitedly apart of (here) this month, my Fall 2023 season and seasons moving forward will likely be busy busy busy on both the weekends and weeknights, which can get STRESSFUL. While I am excited for the upcoming busy professional (and personal!) seasons, I also need to stay well-fueled and eat well. When I went to Isle of Palms, South Carolina for a week in June and stayed with my best friend Hannah alongside some of our best friends and her Mom alongside some of her best friends, I learned the value of healthy eating and was SO inspired by Hannah, her Mom, and her friends. Needless to say, the amazing women (Hannah included!!!) I vacationed with at Isle of Palms were such a pivot for me in starting my own healthy eating journey which for me involved MORE meal prep and LESS eating out.

My new ritual is to go grocery shopping on a late Sunday afternoon or early in the week (depending on travel), buy what I need, and then spend the evening cooking for the upcoming week while sipping on a glass of wine. I can ALSO practice mindfulness while grocery shopping and meal prepping, too! I have also gotten into smoothies during the week, which helps me to feel fueled during my usual afternoon slump. I went to Trader Joe’s on a recent early September Sunday and found myself enjoying being inside the grocery store and the shopping experience while only focusing on what I needed for the week rather than intensively planning in my head what I want for that week and then wasting food within the long run. Not to mention the sole fact that I can enjoy and see and get inspired what what’s in-season when I shop at the grocery store in-person as opposed to using Instacart.

In the past, I used to meal plan using Hello Fresh, however, in recent times, I have found it to not be useful for me. I found myself *surprise* wasting more and more food and money (woof!). BUT, while I am not a Hello Fresh customer anymore, one thing I LOVE about Hello Fresh, is their brilliant marketing strategy to aim to transform the perspective of home-cooked meals to be as good as takeout. Hello Fresh meals are super good despite being a bit pricey and not the best move for me AND tastes just as good as (if not better) than takeout. I have found Hello Fresh’s marketing strategy to be what I use when meal prepping – I want my food to taste just as good BUT better than takeout. And, well, I have found this to be true and a fun part of putting my meal prep into (what feels like) takeout cartons for the week.

Moreover, meal prep has allowed me to enjoy the moment and be more mindful while appreciating and healthier lifestyle for both my body and wallet. I am more than excited to be continuing my new habit of meal prep and continue my goal to practice mindfulness more regularly. At the end of the day, I want to feel good both physically and mentally, which meal prep allows me to do. Do you meal prep? I have learned to LOVE it and hope you will if it works for you, too!

XOXO – Katie <3

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DC Dining – Summer 2023

Summer 2023 has been one of my favorite summers in recent years. Summer 2020 there was the pandemic. Summer 2021 I felt mentally crushed being away from all of my college friends having just moved back to the Washington, DC area. And, Summer 2022 I was struggling a ton mentally. SO, Summer 2023 was such a treat for me. I travelled to South Carolina, Indiana, Illinois, North Carolina, Delaware, and took day trips to Maryland and West Virginia. In between it all, I spent many afternoons and evenings in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia and Washington, DC. Needless to say, many special memories were made both near and far this Summer 2023. At the same time, my Washington, DC area dining experiences were ALSO ones for the books, too!

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.

This Summer, I tried some places that I LOVE going to from time to time and also some that I’ve been dying to try. It was a GREAT highlight of a GREAT Summer for me. I feel beyond lucky to have friends and family that I love and are happily willing to try such incredible restaurants with me. In case you didn’t know, the Washington, DC foodie scene is BOOMING. There are SOOOO many delicious places to dine at in and around the Washington, DC area yet SO little time!

The Bazaar by Jose Andres (1100 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC)

With its setting inside the iconic Waldorf Astoria in Washington, DC, Bazaar is truly in the most majestic setting which draws its inspiration from the hotel’s origins as DC’s General Post Office until 1914. Bazaar is the workings of a 30-year dream by its iconic Chef Jose Andres and it serves up unique Americana-inspired dishes. The Bazaar was truly one of THE MOST magical restaurants I have *ever* stepped foot in – I was seriously IN AWE the moment that I walked into the restaurant with its glorious avant-garde and Americana flair.

My best friend Briana and I decided to make a girl’s night out on the town via dinner at The Bazaar and *of course* photos admiring the gorgeous lobby of the Waldorf Astoria. While we LOVED the entire atmosphere of the restaurant, we found the food to be unique yet overpriced for its tiny portions. The charcuterie and oysters with a fizz on the top and drinks were extremely well-done, I would not see myself going again for anything more than a nice glass of wine or a cocktail and a snack. I would LOVE to bring some of my best friends from Indiana and North Carolina to The Bazaar when they come to visit and *even* climb to the top of the Old Post Office Tower, which also calls the Waldorf Astoria its home and is FREE for all.

Tip: Make a reservation at least 4 weeks in advance, as tables fill up FAST.

Bellissimo Restaurant (10403 Main Street, Fairfax, VA)

My best friend Stephanie and I tried Bellissimo Restaurant, located in Old Town Fairfax, Virginia (here), as apart of Summer 2023 Washington, DC Restaurant Week. We tried their 3-course $40 menu with a glass of house wine for an additional $10. Bellissimo is a tiny yet extremely elegant and homey Italian restaurant that has been owned by the same man for over 20 years. Stephanie and I got to meet the owner and he was so kind alongside the rest of the staff! Let’s just say that the menu was also TO DIE FOR good and I was BLOWN AWAY (!!!!) by the food. I started with their caprese tower, enjoyed their lobster bisque and crab and shrimp ravioli, and then finished off with their cheesecake to go alongside some Pinot Grigio. Stephanie and I enjoyed a nice time catching up before heading back home via enjoying an extraordinary sunset that was ALL across the Washington, DC area at the end of August.

Tip: Make a reservation *even* on a weeknight as the restaurant is small to guarantee seating.

Virginia’s Darling (277 S Washington Street, Alexandria, VA)

I first visited Virginia’s Darling in November of 2022 (here) and was blown away by the gorgeous atmosphere and delicious food and *just knew* that I needed to make another visit back! SO, when I had a free Thursday night, I decided to head on over to Old Town Alexandria and enjoy Virginia’s Darling’s Happy Hour and some pasta. I had a delicious blackberry summer spritz and a unique pesto gnocchi! Needless to say, Virginia’s Darling’s vibes and decoration were just as great if not BETTER than I remember!

Ada’s on the River (3 Pioneer Mill Way, Alexandria, VA)

If you know me in real life or on Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee), then you know that I LOVE spending my weekends at home in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia! In the recent Summer months, my Papa, Aunt Amy, and I have been dining out in this gorgeous Potomac Riverfront town as apart of our monthly dinners/brunches together. For June, we decided to do brunch at Ada’s on the River – an Old Town Alexandria restaurant boasting gorgeous panoramic views of the Potomac River. Ada’s is named after and inspired by Ada Lovelace aka one of the greatest mathematicians, pioneers of coding, and women in STEM of the 19th century. When looking on Ada’s website, I learned that this waterfront restaurant was built around a custom wood-burning oven – HOW COOL! Papa, Aunt Amy, and I enjoyed cocktails and brunch fares while admiring both the interiors and exteriors of Ada’s. Overall, we had a GREAT time together and LOVED being so close to the waterfront!

Trattoria Villagio (7145 Main Street, Clifton, VA)

Located in the Clifton Historic District on Main Street, Trattoria Villagio combines the vibes of an elegant Roman Trattoria with the hustle and bustle of an Italian train station. Growing up, I used to enjoy dinners at Trattoria Villagio with both of my parents and have several great memories. SO, Papa and I decided to take a trip down memory lane and dine here *yet again*. Let’s just say that Papa and I were EXTREMELY impressed and blown away with our time and service here. We made a reservation *even* on a Monday night which was still pretty busy. The staff, ranging from our waiters to the hostesses were super kind and ensured that we had an incredible experience there. We happened to dine at Trattoria Villagio during their Monday Happy Hour special (aka my FAVORITE way to dine!!!!) of 1/2 priced wine bottles, so we *of course* enjoyed a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc and some pasta. The best part?! Trattoria Villagio also sells carryout pizza for lunch and dinner, which Papa and I want to try at some point!

Barca Pier & Wine Bar (2 Pioneer Mill Way, Alexandria, VA)

When Papa, Aunt Amy, and I dined out at Ada’s on the River earlier in the summer, we *just knew* that we had to hit the nearby Barca Pier & Wine Bar next! Part of Barca is located LITERALLY on the Old Town Alexandria waterfront pier via covered seating, which makes for the perfect summer atmosphere. We ended up dining at Barca on a cloudy Sunday, which made for a nice and more peaceful experience. Barca serves food in a shareable, Spanish tapas style and also has some brunch delights and a delicious cocktail menu (I ordered the Sangria!). A fun fact about Barca is that they use my exact same serving ware from The Golden Rabbit (!!!), which was a nice coincidence. I LOVED getting to take in ALLLL of the views at Barca while enjoying incredible shareable Spanish tapas with Papa and Aunt Amy (we LOVED the scallops and butternut squash dip!).

Carlyle (4000 Campbell Ave, Arlington, VA)

I’ve ALWAYS found Carlyle to be a magical place! Located in the heart of Arlington’s Shirlington Village, Carlyle serves American fare while decked out in deco-esque decoration with a STUNNING bar. Carlyle is also apart of the Great American Restaurants (GAR) Washington, DC area-based chain like Jackson’s, Mike’s, Coastal Flats, and Ozzie’s that I also LOVE dining at as well. To me, Carlyle has always felt grand. A fun fact about Carlyle is that my Dad and Step Mom went on their first date here years ago. And, my Dad and Step Mom took me and my brother to Carlyle for dinner growing up. Needless to say, Carlyle is an extremely special place to me and my family. Papa and I LOVED getting to spend a Friday night at Carlyle, as it holds a special place in both of our hearts. We definitely want to dine at Carlyle again, too!

The Majestic (911 King Street, Alexandria, VA)

I knew that I wanted to dine at The Majestic since seeing its gorgeous sign on Old Town Alexandria’s King Street. Having been a fixture in Old Town Alexandria since 1932, The Majestic has a delicious menu, extensive drink list, stunning interior design, and great happy hour specials (which I want to come back for VERYYYY soon!!). I dined for a solo Saturday brunch in August and felt like royalty. The food and my summer spritz is TO DIE FOR good and the staff including the owner who regularly greets diners. The interior walls are lined with paintings, including those that are of Washington, DC area landmarks. I find the retro interiors to make The Majestic OH SO elegant and make you feel just as if you turned back in time to 1932.

Thompson Italian (1024 King Street, Alexandria, VA)

Having been given accolades by Washingtonian and Northern Virginia Magazine, New York City culinary-trained couple Gabe and Katherine Thompson opened Thompson Italian‘s first location in Falls Church, Virginia in 2019. In recent times, Thompson Italian opened its second restaurant in Old Town Alexandria’s King Street where my Papa and I dined in late August. Funny enough, my name is *also* Katherine Thompson, which made my desires to dine at Thompson Italian (beyond reading about it on just about every top restaurant magazine headline!!) that much stronger. When we came into the restaurant, the host was shocked that I was not the restaurant owner – LOL! – despite the fact that she doesn’t usually make reservations being an owner. Our time at Thompson Italian was great, as the staff was super kind (including our super sweet waiter Caesar!), approachable, and made our experience such a delight. We enjoyed a Monday special of $30 for any bowl of pasta and a glass of wine, where I got a corn, panko, and scallops pasta with a glass of Pinot Grigio – it was GLORIOUS (!!!). Thompson Italian is a popular restaurant spot and does get busy FAST, even on a Monday night, which shows how many Washington, DC area locals love this place, too. I WILL be back with others again soon, as I’d LOVE to try dessert and a martini there in the future!

The Bullpen (1201 Half Street SE, Washington, DC)

I came The Bullpen briefly before a Washington Nationals baseball game, as apart of a company-wide networking event at the baseball game where some of my coworkers and I met up for drinks before hitting the ballpark. Located right by Nationals Park, The Bullpen is known for its live music, drinks, and baseball. My coworkers and I ALL got the “Barbie” aka pink colored cocktails while networking with one another and our other coworkers. The funniest part was that one of the guys in the band playing live music while we were all there happened to also work at our company, too – WHAT A SMALL WORLD! Needless to say, I had a GREAT time catching up with my coworkers, many of which I hadn’t seen for quite some time.

Spartans Family Restaurant (9542 Burke Road, Burke, VA)

The moment I step foot in Spartans, I immediately feel right at home. Its heritage truly shows how Spartans strives to make everyone feel welcome and at home as they walk through the restaurant’s doors. Spartans Family Restaurant was founded by Chris and Xenia Sarantis in January 1995 in Burke, Virginia. The couple truly believed they could make their dreams a lasting reality within the Northern Virginia community through their beliefs of hard work and value in customer service and even expanded to open a second restaurant – Olympians Family Restaurant – in Alexandria, Virginia. Spartans serves the most delicious Greek, Italian, Mediterranean, and American fare and there is ALWAYS something on the menu for everyone that comes to dine.

Papa and I regularly come to Spartans Family Restaurant and find that the same sweet and extremely kind staff are there and excited to see us (along with many of their other frequent diners!). Each time Papa and I come, we both get salad and their French Onion soup, which is THE BEST! I ALWAYS look forward to dining at Spartans, as there’s such a cozy, welcoming, and magical feel whenever I go.

Del Mar Restaurant (791 Wharf Street SW, Washington, DC)

In early August, my best friend Shivani and I met up for dinner in Washington, DC’s gorgeous area known as The Wharf. And, we happened to walk by Del Mar and simply pop in. I will say, in the moment, I had ZERO expectations of what to expect, however, I am SO glad we stumbled upon this incredible restaurant. Del Mar is a Spanish seafood restaurant on the waterfront by Fabio Trabocchi. The atmosphere is STUNNING and truly goes off of its Spanish-style and seafood cuisine. Shivani recently graduated with her Master’s and we happened to share that with the waiters who brought us complimentary champagne and made us both feel SO special. The manager came to bring us dessert champagne and cake, too – something that Shivani deserves more than anyone else I know. But, while there, I also enjoyed a summer spritz (surprise!) and octopus. Del Mar is definitely a special place in my heart and I hope to dine here again with Shivani and/or someone else very soon!

The Tasting Room (1602 King Street #200, Alexandria, VA)

Located in the Lorien Hotel & Spa on Old Town Alexandria’s King Street, The Tasting Room Restaurant proudly offers authentic European cuisines with an American twist. Offering everything from charcuterie, flatbreads, sandwiches, desserts (I ordered the delicious warm cheesecake topped with vanilla-sugared berries!!) food-wise alongside an array of specialty cocktails, beers, and wines, The Tasting Room offers it all at a much more affordable rate than other restaurants in the Washington, DC area. Personally, I LOVED getting to enjoy the small and cozy yet opulent restaurant atmosphere here without worrying about spending a fortune to have a good time on the town (if you know, you know!). And, if you plan on staying at the stunning Lorien Hotel & Spa (somewhere that I want to go for a staycation!!), then depending on when you book, you may get a restaurant credit, too.

On an August weeknight evening that I had free, I decided to get out of the house and head to Old Town Alexandria to check out some of the many fun Happy Hour spots! While I missed the Happy Hour window (which usually ends at 6 or 7 on weeknights at most places), I did snag a seat at the gorgeous bar which was empty when I arrived. I LOVED getting to have the entire bar at The Tasting Room to myself, too. It has been on my bucket list to enjoy a gorgeous bar to myself on a weeknight after a long work day, and I am SO glad that I got to.

Tip: Be mindful that The Tasting Room does not accept any reservations. Walk-in’s only, so plan accordingly.

Here’s to making MANY more Washington, DC area dining memories this Fall and beyond!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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What I Wore to Work – August 2023

As I am finishing up writing this post (on September 5 say no less!), I am adding the 58th work outfit photo to my album. That means, by next month’s “What I Wore to Work” blog post, I will have more than 70 work outfits that I have shared with y’all (!!!!). Needless to say, I have LOVED getting to share my work outfits with y’all. And, by the end of 2023, I will have OVER 100 outfits that I will have shared here. Sharing with y’all on my Instagram stories (follow me @_thepinkchickadee) and on the blog has brought me with SO MUCH JOY and I love seeing y’all get excited about what I wear, too.

Fashion has brought me SO MUCH JOY over the years. And, to be able to share my joyful outfits with y’all brings me joy, too. Fashion is definitely an outlet for me (as it likely is for many of y’all reading this, too!). One big thing I have realized since I have started sharing my outfits with y’all on a daily basis is the fact that I am so much more productive when I am dressed up for work. Confession: I *DID* used to work in my pajamas (work from home life vibes I guess), however, I feel so much more productive when I am not. I know that everyone is unique in their work from home attire, which is a blessing.

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

Top: Simply Southern; Pants: TJ Maxx; Earrings: Target; Bracelets: J Crew Factory & All She Wrote Notes
Dress: Sam Edelman; Scarf: Lilly Pulitzer for Target; Headband: Simply Southern; Earrings: SugarFix by Target; Bracelets: Lilly Pulitzer & Kendra Scott
Dress: Tuckernuck; Scarf: Lilly Pulitzer; Headband: Lilly Pulitzer x Lele Sadoughi; Bracelets: Lilly Pulitzer, Kate Spade, & Amazon; Earrings: All She Wrote Notes
Dress: Amazon; Necklace: Thrifted; Bracelets: J Crew Factory & Kate Spade
Dress: Crown & Ivy at Belk; Headband: The Pioneer Woman x Walmart; Bracelets: Kate Spade & J Crew Factory
Dress: Thrifted; Pearls: Vintage; Earrings: Kate Spade; Bracelets: Amazon, The Inspiration Co, & Kate Spade
Dress: J Crew Factory; Headband: Lilly Pulitzer; Earrings: Kendra Scott; Bracelets: Lilly Pulitzer & All She Wrote Notes
Dress: Lauren James; Scarf: Talbots; Earrings: Lisi Lerch; Bracelets: Amazon, The Inspiration Co., Kate Spade, & Kendra Scott
Dress: Ralph Lauren; Necklace: J Crew Factory; Bracelets: J Crew Factory & Alex and Ani
Dress: J Crew Factory; Earrings: SugarFix by Target; Sandals: Jack Rogers; Bracelets: Amazon & The Inspiration Co
Tee: Meredith College Alumnae Market; Skirt: Vineyard Vines; Necklace: Talbots; Headband: Anthropologie; Bracelets: Amazon, Kendra Scott, & Alex and Ani
Dress: Amazon; Scarf: Lilly Pulitzer; Bracelets: Lilly Pulitzer, All She Wrote Notes, & Kate Spade
Dress: Tommy Hilfiger; Belt: Coach; Flats: Tory Burch; Handbag: Kate Spade; Bracelets: Kendra Scott, The Inspiration Co, & Amazon
Top: J. McLaughlin; Leggings: TJ Maxx; Earrings: J Crew Factory; Bracelets: Little Words Project; The Inspiration Co, & Amazon
Blouse: Tory Burch; Skirt: Vintage; Necklace: Thrifted; Earrings: Lilly Pulitzer; Headband: J Crew Factory; Bracelets: Amazon & All She Wrote Notes
Dress: Nanette Lepore; Scarf: Vera Bradley; Necklace: from Murano, Italy; Bracelets: Amazon, The Inspiration Co, Alex and Ani, & Kendra Scott
Caftan: Simply Southern; Earrings: Lilly Pulitzer; Bracelets: Amazon & Lilly Pulitzer
Dress: Draper James RSVP; Belt: Vintage; Headband: Lilly Pulitzer; Bracelets: Kendra Scott & The Inspiration Co
Dress: Lilly Pulitzer; Blazer: Evan Picone; Earrings: SugarFix by Target; Bracelets: All She Wrote Notes & The Inspiration Co

Here’s to September and Fall season being upon us!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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The Life of Katie – August 2023

August truly sipped away like a bottle of wine *cues Taylor Swift*. It may be September as I write this, YET August by Taylor Swift is still playing on repeat! This year was the year that I think I realized how special of a gem of a month August is. I used to resent summer months and think that August was the rather “boring” month of them all, given the fact that there’s no Federal Holiday. However, as an adult with no going back to school anymore for the time being, I am savoring ALL of the special and slower August months. August truly is a gem and has since become one of my favorite months of the year.

August 2023 taught me to appreciate the smaller and simpler things in life (as a cheesy as it may sound!). I regularly get caught up in the more elaborate moments in life, but there is always something so great about true simplicity and simply being in the moment. I think getting sick a few times throughout the month helped me to really wind down, too (a blessing in disguise). One of my biggest goals established in August is to be more present and in the moment and strive to be more mindful, which I thank an EXCELLENT talk at my company for helping with this. Practicing mindfulness has allowed me to achieve this goal of living in the moment, as opposed to running to what is next – something that is SO easy for us all to get caught up in. Overall, August has brought me so much joy and I’m already ready for August 2024.

Highs:

  • To kick off the first weekend of August, I went for an afternoon to one of my favorite places in the Washington, DC area: Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. I checked out some shops on King Street, including Penny Post, Lilly Pulitzer, Current Boutique, and Shop Made in VA. Being a local stationary business, Penny Post had a celebration the day I went for National Stationary Day, SO I was happily able to snag a The Rifle Paper Company 2024 wall calendar: something that I use daily! I also enjoyed a nice solo brunch at The Majestic – a restaurant with a *magical and retro* interior on King Street that I’ve been wanting to try for awhile now. I tried their seasonal sangria, which happened to be made with strawberry and mint and was delicious, along with a fennel sausage and spinach and feta omelette and a side of potatoes which were all AMAZING. I, then, came back to Old Town Alexandria a few weeks later for drinks and pasta at the gorgeous Virginia’s Darling on Washington Street (here) and managed to take a mini stroll around town. I would’ve walked around Old Town Alexandria a bit more, but it had been SO HOT out this August, so it’ll have to wait until next time!
  • My best friend Shivani came to visit early on in the month and we met up on a Tuesday evening for dinner and drinks at The Wharf. I rarely visit The Wharf in Washington, DC let alone in the summer time, BUT I will be back! We went for dinner at Del Mar – an upscale Spanish restaurant right on the waterfront. Since we were celebrating Shivani graduating her Masters and my professional development achievements, the restaurant staff was SO SWEET and treated us to a starter, champagne, dessert, and a dessert wine. I also ordered my go-to summer drink – a Aperol spritz – and some octopus for dinner. Not to mention, the atmosphere within Del Mar is so beautifully done! Shivani and I will most definitely be back. And, after our glorious celebratory meal, we hung out a bit during what happened to be golden hour at The Wharf alongside the marinas and waterfront. It was STUNNING to say the least. I WILL be back to The Wharf *very soon*!
  • August is the month that I am *FINALLY* watching Sweet Magnolia’s Season 3, finishing up Sex and the City‘s reboot And Just Like That Season 2, and starting to watch my late grandmother’s favorite show Ugly Betty. July was definitely a the month where I re-watched A TON of Grey’s Anatomy and started Suits and August was a new season month for me! I have really enjoyed And Just Like That, as it gives me ALLL the feels (if you know, you know!). I have LOVED watching the characters from Sex and the City grow and develop into who they are meant to be. As someone who really wants to become a Mom someday, a highlight for me is watching Charlotte and Harry raise their two children into their teenage years. Needless to say, I am MOST DEFINITELY a Charlotte (!!!!) and proud of it. As a matter of fact, my Mom said that I am the most Charlotte-like human she knows – such a compliment if you ask me! On the same token, I have also LOVED watching Ugly Betty, as it is such a cute show. It’s fun to watch America Ferrara play Betty ~18 years before she takes the stage as Gloria in Barbie. Through it all, August has been such a fun binge-watching month!
  • It’s *officially* Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL) season (!!!!). Starbucks released their PSL’s for the Fall 2023 season on August 24, and, I got up bright and early and headed to Starbucks to commemorate the day. I am SO SO SO excited for this upcoming Fall season, as it is getting closer and closer and closer to beginning to Fall like it, too. As I headed off to Starbucks for my PSL, the weather felt crisp and a bit like Fall aka LITERAL PERFECTION.
  • I attended my *first-ever* book club meeting to kick off the month of August. My friend Marielle who I met through my best friend Bree set up the book club (which Bree is apart of, too!) and it has been SUCH A BLAST. We have virtual meetings, even though most of us are Washington, DC area-based and it has been really fun to bond with everyone beyond our meetings as well (which some of us hope to do in-person, too!). Going into September, I am enjoying reading Summer Darlings by Brooke Lea Foster for Book Club, which takes place in gorgeous Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. I have ALWAYS wanted to visit Martha’s Vineyard and am hoping to next year! In the meantime, I look forward to further connecting with my fellow Book Club members.
  • The second weekend of August, I visited my influencer best friend Lindsay in Indianapolis and a night in Chicago. On this trip, I crossed off a brand-new state off of my bucket list: Indiana (I’d LOVE to visit all 50 states in my lifetime). In Indianapolis, Lindsay showed me around her town, including The Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers in Carmel (here), Broad Ripple Village, downtown Indianapolis, and the Indianapolis Zoo. While in Chicago, Lindsay and I went to the Malibu Barbie Pop-Up Cafe, walked around the downtown river walk at night time, dined at The Hampton Social and the Ralph Lauren RL Restaurant, and visited the Starbucks Reserve Roastery aka the world’s largest Starbucks. I LOVED Indianapolis and Chicago. Both cities were incredible and I always love time with Lindsay, as I am SO blessed to call her one of my best friends.
  • The weekend after I got back from visiting Lindsay in Indianapolis and Chicago was a special one. On Saturday, I met up with my best friend Stephanie and her Mom and adorable toy poodle Teddy with Papa and my dog Rosie at the gorgeous Blue Valley Vineyard and Winery in Delaplane, Virginia. We enjoyed wine flights, charcuterie, and time together. Stephanie and her Mom recently went on some fun summer trips both near and far, so it was fun to hear about their adventures! Blue Valley Vineyard and Winery is a Greek family-owned winery that has been awarded several Virginia-based awards over the years and also is a wedding venue. With its location on the top of a mountain practically, an array of STUNNING mountain views and skylines circle all guests at every turn. It was truly a treat to visit Blue Valley Vineyard and Winery! And, as for Sunday of that weekend, my high school best friend Haley and I got lunch at Uncle Julio’s in Woodbridge, Virginia’s adorable Stonebridge Potomac Town Center. It was SO nice to catch up with Haley who had also gone to the Midwest recently after both of our trips there. Afterwards, I went to the adjacent Wegman’s for some grocery shopping for the week (which to me is ALWAYS a treat!).
  • My Big Sis from college and best friend Stephanie and I checked out a new-to-us Italian restaurant called Bellissimo located in Old Town Fairfax, Virginia for Washington, DC Restaurant Week which took place the last week of August. The interior of Bellissimo is tiny yet spacious and elegant. Paintings of different notable Italian cities – Venice and Florence of the likes – lined the restaurant walls. The food was delicious, too! Bellissimo’s Restaurant Week menu included 3 courses (starter, entree, and dessert) with a glass of wine add-on for $10 which we both *of course* did via a limited-edition menu. The food was DELICIOUS and the staff and owner were super kind and excited to have all their guests there. I was really proud of myself for navigating the drive and tight parking there (as city-like driving such as in Old Town Fairfax) is not my preference at ALL and is rather very nerve-wracking for me. And, when Stephanie and I left Bellissimo, we were presented with a gorgeous sunset as the *perfect* way to wrap up a *perfect* night.
  • I closed out August by getting a brand-new hair do via some much-needed pampering at the hair salon! Hair appointments are EXPENSIVE especially when you color your hair too, y’all. However, I see it as such a great treat yourself moment for myself and to simply take part of an afternoon off for me and to get away from work for a bit. I am not someone who regularly gets her nails done or goes to the spa or gets facials (however, I do want to get massages on a semi-regular basis at some point in the near-term future!), so I am willing to spend a bit more on my hair about 3-4 times a year as an investment in myself. I cut off INCHES of my hair this time around and am feeling much more confident going into September and this upcoming Fall season. Afterwards, I got *none other than* Starbucks’s new Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte for the road and headed off to my Dad’s house in Bethany Beach, Delaware to commemorate the final weekend of summer where I experienced a beautiful sunset and gorgeous full moon on the way there.

Lows:

  • In early August, we had inclement weather via some severe storms. I initially took off the first Monday of the month to enjoy the day in Washington, DC as my best friend Shivani was coming to visit. However, due to the incoming storms, Shivani’s flight got extremely delayed and we had to cancel our Monday plans. Since I live on a 30 minute+ Metro ride into downtown Washington, DC, I decided to not go into the city and, thus, I made the decision to clock in some hours at work instead. Although disappointing, I am glad I was able to catch up on some work and and stay safe (and see her the next day after work!).
  • Our next door neighbors that Papa and I became close with moved to Ohio in early August. A highlight of the warmer months this Spring/Summer season was enjoying bonfires and cookouts with them in the afternoons/evenings after work. Argh – I miss talking to them on a regular basis while typing this! Our neighbor Angela became super close and LOVED Rosie, too. Papa and I miss Angela and her husband SO MUCH and we know that we are excited to visit them sometime soon!
  • I unfortunately got a sinus infection right after my trip to Indianapolis and Chicago. It left me under the weather for a few days after the trip and into the next week. It left me only able to go out of the house for a few hours each day before feeling the major need to crash and put on my pajamas. NOT FUN! Sadly, I had to miss seeing Moulin Rouge at The Kennedy Center due to this infection, miss a work desserts social with my team, and reschedule a weekend with my bestie Lorena – sad sad sad 🙁

Summer 2023 was a GREAT one! I have made so many specials memories across 9 different states, celebrated so many monumental occasions for myself and others, spent time with loved one’s both friends and family and pets, and came home with one too many sunburns to commemorate the great times had. August 2023 was the cherry on top of the whipped cream of an ice cream sundae of an AMAZING Summer. After COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021 and a super exhausting yet fun and travel-filled 2022, Summer 2023 was the most refreshing and perfect Summer needed to follow. I will miss Summer 2023, yet I look forward to the up and coming Fall 2023 season and the holidays that follow (!!!).

XOXO – Katie <3

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My Washington, DC Gallery Wall!

Someday, I’ll be living in a big old city *cues Taylor Swift!*, well, today is that someday. If you follow me on Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee), then you likely know that I am Washington, DC area-based. It has been a dream of mine since my early college years to move back to the Washington, DC area post-college graduation. Even though the college-to-real world transition wasn’t exactly smooth sailing for me (or at least it didn’t feel that way all the time), I am proud to be a Washingtonian and am glad that I call the nation’s capital my home.

Today, I am sharing my Washington, DC gallery wall – aka something that I have been working on for *over* a year now. Putting together my Washington, DC gallery wall has been very meaningful for me. I started purchasing pieces for it (via accumulation over time) when I was still adjusting to the post-graduation life. Life in a brand-new city isn’t always easy, either, as glamorous as it may look on the outside. When I first moved back to the big city from college in North Carolina, the majority of my friends were still in North Carolina and I had yet to fully establish a network of friends. I soon came to realize yet had to take time to accept that most of my coworkers were best kept in a professional networking light, which wasn’t easy for me yet is the best decision I made given my career goals and later-established personal boundaries. I ALSO had a really uncomfortable situation with someone in my network alongside some of my friends on two occasions that should not have happened that took a major mental toll on me. While I currently, have found closure when it comes to both cases and wish everyone the best, it still was tough and almost made me want to move back down to North Carolina. BUT, through it all, I am so so so glad that I chose to stick it out and remain in the Washington, DC area. I have since found a great network of friends and supports alongside my family who happens to reside here. I feel beyond lucky. SO, putting together my Washington, DC gallery wall is like a culmination of overcoming challenges yet sticking it out beyond it all.

Washington, DC is an INCREDIBLE city! I LOVE LOVE LOVE the fact that within a 30 minute drive, I can go from my neighborhood in the Northern Virginia suburbs to the monuments of Washington, DC. I feel BEYOND lucky to have such neat monuments, including the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, and US Capitol Building, in my own backyard. People DREAM of simply visiting Washington, DC, yet I have the amazing blessing of living there. When I was in North Carolina for college, I remember being so so so excited to move back to the Washington, DC area and being soooo close to such incredible historic and monumental places. Now, that I am living in a big old city, I am enjoying savoring every moment of it!

As for my Washington, DC gallery wall, I slowly accumulated items over the course of a 1 year period. I got items from: Home Goods, Shop Made in DC, Evelyn Henson, Etsy, and local Washington, DC-area thrift stores. Slowly gathering items for my Washington, DC gallery wall allowed me to spend less over time instead of all at once.

Washington, DC is TRULY my happy place! I feel incredibly grateful to call the nation’s capital my home and to have SOOO many great national landmarks that people dream of seeing at least once in their lifetime within my own backyard. To *hopefully* many many many more years of living in the Washington, DC area!

XOXO – Katie <3

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