101 in 1,001 – Year 1 Update!

Whew! It has been a year since I first shared my 101 in 1,001 days bucket list (here). For those who don’t know, the 101 in 1,001 days bucket list is essentially a list of 101 items to complete in 1,001 days. A LOT has happened in the past year, since I first shared my 101 in 1,001 bucket list. And, to be transparent, I have BARELY looked at this list since I did my 6 month update (here). HOWVER, it was SO MUCH FUN to look back and see how far I’ve come in the past 6 months-year when I started this bucket list.

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

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

Career:

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

Education:

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

Personal:

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

Relationships:

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

Travel:

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

Washington, DC:

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

Total Complete/Ongoing: 28

Total Partially Completed: 1

XOXO – Katie <3

thepinkchickadee2 Comments

4 Hours in Winchester, Virginia

On Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee), I have always seen content pertaining to the stunning town of Winchester, Virginia, yet I hadn’t been. HOWEVER, others’ content on Winchester only made my desires to visit this stunning Northern Virginia town grow and grow. Luckily, when my college friend Carlin started graduate school in Winchester, I was given the opportunity to take a day and visit her there! Carlin and I had a GREAT time catching up and enjoying the gorgeous downtown 4 hours in Winchester, Virginia together on a sunny September Saturday afternoon.

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.

About Winchester:

Winchester is a Northern Virginia town in Jefferson County, located not too far from the West Virginia border. It is also in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley and boosts a rich history, specifically focused on the Civil War playing home to Stonewall Jackson’s Headquarters Museum, and lots of nature and charm, too. Winchester has a lot a rich amount of unique culture with a small town charm. With its location in the Shenandoah Valley, mountains are plentiful and so are vineyards and breweries. For my fellow friends living/have lived in the South, it is important to note that Winchester DOES have a Cookout (!!!!).

Getting There:

Winchester is located about 90 minutes from Washington, DC and 2 hours from Charlottesville, Virginia. It is easiest to drive to Winchester from its closest airport Dulles International Airport located an hour east or its second closest airport Ronald Reagan National Airport located 90 minutes east. The town is located right off of highway I-81. That all being said, Winchester makes for the PERFECT small town day trip getaway, given its location in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley and proximity to several local vineyards and breweries.

What We Did:

Old Town Winchester – Carlin and I spent most of our time at Old Town Winchester’s open air walking mall, taking in the live music, enjoying the sunshine, and catching up. We started with lunch at Union Jack Pub & Restaurant which was delicious and had a gorgeous bar, before checking out some of the many shops on the same street, including the ultra-adorable Winchester Book Gallery. There was also A TON of super fun live music in downtown Winchester, too, and what I found to be unique is the diverse age range and genders of people playing the music making it so much more charming and wholesome.

 

Kimberly’s – Just a couple of blocks away from the open air walking mall in Old Town Winchester is the ultra-adorable and VERYYY much a Katie store – LOL! – Kimberly’s. Kimberly’s has two buildings: one which has all-things seasonal, home decor, and Virginia made goods, whether it be plates, magnets, jams, or wine and another with clothing including … Lilly Pulitzer and Barefoot Dreams (!!!). Carlin and I got to meet Kimberly the store owner and buy some Lilly Pulitzer, too. It was just a week after the September 2023 Lilly Pulitzer Sunshine Sale, which Kimberly’s still had TONS of merchandise marked down from. We also got to shop the 2023 Print with Purpose to support Breast Cancer awareness before it hit the Lilly Pulitzer website. Kimberly’s was definitely a favorite of mine, as I LOVED its super fun Fall decorations, merchandise, and *of course* all-things Lilly Pulitzer!

Handley Regional Library – Looking as if it is a European Opera House, the Handley Regional Library also located in Old Town Winchester is a site to be seen. With free access to all visitors, the Handley Regional Library is absolutely STUNNING. It has a uniquely painted dome which guests can climb stairs to to the top of, alongside functioning as a library to those within the Winchester and greater Shenandoah Valley communities. The Handley Regional Library is TRULY a site to see and definitely worth a visit!

Apples – All across town, there are some super fun painted apple structures representing different aspects of Winchester, including its history and charm. Carlin and I LOVED getting to spot *just a few of them* during our time here in Old Town Winchester.

Wrap-Up:

I truly had an amazing time and a blast here for 4 hours in Winchester, Virginia. I am so blessed to have connected with Carlin during my undergraduate years at Meredith College and to have another friend from Meredith up here in the Northern Virginia area. Carlin is truly a blessing! At the same time, I LOVED getting to explore a bit of Winchester with Carlin and learn more about this beautiful little town located in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley. And, I definitely want to come back, too, and spend another 4 hours in Winchester, Virginia!

XOXO – Katie <3

thepinkchickadeeLeave a comment

My Experience at the Mount Vernon Wine Festival

Every Spring and Fall, George Washington’s Mount Vernon puts on an incredible wine festival, bringing in several participating wineries from ALLL across Virginia. As fellow Virginia wine (and wine in general!) lovers, my best friend Stephanie and I decided to experience the Virginia Wine Festival ourselves in early October 2023 and we were definitely in for a treat!

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.

About the Mount Vernon Wine Festival: The Mount Vernon Wine Festival is hosted every Spring and Fall and allows guests to sample unlimited wines from wineries all across Virginia at George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate in the evening. Guests also get a complimentary wine glass to take home, can admire the sunset on the estate’s East Lawn looking over the iconic Potomac River, and can walk through the first and second floors of the mansion. Tickets are starting at around $50 (which is what Stephanie and I both paid) and go up if you choose to purchase a charcuterie board or do VIP seating. Concessions are available for purchase, too. We opted to do General Admission. See more information on planning a visit to Mount Vernon in general and events here.

Around 20+ wineries (each with their own booth) participated at the Mount Vernon Wine Festival, allowing guests to get unlimited samples with admission. Bottles and glasses are also available for an additional purchase at each booth. I ended up doing some Christmas shopping for my family (wine is my best gift for loved one’s – haha!) and got 2 bottles for myself, too. Stephanie and I had an incredible time at each of the wineries that we were able to do complimentary tastings at. Each winery offered a unique flair, some of which’s wine had odes to the winery’s owner’s German, Polish, or Indian heritages. I LOVED getting to try several different unique wines, whether a celebratory, a dessert, or a go-to red or white. The wineries we tried included:

  • Horton Vineyards – a 3-generation women-owned winery, including the youngest daughter being the youngest woman winery owner in the United States!
  • Narmada Winery – an Indian-owned winery based near Washington, Virginia that pays homage to both Virginia wine country and its owners’ Indian heritage.
  • Morais Vineyards & Winery – a stunning winery AND popular Virginia Wine Country venue located in Bealton, Virginia.
  • Molon Lave Vineyards – the literal sweetest people were at their booth and they had the most Katie pink rose named *none other than* Katie’s Charm (!!!!).
  • North Mountain Vineyard & Winery – Paid homage to German/Polish heritage with some delicious dessert wines and the sweetest people at their booth as well.
  • Briede Vineyards – located in Winchester, Virginia with some amazing white wines.

Stephanie and I also were able to put our picnic chairs and blankets down on the East Lawn where we *maybe* spent 15 minutes the entire time we were there. Needless to say, we LOVED getting to sample several different wines from many many many vineyards across the Virginia Wine Country. We prioritized trying different vineyards over touring the mansion and it was for sure worth it and a blast to socialize with the staffers from each winery and other fellow festival guests. We definitely got our money’s worth and we will for sure be back to a future wine festival, too!

As fellow wine lovers, Stephanie and I LOVED getting to make a visit to the Mount Vernon Wine Festival. There are SO many incredible Virginia vineyards that we still have YET to check out. I know Stephanie and I both have our own winery bucket lists, too! I feel beyond lucky to live in an incredible state in the heart of wine country, featuring SOOO many incredible wineries to visit and enjoy some locally made wines at. And, it’s not every day that you get to strike a pose with the President and First Lady (!!!!).

XOXO – Katie <3

thepinkchickadee1 Comment

24 Hours in Chicago, Illinois

Ever since I went to Chicago on a Spring Break trip in high school, I had wanted to visit again as an adult. Luckily, that opportunity to visit Chicago again came up when I went to visit my best friend Lindsay in Indianapolis, Indiana (here) and we decided to do a night in the Windy City before I headed back to the East Coast in August 2023! While in Chicago, we did alllll-things Barbie-themed, from going to the Malibu Barbie Popup Cafe to drinks at Hampton Social to the literal best ever espresso martinis that I’ve ever had at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery and a few things in between. During my time in Chicago, I truly fell in love with the city all over again and I cannot wait to go back and visit Chi Chi in the future!

*Disclaimer: Please note that this post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase through one of my links, then I will receive a small commission. This commission is at no extra cost to you. Additionally, this post is not sponsored, and all opinions are my own.*

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

Getting There:

Lindsay and I drove from Indianapolis to Chicago, since it is under 4 hours each way and I totally give props to Lindsay for driving us the entire way as I am NOT a city driver (confession!). I ended up flying home out of Chicago O’Hare airport on a United Airlines (my preferred airline!) flight back to Washington, DC. I was able to somehow get a flight into Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) from O’Hare which is RARE for United given that Washington, DC’s Dulles International Airport is a United Airlines hub. BIG WIN! Overall, I found navigating O’Hare to be pretty easy, as the airport is extremely nice and pretty fun with all of its displays, too.

Where We Stayed:

I am a big Hilton fan and a Hilton Honors (rewards) member! SO, we stayed at a Hilton with close proximity to the Magnificent Mile and the iconic Chicago Riverwalk. Our room had a beautiful view of the Chicago skyline, which was amazing especially after sundown. Personally, I LOVED where we stayed, as it was super close to everything in Chicago, allowing us to walk pretty much everywhere (with the exception of the Malibu Barbie Popup Cafe in a different part of town!). And, well, I LOVE a nice Hilton hotel, too!

What We Did:

Being transparent here, A LOT of our activities during our brief Chicago stay revolved around *none other than* … food and cocktails. Initially, we had planned to take an Architecture River Tour, however, due to the rainy weather, we decided against it – next time though! However, we did have a few fun activities during our time that didn’t involve food.

One of my favorite activities while we were in Chicago was getting to walk around after our night cap at Hampton Social alongside the Chicago Riverwalk, as the rain started to subside. Lindsay knows Chicago pretty well, so she was able to give me a free and fun nighttime skyline walking tour of the city. I LOVED getting to see Chicago’s skyline at night (there is something simply SOOOO magical about city skylines at night – am I right?!) and truly see the stunning city’s flair on a peaceful and partially drizzly Monday night. We walked across the bridges alongside the Riverwalk and admired all aspects of the city skyline. We also saw one of Chicago’s well-known theaters allll lit up and stepped foot in the Kimpton Hotel Monaco lobby which I stayed at the last time I was in Chicago with my Dad. The best part?! Finding a super fun set of gold ANGEL WINGS (!!!!) to strike *just a few* poses in front of. My college mascot is the Avenging Angel, so I ALWAYS will take an opportunity to pose in front of angel wings. That Monday night, I had a happy happy happy heart and SO MUCH love for the Windy City.

The other activity that we did was go to *none other than* the Target right next to the Malibu Barbie Popup Cafe after our time in Barbie Land to buy … Barbie dolls (!!!). The CUTEST thing?!?! SO many mothers, grandmothers, and daughters that we saw at the Malibu Barbie Cafe happened to stop by that exact Target, too. It was sooo fun to see Barbies manifested at Target afterwards! After Target, we took an Uber back to our hotel and ended up stopping by the iconic Intercontinental Hotel which was decked out in butterflies for summer time. We *of course* snapped a few photos with our Barbies at the hotel, too!

Where We Ate:

Starbucks Reserve Roastery – our first stop in Chicago was *none other than* … Starbucks Reserve! Starbucks Reserve is essentially a HUGE Starbucks offering cocktails, coffee, merchandise, food, and everything in between. It was such a neat experience! There isn’t a Starbucks Reserve in Washington, DC and I hadn’t been to the New York City Starbucks Reserve, so, when in Chicago, we HAD to make a visit (!!!). Lindsay and I went up to the 4th or 5th floor (I cannot remember – LOL!) bar and got some espresso martinis which were LITERALLY THE BEST EVER and simply enjoyed one another’s company. The vibes at the Starbucks Reserve were impeccable, too, and I will definitely be back for another espresso martini at the bar next time I am in the Windy City!

RL Ralph Lauren Restaurant – After seeing my friends Michelle and Divya dine at the RL Ralph Lauren Restaurant on their Chicago trip earlier in Summer 2023, I *just knew* that it was a must-dine when Lindsay and I went to Chicago! The restaurant is attached to Chicago’s Ralph Lauren boutique and the vibes were super elegant, classy, and very very very Ralph Lauren. The interior gave me a bit of that historic Washington, DC charm, but thinking more on the lines of Ralph Lauren in a restaurant! I tried their Lobster Bisque which was AMAZING and a Caesar salad. I have to mention that the staff at RL Ralph Lauren Restaurant are extremely kind, hospitable, and caring. While this wouldn’t be my first place on my list to dine at again in Chicago, I definitely wouldn’t hesitate to come back when the opportunity presents itself!

Hampton Social – Streeterville – Lindsay and I came to Hampton Social’s Streeterville Chicago location for a night cap on a rainy Monday night just a few blocks away from our hotel. We got Barbie-themed pink and glittery cocktails and I also got some delicious fried oysters. There aren’t any Hampton Social locations near me and I had heard of it as a popular spot in Nashville, SO I was psyched to hear that there were not one but TWO locations in Chi Chi! I am SO glad we came here, especially on a rainy Monday night as not many people were around and we got practically the entire second floor of the restaurant to admire its vibes and *of course* take photos.

Malibu Barbie Cafe – While the Popup cafe is unfortunately closed, Lindsay and I had an amazing time here. Upon purchase of our tickets, we selected complimentary food items (we both chose the veggie and grain bowl!) and ordered cocktails for an additional charge at the bar. The cocktails were ALSO glittery, pink, and VERYYY Barbie (!!!!). I’ll save the rest of my incredible experience at the Malibu Barbie Cafe for another post, but for now I will say that the food and drinks were pretty good.

Dollop Coffee Company – Lindsay and I got our morning coffees at Dollop Coffee just a block away from our hotel on Tuesday morning. One of the super fun things about Dollop is the fact that they have photos of many of the Real Housewives lining the walls of the shop. I don’t keep too much tabs at the moment on the Real Housewives, but I did watch the franchise a lot more during my high school years, so it was fun to see some familiar faces and enjoy a new-to-me cafe!

Wrap-Up:

I had an incredible time in Chicago and am SO grateful for our brief time in the Windy City. I LOVED the hotel that we stayed at and its location in proximity to many of Chicago’s incredible sites to see. I also LOVED having such a fun Barbie-themed time here, too. It was fun to practically plan a 24 hours revolving around all-things pink and Barbie! At the same time, I am so so so grateful for Lindsay’s and I’s friendship and the fact that she drove us into the city and then drove me to the airport out of the city, too. All in all, I have so much gratitude for our 24 hours in Chi Chi!

I definitely would LOVE to make a visit back to Chicago someday, too. And, hopefully, it won’t rain as much either! I would LOVE to experience the city’s incredible architecture via a tour, dine at some new-to-me spots, and spend time with Lindsay and others that I love. People in Chicago are extremely friendly and I would LOVE to go back again. Til next time the Windy City!

XOXO – Katie <3

thepinkchickadee2 Comments

The Life of Katie – September 2023

September 2023 started off with a bang and ended with the need to get a new laptop (more on that to come!). The month of September is also a very unique one in that it begins with summer and ends with autumn. The changes in seasons, this year for me, was both exciting but also a bit sad as I was super lucky to have had an amazing summer 2023. This September, I decorated for Fall, which has brought me SO MUCH JOY and has since made may say that I am super excited for what is to come this Fall season, too.

As I was writing this blog post, I ran into *none other than* a WordPress bug – UGH! I have to say that I am SO happy that WordPress has worked with me and been great in letting me know about the bug. I am also relieved that I was able to get some guidance on sharing content to avoid this bug moving forward alongside the fact that it wasn’t an error on my end – PHEW! Needless to say, I am frustrated that it took a while for me to publish all of my blog content, but am REALLY excited to be able to finally share some more fun things here *even* if it’s a bit later than usual.

Highs:

  • To kick off the month of September, I spent most of Labor Day Weekend with my Dad, Step Mom, and my “sissy” their Yorkie Ginger at their home base in Bethany Beach, Delaware. Delaware is definitely my happy place, especially during the warmer months. And, I am SO glad I got to spend some quality time with my Dad, Step Mom, and *of course* Ginger. Dad and I took a day to explore and do some family genealogy research in the charming Lewes, Delaware. We, then, went out for dinner near Ocean City, Maryland and of course a night on the Bethany Beach boardwalk. BUT, last but not least, we enjoyed a beach day, too!

Lewis, Delaware

Dinner, Beach Mornings, & Ginger Snuggles

  • The September 2023 Lilly Pulitzer Sunshine Sale was on September 12-14 online! If you know me, then you know that this is one of the few times each year that I simply stock up on *none other than* my favorite fashion brand Lilly Pulitzer (!!!!). I ended up shopping the Lilly Pulitzer Sunshine Sale in-person over the weekend prior to it launching online at the Old Town Alexandria’s King Street location. The ladies at the King Street location are SO KIND and made the shopping process such an enjoying experience. I, then, headed over to Current Boutique – a consignment store also on King Street where the ladies there are ALSO so sweet – where I grabbed another gorgeous Lilly Pulitzer dress before shopping the sale online 3 days later. The online Sunshine Sale was SUCH A JOY to shop – I somehow got into the sale (along with many others in my network) WITHOUT any wait which is a rarity given that there is always a virtual queue to it AND found so many incredible pieces on each day. Needless to say, despite feeling so tired from allergies at the same time, I felt so much bright and happy feels when I shopped the Sunshine Sale!
  • The first weekend of September, Papa went off to Wisconsin for a family reunion, SO me and my dog Rosie had the house ALLL to ourselves for the weekend. I had a REALLY nice time getting to give Rosie ALLL the extra attention and get that special one-on-one time with my sweet dog. That Friday night, my best friend Haley and I went out to dinner at Jackson’s Mighty Fine Food & Lucky Lounge which was magnificent and just what both of us needed. That Saturday, I went to Old Town Alexandria to shop Lilly Pulitzer’s Sunshine Sale and then spritz at Hanks Oyster Bar to wait out the storms. And then, that Sunday, I went to the gorgeous Occoquan, Virginia’s Historic District where I had a delicious (AND CHEAP!!!) brunch at The Secret Garden Cafe. To end the weekend, I went to *none other than* Trader Joe’s for groceries and then meal prepped (here). Rosie and I LOVED our time together, even though I went out quite a bit locally.

Restaurant/Cafe Visits!

Visit to Occoquan, Virginia

  • Over the summer, I got accepted into the Leadership Center for Excellence’s Ignite Young Professionals Class of 2024 cohort (here). As apart of the Ignite Young Professionals Program, I will get to network with peers all across different industries in the Northern Virginia region, learn and grow as a leader, and engage with a local Arlington, Virginia-based nonprofit. Towards the end of the month, the Leadership Center for Excellence hosted a Homecoming 2023 reception where new members of their incoming Classes of 2024 and alumna could connect and network with one another. There, I got to meet 3 other members of my cohort, which was REALLY exciting to me (!!!). I am SO excited to be able to be apart of the incredible network of people who all have a passion to lead with purpose via the Leadership Center for Excellence.
  • WELL, *just in case* you didn’t hear, Barbie the movie is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video (!!!!). I saw Barbie in theatres with my best friend Sarah at the end of July and was SO excited when I saw that it was streaming so so so soon. SO, in typical Katie fashion, I bought Barbie on Prime Video and have been watching it on REPEAT ever since!
  • My friends from high school, Haley and Violet, and I got brunch together at a popular local-to-us brunch spot called Chloez Cafe. Violet is currently living in Philadelphia and doesn’t come home as often as she used to, so Haley and I LOVED the opportunity to catch up with her! Over coffee and Apple Cider Mimosas, Haley, Violet, and I enjoyed catching up and connecting. Such a perfect way to spend a rainy Sunday!
  • One of Papa’s and I’s FAVORITE pumpkin patches/garden centers is Nall’s Produce. A Northern Virginia staple for decades, Nall’s Produce sells everything from locally-sourced plants to gardening things to produce to seasonal goods which *of course* includes pumpkins (!!!!). There are also chickens and a resident pig named Penny. Another cute staple that Nall’s Produce has is a community library. Every Fall, Nall’s Produce has a gorgeous and *very* Instagrammable pumpkin wall and a pumpkin hill (which opened a week after Papa and I went!). I got my annual photos in front of Nall’s Produce’s pumpkin wall AND I plan to come back for the pumpkin hill, too! Papa regularly goes to Nall’s Produce to get produce and gardening things and I LOVE tagging along on occasion, as it’s a fun (and always Instagrammable!) outing. Later on in the month of September, we stopped by Burke Nursery & Garden Centre where I grabbed my favorite Fall treat: Apple Cider Donuts!
  • Earlier on a September Sunday, I had a major major major gut feeling telling me to go to Trader Joe’s to get groceries. As tired as I felt in the moment, I got in the car and hopped on over to Trader Joe’s. And, well, I am SO SO SO glad that I went! I felt SOOO much joy when I shopped in-person at Trader Joe’s and admired ALLLL the goodies laid out in front of me. On that first run, I grabbed what I needed for the week alongside a few candles and some wine and spent a bit under my weekly grocery budget (win, win!) and then headed home to meal prep. I made a salmon salad the first week and the second I made *yet another* salmon salad and then some baked ziti. My Trader Joe’s weekly runs have brought me SO MUCH JOY and have allowed me to add structure, stay within budget, and practice mindfulness. I share more about my meal prep journey here!
  • I took a day trip to Winchester, Virginia to visit my college friend Carlin who happens to be getting her Masters at Shenandoah University. Carlin gave me a tour of her gorgeous campus and then we headed to downtown Winchester to enjoy some lunch, shopping, and simply catching up. I had never been to Winchester before yet have ALWAYS wanted to go and am glad I *finally* got the chance to! More on my time in Winchester to come in a future blog post!
  • My best friend Amanda came to visit me towards the end of the month to go see *none other than* the Jonas Brothers at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. Currently, Amanda is student teaching near her hometown in New Jersey, and I am SO SO SO proud of her and all of her hard work. I LOVED getting to catch up with Amanda and see one of our favorite boy bands (!!!!). Before the concert, we went to one of my favorite pop-up bars – Urban Roast – for Fall vibes pre-concert. And, then, off to the concert where we heard some of our favorite songs and relived our childhood dreams. After the concert while searching for the nearest Metro station, we ended up connecting with the super sweet Elizabeth and posed with her Joe Jonas pop-up which was SO fun. I hope to meet up with Elizabeth again soon, too! And, on Metro, we ended up running into some of my high school classmates who are a few years older than me, which was so fun as well! I had such a GREAT weekend spending time with Amanda and catching up with others.
  • In the midst of all of my laptop troubles, I took a debrief and visited one of my favorite local Washington, DC area cafes: Commonwealth Joe Coffee Roasters. Commonwealth Joe does an INCREDIBLE job with their curated coffees (both seasonal and regular menu staples!) and their atmosphere which changes with the seasons. I went back in April for their cherry blossom-themed decorations for Spring (here) and plan to share more on it in my Fall 2023 DC Dining blog post.
  • September 2023 was *none other than* a fun-filled professional development month! Right after Labor Day Weekend, I attended an in-person Generative AI workshop at my company’s headquarters in September (which BLEW ME AWAY!!!!) where I left on such a high. And, about 10 days later, I tuned into Women in Data Science International’s (WIDS) virtual summit which was AMAZING to listen into and take notes on while working from home. Lastly, I listened to a webinar by the National Institute for Statistical Sciences on professionals societies. All in all, professional development truly fills my cup and allows me to ignite passions into my own work on a daily basis.

Lows:

  • For a good chunk of the month, I felt *extremely* tired. My extreme fatigue was bothering me SOOOOO MUCH that I thought and feared that it could be, perhaps, something more. Yet, to my surprise, it ended up that since I switched to pumpkin-flavored K-Cups because ITS FALL Y’ALL (!!!!!), I ended up drinking my usual larger size of coffee which had A LOT less caffeine in it. And, thus, I was super tired as a result of LESS-than-usual caffeine in my system. Kind of funny in the scheme of things and such a relief. PHEW!
  • While shaving my legs, I accidentally cut myself REALLY BAD. This is a rarity for me, yet the side effects have been awful and extremely painful. However, it made me realize the importance of taking it easy from time to time.
  • Unfortunately, my anxiety has been high during the month of September. I have definitely become *more than* a bit of a homebody during the pandemic and it hasn’t worn off on me ever since. And, with the start of the Back to School season and the essentially corresponding Back to Work season filled with networking and happy hours, I have definitely felt more anxious getting back into the swing of things. Although I am SO excited for the upcoming events in work and in my personal life, I am also more anxious about getting out more.
  • Earlier in September, I felt REALLY sad that Summer was coming to an end. Summer 2023, as I’ve mentioned before on this platform, was one of THE BEST Summers in a few years for me. So many blessings came to fruition this Summer, including: reaching a big milestone at work, visiting a new-to-me state, attending many happy hours, going to the Delaware beaches not one not two but 3 times, and going on a weeklong trip to South Carolina with my best college friends. As September hit and I saw several Fall-related posts on my social media feeds, I felt nothing but sad. It took me a few weeks to get into the groove and feel rather excited as opposed to sad at the change of seasons.
  • The *very* last day of the month, I spilled water on my personal laptop. I had a fun day planned, but had to postpone to scramble to try and get a diagnostic report for my laptop as to whether or not I need a replacement. Sadly, the best I could do is get an appointment next week, given my schedule. I was REALLY bummed as I had to postpone some fun Fall things, including dinner in Old Town Alexandria. But, good things come to those who wait!

Here’s to an exciting Fall season to come beyond September 2023!

XOXO – Katie <3

thepinkchickadeeLeave a comment

5 Days in Isle of Palms, South Carolina

It has been a hot minute since I shared a bit about my time in Isle of Palms, South Carolina with y’all since over the Summer on Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee) yet I always look at my time there with such a big smile. My best friend Hannah hosted me and my best friends Bree and Alanna for a week at her family’s home there at Wild Dunes. There, we had a girl’s week with Hannah’s mom and some of Hannah’s mom’s friends and their dogs (which made me MAJORLY rejoice as a fellow Dog Lover!). Our 5 days in Isle of Palms was filled with so many memories, from the four of us bunking together in the same tiny bedroom, kayaking on the ocean (which terrified me LOL!) to look for sand dollars on the sand bar, and catching up with one another without any looming deadlines or outside things going on.

Isle of Palms, South Carolina is one of a few islands neighboring the charming Southern city of Charleston. Other neighboring islands include Folly Beach and Sullivan’s Island. More specifically speaking, we stayed alongside the private gate-controlled Wild Dunes Resort/community on Isle of Palms. Confession: I am *terrified* of alligators and have been since I was a kid and knowing that South Carolina has many native alligators nerved me SOOOOO MUCH – LOL! Luckily, I saw NO alligators on this trip, but Hannah’s mom did and saved us that grace. From where we were in Wild Dunes, we were about 45 minutes from downtown Charleston which we did a day to (here) that included LOTS of shopping (here). I had actually been to Isle of Palms and Charleston back in September 2019 for a brief 72 hours (here) for a college trip and LOVED it. Needless to say, I am SO glad that I got to spend a lot more time this time around in Isle of Palms!

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

Reflections:

For the most part, we spend our time in Isle of Palms simply enjoying the moments that we had together. There are 3 different cities and 2 different states that Alanna, Hannah, Bree, and I live in, which makes it THAT much more challenging to get time together especially for almost a week. We enjoyed several walks on the beach and golf course, plenty of moments doing nothing other than snacking and sipping some wine, and a ton of valuable conversations in between it all. We did enjoy an afternoon in Mount Pleasant, including a trip to the local Goodwill (aka my idea) and the Mount Pleasant Shopping Center where I got to enjoy walking into a Belk for the first time in practically *forever* (!!!!) as well as indulging in Cookout. On another occasion, we enjoyed a nice dinner in Mount Pleasant with Hannah’s mom and her friends, where on the way we coincidentally found ourselves right in front of the iconic Isle of Palms pink flamingo house that I later found out is available for rent (!!!!!). On this trip, I am SOOO glad that we were not in a hustle once, given how I usually am in my 9-5 life.

Funny story: as me, Hannah, Alanna, and Bree were all riding into Isle of Palms around midnight, I couldn’t help but fall *in love* with the stunning palm trees whose shape I could vaguely see via the highway’s lights. Then, I *knew* that we were close to the beach and I got SOOO excited! Once we got up the next morning, Hannah and I took her amazing and ultra-adorable boxer mix Pixie for a walk on the beach. What I LOVE about Hannah’s family’s home is that it is right on the beach and is SOOOO peaceful given its proximity to the Wild Dunes Resort. We took many many many walks on the beach and at the nearby golf course and enjoyed many sunsets together, too. One of my favorite activities was reading a beach read while looking out over the beach. We also enjoyed a time afternoon on the beach, too, and an evening at the community access pool and hot tub. One of my *very very very* favorite activities was getting to enjoy dinners with Hannah, Alanna, Bree, Hannah’s mom, and her friends. It was SO nice to all simply catch up, share our thoughts, and get inspired be one another given our different life journeys and seasons of life.

I got extremely inspired by the incredible women around me on this trip of 5 days in Isle of Palms. Every afternoon, Hannah made delicious smoothies which only kickstarted my own healthy eating journey to include smoothies (!!!!). Not only were Hannah’s smoothies SOOOO refreshing in this humid and hot South Carolina heat, but they were also so fueling, too. Smoothies inspired me SO much on this trip to start my own healthy eating and lifestyle journey, alongside Hannah’s mom and her friends who all strive to live and healthy lifestyle. When I got back to Northern Virginia, I implemented and continue to implement my own version of a healthy lifestyle. Another way that I got inspired in Isle of Palms was through hearing Hannah’s mom and her friends discuss dating today versus when they were dating before my friends’ and I’s time. I LOVED hearing their perspectives on dating and the lack of a need to rush things when it comes to dating, too. As someone in her early twenty’s who has many college and even high school classmates getting married and engaged and starting families of their own, it can be extremely daunting or worrisome to think that I am not on a similar timeline and life stage as them. However, at the same time, I have come to learn that it’s REALLY important in fact even vital to be married to the right person to start a life with (whatever that may look like!) as opposed to getting married at a young age to someone who you may think in the moment is the right one. I ALSO learned the value of meeting others in-person via through friends and family and perhaps in the real world as opposed to on an online dating platform. Needless to say, I left 5 days in Isle of Palms, South Carolina so much more inspired than when I came!

Wrap-Up:

From inspiration both via the stunning Wild Dunes views and beyond and conversations that were had, I left my 5 days in Isle of Palms, South Carolina with such a recharged and happy heart. I find myself SOOO lucky that I was able to take some time away from work to spend with Hannah, Alanna, and Bree. I also want to thank Hannah and her mom for hosting us and an incredible week here at Isle of Palms. Isle of Palms is truly one of the prettiest places that I have ever been to!

XOXO – Katie <3

thepinkchickadee1 Comment

What I Wore to Work – September 2023

Ahhhh – September 2023 was one for the books! From kicking off the month at the beach in Delaware for Labor Day Weekend to ending the month on a GREAT note with lots of professional development and volunteer opportunities and then spilling water on my personal laptop sadly, September 2023 was a good month despite being *just a* bit of a rollercoaster. My September 2023 work month kicked off with an in-person workshop on GenerativeAI which was an excellent opportunity to network and see some of my many great colleagues in-person. And, my September 2023 work month ended with an incredible Fall week working at home. Needless to say, September 2023 was a GREAT month professionally (!!!!!).

Initially with the start of September, I felt sad that Summer was coming to an end. As I’ve said before, Summer 2023 was an AMAZING Summer for me and blew it out of the park and truly changed my perspective on loving the season much more than I have in the past. HOWEVER, over time and specifically thanking a trip to Trader Joe’s (or two!) on this one, I started getting so so so so so excited for Autumn and the transition within my own wardrobe from Summer -> Fall. Oddly enough, I felt SO excited for Fall in June LOL yet not when the change of seasons actually occurred – ugh the irony haha! Now that it IS October, I am more than excited to be styling some bright Fall fashion work outfits (!!!!!).

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

Dress: Becky’s Boutique; Headband: Simply Southern; Bracelets: All She Wrote Notes, Alex & Ani, & Amazon
Dress: Hill House; Headband: Lele Sadoughi; Flats: DSW; Bracelets: Lilly Pulitzer & Alex and Ani
Dress: Ann Taylor; Scarf: Max Studio; Necklace: Vintage; Bracelets: J Crew Factory, Amazon, The Inspiration Co, & Kate Spade; Earrings: Kate Spade
Top: Thrifted; Skirt & Tote: Lilly Pulitzer; Earrings: Kate Spade; Heels: Vintage; Bracelets: J Crew Factory, Alex and Ani, & Kate Spade
Dress & Necklace: J Crew Factory; Bracelets: Amazon, The Inspiration Co, Kendra Scott, & Alex and Ani
Sweater: Ralph Lauren; Pants: J Crew Factory; Headband: The Dollar Tree; Bracelets: Amazon, The Inspiration Co, Kendra Scott, & Kate Spade
Dress: Lilly Pulitzer; Necklace: South Moon Under; Bracelets: Lilly Pulitzer, The Inspiration Co, & J Crew Factory; Flats: Vintage
Dress: Crown & Ivy at Belk; Cardigan: Tommy Hilfiger; Flats: Vintage; Earrings: SugarFix by Target; Bracelets: All She Wrote Notes, Lilly Pulitzer, & The Inspiration Co
Dress: Duffield Lane; Cardigan & Bag: Lilly Pulitzer; Booties: Lucky Brand; Earrings: SugarFix by Target; Bracelet: The Inspiration Co
Dress: Nordstrom Rack; Headband: Simply Southern; Bracelets: J Crew Factory, Kendra Scott, & Lilly Pulitzer; Flats: NewBella
Tank: Shapermint; Cardigan: Crown & Ivy at Belk; Leggings: TJ Maxx; Headband: Lilly Pulitzer x Lele Sadoughi
Top: Haley and the Hound; Skirt: Lilly Pulitzer; Earrings: Lisi Lerch; Bracelets: Lilly Pulitzer & Amazon
Dress: Lilly Pulitzer; Bracelets: J Crew Factory & Kendra Scott
Sweatshirt: Lilly Pulitzer; Leggings: Shapermint; Slippers: Cuddl Duds
Dress: Crown & Ivy at Belk; Vest: J Crew Factory; Headband: Madison Raleigh; Necklace: Talbots; Bracelets: J Crew Factory & Kate Spade; Boots: Hunter Boots
Blouse: Thrifted; Necklace & Earrings: J Crew Factory; Pants: Nanette Lepore; Bracelets: J Crew Factory, Lilly Pulitzer, & Kate Spade; Tote: Barrington Gifts; Flats: DSW
Jacket: Karl Lagerfeld; Dress: Nanette Lenore; Headband: SugarFix by Target; Bracelets: Kendra Scott
Top: Madison Mathews; Leggings: Shapermint; Earrings: Lisi Lerch; Bracelets: Amazon, The Inspiration Co, Alex and Ani, & Kendra Scott; Vest: LL Bean; Tote: Barrington Gifts; Flats: New Bella

Now that we are in October, I am excited for ALL that’s to come this month professionally and *of course* styling some fun outfits for y’all through it all. Here’s to a GREAT October 2023!

XOXO – Katie <3

thepinkchickadeeLeave a comment