The Perks of Meal Prep During the Holidays

In recent times, I have found myself LOVING meal prep (I also write about it and rave about it, too, more here)! Not only is meal prep more affordable in the long run, but it also allows me to cook things in bigger batches at the same time as opposed to every single night. With my busy busy busy schedule ESPECIALLY with what is to come during the holiday season, meal prep helps me to have structure and maintain a *somewhat* of a healthy lifestyle during a not-so-healthy mainstream time of the year.

To be frankly honest, I am writing this post on the Sunday evening of Thanksgiving weekend. Having taken off the Wednesday-Sunday of Thanksgiving week, I am so happy to have had a break. However, I am still SOOO tired after the fun weekend filled with joy, family, and LOTS of food. I also find myself sitting on the couch after a few hours of meal prep for the upcoming week. I have recently added in breakfast to my meal prep circuit, which I know will work WONDERS for me (thanks to my bestie Shivani on this one!!!). However tired I JUST may be, I am so grateful for the joys of meal prep even during this busy holiday season. In fact, I am so thankful to have decided to meal prep more often than not during these busy times.

My holiday season schedule is literally jam-packed. Not only do I have a holiday party, event, dinner, celebratory trip (CONGRATS to my bestie Alanna on this one!!!), or activity planned more nights than not, I also have as most Americans do my 9-5 job that I LOVE which keeps me going during the days. Not only am I working the hustle and attending joyful holiday festivities which I LOVE, I am also busy prepping for Christmas with family and friends – think all things Christmas presents (from buying to wrapping), cooking dishes for gatherings, and baking cookies. My story is nonetheless like most Americans during this time of year. If you have seen A Bad Moms Christmas movie, then you PROBABLY know what I am talking about! The holidays can be a CRAZZZYYY time for everyone. Not to mention the fact that I am a LITERAL sucker for ALLLL things Christmas meaning that I go out most nights to enjoy it in my wonderful city, too!

I HAVE to say that I am oh so excited for the upcoming events and ongoings within my own life this holiday season. This 2023 year has been such a special year for me. 2023 has been filled with lots of self love, growth, and much more both personally and professionally. I feel so grateful for 2023 and what lessons this year has taught me, too. I am ALSO thankful to have incredible friends and family members and coworkers who support and empower me regularly, each of them are incredible human beings that I am lucky to have as apart of my life and support system (you all know who you are <3). And, guess what?! CRAZY ENOUGH, meal prep has helped me practice giving myself grace and to be more thankful for what I currently have.

Furthermore, I am OH SO GRATEFUL, THANKFUL, and BLESSED to have discovered the joys of meal prepping during this 2023 year. Meal prep allows me to focus on a healthy eating lifestyle that works for me. Personally, I am someone that believes that healthy eating is a lifestyle choice and NOT a diet and, rather, should be something that works for every individual person as opposed to a collective group of people (enough to be said here for today!). And, meal prepping allows me to simply get away from my always flashy phone and simply focus on the joys of cooking and be one within my own kitchen. I live for the hustle, *just* in case you haven’t noticed (!!!!), and find myself getting into the hustle more often than not. Especially during the holidays, I find myself with plans and/or commitments more often than not, SO meal prep allows me to cook on my OWN schedule and enjoy a delicious, healthy, and home-cooked meal while hustling.

Meal prep is something that I am thankful, grateful, and blessed to have found joy in this year. Specifically this holiday season, meal prep is literally a LIFESAVER. Some of the many dishes I plan to make this holiday season include: skillet gnocchi in Trader Joe’s Vodka sauce (aka my FAVORITE!), breakfast tacos with scrambled eggs and black beans and MORE, honey chipotle shrimp salad, and a Caprese salad wreath!!! There’s SO much to be thankful for this time of year (and every time of year for that matter!) and meal prep is just one of those things!

XOXO – Katie <3

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48 Hours in Boston, Massachusetts

To kick off November 2023, I took a weekend trip up to Boston, Massachusetts (!!!!). My cousin Sabrina and her girlfriend Nicole live in the nearby Boston suburbs and were amazing hostesses (which I am ALSO so grateful for them opening their home up to me, too!) and I got to also meet some Instagram besties of mine and have them become in real life friends (if you know, you know!). My trip to Boston was SUCH A BLESSING to me and I am OH SO GLAD that I was *finally* able to make this trip happen. The idea of me visiting Boston on my own has been in my head for … 9 years now, and I am very happy that I have been able to make it happen almost a decade later. While in Boston, I was able to see many of the sights that this New England hub has to offer, ranging from points of interest all along the Freedom Trail, Newbury Street, Beacon Hill (including the iconic Acorn Street), North End aka Little Italy, the waterfront, all the way to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. My first full day in Boston, I walked 18,000+ steps and found myself crashed on the air mattress that night – LOL! Overall, I am SO happy and blessed that I was able to visit my cousin Sabrina and Nicole and have an incredible time up in New England (see snippets from my trip to New England in 2022 here, here, here, and here!).

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

Getting There:

Living in the Washington, DC area allows me to have MANY MANY MANY flight options for getting to and from Boston, given nearby airports and airlines. I ended up using Delta flight vouchers that I had from cancelled trips to the Carolina’s over the summer and paying $5 (!!!!!!!) out of pocket round trip out of Reagan National Airport (DCA) which is Metro-accessible for me and super close to Washington, DC. I chose to fly to Boston on a Friday evening and fly back to Washington, DC on a Monday morning, to allow for a bit of a vacation post-vacation. Over the years, I have decided to mainly stick with Delta and United Airlines (and their partner airlines) for flights, given that I have a rewards account with each and want to accumulate miles over time. The BEST PART?! Given my rewards account through Delta airlines, *somehow*, I got a free upgrade to Comfort+ heading home and found out when I went to gate check my bag which is the rows behind First Class and got to enjoy many many fun perks during my quick flight back home. I LOVED the incredible service that Delta provided on my flights both to and from Boston and look forward to flying Delta again in the future!

What I Did:

When in Boston, live as fellow Bostonians do! I REALLY enjoyed getting a taste of Boston over the weekend that I was there! The first day I was in Boston, I walked over 18,000 steps and then crashed when I got back to my cousin’s apartment – LOL! Anyhow, I LOVED getting to see SOOO many incredible sites to see here in Boston, including the many points of interest alongside the Freedom Trail, the stunning Beacon Hill neighborhood, Newbury Street, North End (including the waterfront!), and the iconic Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. I also enjoyed getting to meet up with not one but 3 (!!!!) Bostonian Instagram besties of mine – Griffin, Timmy, and Mikayla – while in town and getting to see their incredible city from their perspectives. Truly, I LOVED getting to see Boston for the first time as an adult and learn to love this stunning, charming, and historic New England city.

While there, I mostly used public transportation via their subway system known as the T. I purchased a 1 ride or 2 ride pass which was either $2.40 or $4.80, respectively. I will note that, over time, the T has become a bit more unreliable to local Bostonians, given that the trains can be super slow and delayed, which can be an issue for those with commitments and commuting to and from work. However, the T is GREAT for not having to drive in and out of the city and around the city as well as saving on Uber/Lyft fares. Compared to Washington, DC’s Metro’s fares, the T’s fares are *pretty close* to what I pay per ride on the weekends.

Boston Public Garden

The Boston Public Garden was probably my FAVORITE spot in all of Boston (!!!!!). Indeed, it felt *just* as if I was walking through a mini Central Park …. But I was in Boston! I truly loved getting to enjoy the vibes of locals, tourists, musicians, and everyone in between in this beautiful and central spot in the city. The city skyline of Boston was also a stunning aspect of the Boston Public Garden, too! I sat on a bench in the Boston Public Garden not once, but twice, and LOVED getting to literally cool my heels and take it all in, whether it be the people-watching, crisp Fall air, or city vibes.

Beacon Hill

Beacon Hill feels like Boston’s version of Washington, DC’s Georgetown neighborhood HOWEVER it has a much much much more colonial and historical feel to it. Just like Georgetown, Beacon Hill has several shops, both locally owned and bigger known names, restaurants, cafes, and several stunning windy cobblestone streets. I popped into the stunning Beacon Hill Books & Cafe, Benefit Cosmetics, Upstairs Downstairs Home, and *of course* Starbucks. I also walked down the iconic Acorn Street – which according to my cousin Sabrina is one of the most photographed streets in the United States. Acorn Street is a historical cobblestone alley essentially that still holds its colonial charm to this very day. The best part?! I ran into my friend Joelle on a whim while wondering the streets of Beacon Hill, and I was SOOOO glad I ran into Joelle and got to see her in Boston where she’s recently relocated while on this trip!

Upstairs Downstairs Home

Acorn Street

Freedom Trail

My fellow Instagram turned in-real life (!!!!) bestie Mikayla of @blissandbows gave me a walking tour of Boston’s Freedom Trail when we met up! We walked the Boston Common to the Old City Hall (which is a favorite of mine weirdly enough!) ALLL the way to Quincy Market and Faneuil Hall. And, *of course* passing a prominent cemetery in between it all. I had a GREAT time getting to meet up with Mikayla in-person and see her incredible city from her perspective. Earlier in the day with my friends Griffin and Timmy, we walked by the Massachusetts State House, which was another super cool site to see. Boston’s Freedom Trail is spread out throughout the city yet it still somewhat centralized, too. I found it SO unique that Boston has sites from the colonial days still standing to this very day as well as tall buildings representing the big city vibe era of today.

Newbury Street

I *of course* did some shopping here on Newbury Street! Newbury Street feels like the shopping street of Boston. I popped into the stunning Lilly Pulitzer store which I had seen SO MANY photos of for many years. The ladies at the Lilly Pulitzer there were SO sweet, too! I enjoyed checking out some of the New Arrivals in-person and chatting with the Lilly ladies of Boston. Then, I headed to Kendra Scott which was such a STUNNING store and all decked out for Christmas, too, (just like Lilly Pulitzer was!!) and *of course* did a little bit of damage, getting the Emerald Elisa necklace. I truly LOVED the interiors of both Lilly Pulitzer’s and Kendra Scott’s storefronts. Like much of Boston, the storefronts of Newbury Street are in older buildings and possess such unique charm on both the interiors and exteriors.

Another neat aspect of Newbury Street was passing religious buildings of all kinds, whether a synagogue, church, or temple, that are still in use today. The biggest theme of all of these religious buildings was the fact that they all brought everyone together. Each place of worship had signs to show that they are a safe place for people of all walks of life, whether LGBTQ+, BIPOC, etc. It truly was a beautiful thing to see the love and acceptance and inclusivity in the air ALL around Boston.

North End

Mikayla and I walked ALL the way to North End from the Freedom Trail. Our first stop was the Boston Waterfront, which was STUNNING. We, then, strolled along the beautiful streets to dinner via Mikayla’s amazing recommendation of BenCotto (more on that below!). North End is known at Boston’s Little Italy neighborhood and is a very popular place for visitors and locals, alike to dine,

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is probably THE BEST museum that I have ever visited, alongside the Louvre in Paris and the Uffizi Gallery in Florence (!!!!!). The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is actually late 1800’s-early 1900’s Boston socialite Isabella Stewart Gardner’s mansion-turned-museum. Isabella Stewart Gardner was an avid world traveler and extremely educated and bright woman for her time. Stewart Gardner learned to read and had tens of thousands of books in her collection, alongside artworks from her international travels, including to Asia, Europe, and all across the United States. Honestly, her collection of artwork and books was STUNNING (!!!!). I was truly in awe of Stewart Gardner’s collection that still prevails to this day and attracts many many many visitors year after year. I went with my cousin Sabrina and her girlfriend Nicole who both have been to the museum in the past and LOVE it. We ended up chatting with a local Bostonian who is a fellow Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum member. He ended up telling us some really neat antidotes and facts about the iconic Isabella Stewart Gardner, who had several friends at Harvard University in nearby Cambridge, Massachusetts where she was able to be inspired to pursue her lifelong passion for learning. What a woman Stewart Gardner was before her time. I left this museum feeling beyond empowered, inspired, and in awe!

Where I Ate:

Bistro du Midi

My Instagram turned in real life (!!!!) besties Griffin and Timmy suggested that we try Bistro du Midi – a delicious French spot right alongside the Boston Public Garden – for *none other than* brunch! It was SUCH AN HONOR to be able to meet both Griffin and Timmy in-person for the first time. We had an amazing time at Bistro du Midi, too. I tried raw clams for the first time ever and enjoyed a delicious omelette with some amazing pommes frites. I also have to mention that the atmosphere at Bistro du Midi is EVERYTHING, from the bar to the second story (where we ate!) to everything in between. I also had a great time with GREAT company, too!!

Bencotto

Mikayla suggested we try Bencotto and I am SO glad that we went! Bencotto is located in Boston’s North End where Italian cuisines reign, as previously mentioned, and was such a treat. One of my highlights of Bencotto was getting to spend time with Mikayla and learn more about a restaurant that she and her family LOVE to dine at and celebrate occasions together at, too. I *surprise* got an Aperol Spritz with *none other than* a specialty pizza for dinner. Needless to say, my pizza and Aperol Spritz and pizza were well-earned and deserved after walking 18,000+ steps around town that day!

Tous Les Jours

While it is a nationwide franchise, Tous Les Jours is a favorite spot of my cousin Sabrina’s alongside her girlfriend Nicole. And, both Sabrina and Nicole take loved ones to Tous Les Jours when they come to visit them! Before Boston, I had never dined at a Tous Les Jours location and was very impressed by its unique experience. Essentially, Tous Les Jours is a French-Japanese pastry shop and cafe fusion, offering a variety of both sweet and savory pastries. Guests upon entry grab a set of tongs and can select the pastries of their choosing AND order a coffee or tea at the register when they go to pay. I got a savory quiche and a sweet chocolate-filled croissant alongside a pumpkin spice latte!

Pressed Cafe

After wondering and being in literal heaven at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Sabrina, Nicole, and I headed to Pressed Cafe located at Prudential Center. A New England/Northern-based breakfast and Mediterranean like cafe chain, Pressed Cafe was SO gorgeous on the inside and offered something literally for everyone! I definitely enjoyed the vibes at Pressed Cafe and the market-like array of goods such as hummus and freshly pressed juices for guests to purchase and take home with them. Pressed Cafe was definitely a unique spot that I would try again when in New England!

Wrap-Up:

Overall, I LOVED getting to *finally* visit Boston as an adult. The last time I went to Boston before this trip was when I was 15 and couldn’t really go off on my own and do my own thing. And, since that trip as a 15 year old, I had been wanting to go back to Boston and do *none other than* my own thing on a trip there. I am SO glad I got to do my own thing on this trip … a whopping 9 years later! This trip, I got to explore the stunning Beacon Hill neighborhood, shop and browse the gorgeous stores there at my own pace, explore the historic sites to see alongside the Freedom Trail, and visit a new-to-me museum that I fell IN LOVE with.

At the same time, I am SO SO SO grateful to have many loved ones in Boston, including my cousin Sabrina and her girlfriend Nicole who were incredible hosts during this trip. I LOVED getting to finally meet my Instagram friends Griffin, Timmy, and Mikayla and have them become in real life friends. Needless to say, I feel SOOO much gratitude for this trip and to be able to fall in love with another place in New England (growing up I spent summers up in Maine!). I ALSO am so so so excited for visiting Boston and other parts of New England in the future, as I have some friends in Boston and Newport, Rhode Island that I have yet to meet up with in their respective homes. New England is probably my favorite place in the world, given its charm and stunning coastlines to mountainous skylines. Moving forward, I aspire to visit New England at least once a year!

XOXO – Katie <3

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My Pre-Thanksgiving Weekend in Washington, DC!

Typically the weekend before Thanksgiving, ALL of the Christmas fun has typically begun in the Washington, DC area! And, as a Christmas enthusiast, I see that there is literally nothing better to do than simply enjoy ALL the holly jolly fun right in my own backyard. Ranging from hosting my first-ever Friendsgiving to visiting a Popup Christmas bar to a Christmas tree lighting and everything in between, I have enjoyed this past pre-Thanksgiving weekend essentially kicking off the holidays here in my city.

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.

My best friend and fellow influencer Lindsay of @sunshineandstairclimbs on Instagram came to visit me over the weekend JUST IN TIME for Friendsgiving (!!!). We, then, did a bunch of activities around the city and went out to Bealton, Virginia for a winery day, too. I will note that although not everything is fully decorated and all things Christmas until around December 1, I am SO glad I got to show Lindsay a bit of Christmas in Washington, DC.

Friendsgiving

Friendsgiving was a bittersweet one, as I had to cancel my planned gathering last year due to burnout. SO, I am so so so thankful, grateful, and blessed to be able to not only host an incredible Friendsgiving this year but also have such incredible friendships here in the Washington, DC area. Many of my local friends were able to make it, too, which made it to be such an incredible and blessed gathering. Lindsay also got to meet all of my Washington, DC area friends and everyone there all became friends on social media and in real life (!!!!). One of the biggest gifts in my book is seeing my friends become friends with my other friends. I LOVE being a bridge to new and incredible friendships! Rosie my dog also joined in on the Friendsgiving fun, too, and brought us all SO MUCH JOY!

Downtown Holiday Market (Centered at 8th and F Streets NW, Washington DC)

Every year, Washington, DC’s Downtown Holiday Market brings Christmas cheer to the city pretty much daily now until December 23 from 12-8pm. Located just in front of the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, the Downtown Holiday Market brings local Washington, DC area businesses to the forefront to showcase their goods and allow locals and visitors alike to support them. While I find the Downtown Holiday Market to be a bit overpriced (depending on the merchandise) at times, I do LOVE supporting 1-2 local small businesses each year and learning about many others in my city. Lindsay and I LOVED taking photos in front of the fun props such at candy canes and reindeer and stars for folks to pose in front of and enjoying *none other than* the holiday vibes at the Downtown Holiday Market. Live music is there, too! We were there right as the sun had set, which made for such a magical experience!

Urban Roast (916 G Street NW, Suite C-2, Washington DC)

Known as Washington, DC’s premier pop-up bar, Urban Roast has been ALLL decked out for Christmas since the beginning of November! I have LOVED dining at Urban Roast for the vibes and drinks but less for the food (which to be honest is subpar). However, the staff there are super kind and make it worthwhile to come back time and time again. The Christmas decorations at Urban Roast was probably my favorite that they’ve done, too! Being transparent, I reacted adversely to something in the environment at Urban Roast which will make me sit out going back there any time soon. BUT, I am ALL about enjoying the vibes at this incredible pop-up bar while you can!

Bull Run Festival of Lights (7700 Bull Run Drive, Centreville, VA)

I treated Papa and I to tickets at the Bull Run Festival of Lights and it was AMAZING. Every holiday season, the Bull Run Festival of Lights takes over Centreville’s Bull Run Regional Park with SO MUCH Christmas cheer. When I was a kid, my family and I used to pack the family van and all go and enjoy the lights at Bull Run, so it felt magical to be back! This time around, Papa and I ended up going on a rainy Tuesday night and took Rosie with us. The cutest thing is that Rosie was looking out the window at the lights, too! Needless to say, we all enjoyed ourselves and had a holly jolly time!!

Morais Vineyards & Winery (11409 Marsh Road, Bealton, VA)

My fellow best friend Stephanie posted about the Fall Festival that Morais Vineyards & Winery was having when Lindsay was coming to visit, SO, in typical Katie fashion, I made arrangements for us ALL to go! Morais Vineyards & Winery is located about an hour away from me and Stephanie both in Bealton, Virginia and about 90 minutes South of Washington, DC. Stephanie and I had checked out Morais Vineyards & Winery while at the Mount Vernon Wine Festival back in October (here) and knew we wanted to check out the gorgeous vineyard in-person at some point. Morais Vineyards & Winery also serves as a wedding venue playing homage to Portuguese architecture and wine with some tastes of its home in the Virginia Wine Country, too. It is a STUNNING place! We all enjoyed some wine and checking out the food trucks and small business booths at the Fall Festival.

Old Ebbitt Grill (675 15th Street NW, Washington DC)

Old Ebbitt Grill is probably one of my VERY favorite restaurants. I write more about this incredible restaurant and its historical significance in Washington, DC and the United States as a whole here. And, since the notable Nutcrackers appear outside the doors of the magical Old Ebbitt Grill EVERY holiday season, Lindsay and I *just knew* that it would be a must-go for us! While I go into much more details on Old Ebbitt Grill in my previously linked post, this well-known restaurant is a unique one in that it brings together tourists and locals, alike, and has a strong international presence with both its clientele and staff making it such a unique place to be!

Old Town Alexandria Christmas Tree Lighting (520 King Street, Alexandria, VA)

The Christmas tree lighting in Old Town Alexandria took place on Saturday November 17 with special guests such as Santa and his elves. The Christmas tree is located right in front of the gorgeously historic Alexandria Courthouse in the heart of Old Town Alexandria’s King Street. Lindsay and I shopped at local shops on King Street before admiring the gorgeously lit tree. I spend A LOT of time in Old Town Alexandria, as it is one of my happy happy happy places, so to see the Christmas tree there the night it was lit brought me SO MUCH JOY!

The Willard Intercontinental Hotel (1401 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington DC)

While not decked out for Christmas *just yet* (or at least when we went), the Willard Intercontinental Hotel is ALWAYS such a magical place to be. I took Lindsay here late on a Sunday night right after our dinner at Old Ebbitt Grill, as it is a few blocks away. This notable and iconic Washington, DC hotel has an iconic holiday tea at their in-house Peacock Alley and nightly carolers (something I want to check out this year!). More details on the holiday fun here. It was a such and brief visit for us both before the halls are decked out!

I have already found SO MUCH joy and things to be thankful for this holiday season. I have SO MUCH holiday fun to look forward to this season, and I hope you do too.

XOXO – Katie <3

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The Old Lucketts Store Holiday House 2023

If you know me, then you know that I LOVE a holiday market! On my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee), I have not feared sharing Christmas content before Thanksgiving. Christmas time brings me SO MUCH JOY, so why not?! Anyhow, I went to the Old Lucketts Store Holiday House last year for the first time ever and LOVED it. And, when I had the day before Veterans Day off at work, I decided to take a solo day to clear my head and check out the Old Lucketts Store Holiday House for my 2nd year on *none other than* opening weekend.

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.

Get your tickets here!

While I will not get into details in this post about the Old Lucketts Store Holiday House (you can read ALLL about it here though!), I did learn a few brand-new facts about it this year! Every year, the Holiday House gets a completely new interior look. I learned that the store owner goes to Atlanta, Georgia’s markets to shop for all-things Holiday House merchandise the week AFTER Christmas. This year, the owner hand-painted some of the wallpaper on the 2nd floor (I forget exactly which wallpaper, though!). Her works have also been featured in several magazines over the years, too. Another important note for 2023 is that the Holiday House IS via ticketed entry ONLY. Tickets this year are $25 excluding taxes and fees. However, I find the ticket price to be SUPER worth it, given the value of literally walking through a Hallmark Christmas movie and Pinterest board and shopping with complimentary bubbly, too!

Now, I will get into the meat of this post by sharing …. Pictures! Let’s take a virtual tour together!

My Favorite Room in the house (!!!!)

After shopping around the Holiday House, I shopped at the Old Lucketts Store, which is open year-round!

& last but not least, the Holiday House’s outdoor decor!

Happy Holiday season, everyone!

XOXO – Katie <3

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6 Hard Truths I Have Learned this Fall

Life is a rollercoaster of up’s and down’s. However, through it all, life is a big adventure and ever-evolving experience where we get to learn and grow and continue to do so every single day. HOW great is that?! In April of this year, I got a bit deep via sharing 10 hard truths that I wished I knew sooner (here). Surprisingly enough, that blog post was a favorite of mine to write! SO, as I continue to learn and grow over these past 7 months via the change of the seasons, I am bringing some MORE hard truths (6 to be exact!) that I have learned since.

Remember that the lessons that we learn only help to serve us moving forward. There are SO many blessings to what we learn in life, *even* those lessons that may be harder truths to swallow. YOU have the power to live your best life on a daily basis. And, for me, swallowing those painful harder truths have helped me to grow AND live it up!

6 Hard Truths that I Have Learned this Fall:

1 – It doesn’t have to make sense to others. Things I do may look strange to others and things others do may look strange to me. HOWEVER, how someone chooses to live their life is up to them and only them. The same concept goes for us, too. Looking at my own life, there are times where I may be thinking I am rather behind or not in line with others’ lives or timelines, however, I am completely content and enjoying my life. SO, why does it matter?! It surely doesn’t matter that I have chosen to focus on different things (whether it be prioritizing travel over buying a home soon, etc.) than the next person as long as it brings me joy, then I am good. So should YOU be good, too, with HOWEVER you choose to live your life.

2 – Re-align your thoughts is so important to seeing the bigger picture. People will do/say things that may make us upset, when they really didn’t intend to or were focusing on something else altogether such as the bigger picture or were even trying to help us but just missed the mark. Sometimes, I have found it tough when I say something in hopes of getting advice and someone responds in a way that doesn’t resonate. Whether or not someone else’s advice resonates with me, if they are trying to help me in the moment, then it is key to see the bigger picture than simply their non-resonating response. Many times, people want to help us and make an effort to do so, yet it doesn’t quite hit the mark that we’d hoped it would. In this scenario, it is key to see the bigger picture and re-align our thoughts. For example, this person was trying to help us given their own life experiences and perspectives, but it didn’t quite resonate as I’d hoped it would. The same concept goes for someone picking somebody else over you for a promotion at work, for example, as the other person may have had more work experience and skills aligned with the qualifications for a specific promotion to help them get there than ourselves. While it may be painful in the moment, knowing that there is a bigger picture and outlook on things via re-aligning my thoughts has helped me in ALL aspects of life.

3 – Identify your own personal triggers. Yes, you heard me right! And yes, we ALL have our own personal triggers, whether it be something as simple as a wasp flying near you as you sit on a bench or something a little bit deeper. Being transparent over here, growing up, I feared rejection and it is one of my biggest triggers. Rejection is something that I have identified as a personal trigger of mine. I also struggle with imposter syndrome *confessions* and feel great being in like-company to many that I know around me with this one. BUT, knowing that rejection is one of my own personal triggers, I have been able to quickly re-align my nervous thoughts when I do fear rejection via identifying that it is a personal trigger and fear of mine. I ALSO have a fear of wasps when near me, too, so in lighter news, I can know this when they do get around me when I am in the great outdoors (or simply my backyard!). Through it all, knowing my personal triggers has even helped me to re-align my thoughts (via Hard Truth Number 2 up above!) and better serve myself and my own mental health overall.

4 – It’s OKAY to cut back. Whether it be in your personal life, professional life, or everything in between, sometimes, what is best for ourselves is to cut back on things. It is HARD to simply give and give and give and if we don’t take a break, then it will be HARD to keep going. Our mental health is extremely tied to our physical health, whether or not we realize it. Burnout is a real thing and, personally, burnout can make me literally feel sick. Recently, I have been cutting back on things that I have either been involved in in the past or future commitments in hopes of reducing burnout and keeping my mental health in a good place. I have also been setting boundaries when it comes to days I have “off” of activities, whether professional or personal, and travel (including resting in between the time I get home and go back to work). I always hated the phrase, growing up, that you cannot do it all. However, as I have gotten older and cut back more on commitments, I have LOVED and rather EMBRACE this phrase. Our mental health IS our health, so we may as well cut back to keep ourselves afloat and in good health overall.

5 – Don’t settle. The right person is worth waiting for. In recent times, I have seen SOOO many Instagram Reels and TikToks and YouTube compilations along the lines of dating. One of the BIGGEST themes that I have noticed, from ALL kinds of dating content, is that we are better off dating people who treat us the way WE want to be treated and focusing on ourselves and our own goals in the meantime. We want to choose ourselves first before someone else chooses us and willingly pursues us. From watching content on the cheater (cringe!) to the aftermath of ghosting (another cringe!) to ignoring red flags in our partners (yet another cringe!), I have found that so many people settle for less than what they deserve. I have definitely been guilty of settling for others in the past, too, or feeling like being single versus in a relationship is life or death (spoiler: it’s NOT; always do you and put you first). Yet, the experiences I have had and seen others go through have shaped me into someone who doesn’t want to waste time settling for less than what I deserve. I also want to note that there is benefit to dating multiple people over different timespans and learning and growing from it to serve us in the long run. The older I get, the less I want to settle for less than what I deserve. I think you deserve the same, too.

6 – People will judge you, always be you. Whether or not we like it, people WILL judge us. And, we will judge others, too (I find myself guilty of this at times, but am grateful to be aware of this). All of us are human, which means that we will judge others, including ourselves. At the end of the day, the only person’s opinion who matters is YOURS. Remember to try not to make a decision based on what others think, but rather who YOU think. If something brings you joy, then DO IT. On the same token, things may make NO sense to someone else, but if it does to you, then that’s all that counts. Not everything has to make sense to us OR to others (going back to Hard Truth Number 1). ALL that matters at the end of the day is what YOU think.

Remember to continue learning, growing, and being YOU!

XOXO – Katie <3

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The Life of Katie – October 2023

October 2023 started off on a BIG low and ended on a BIG high. WHAT A MONTH it was (!!!!!). From kicking off the month with extreme burnout to some super fun professional development events including speaking at a conference and going back to the classroom TWICE and exciting professional news to some local travel and adventures close to home to enjoying the Fall foliage and vibes to dressing Rosie up for Halloween and everything in between, October 2023 was truly one for the books. The older I get, the more I want to savor ALLL the memories and be grateful for what I have in the moment. And, the memories I had made this October 2023 were no different.

Highs:

  • Papa and I enjoyed a nice meal in downtown Clifton, Virginia together at Trattoria Villagio (which was recently ranked as a Top 50 Restaurant by Northern Virginia Magazine!). It was a great time for both me and Papa to simply enjoy one another’s company, some delicious pasta and appetizers (I was craving calamari and Papa was craving bruschetta!), and some excellent restaurant ambience.
  • This Fall has been a BEAUTIFUL one (!!!!). Personally, I have found this time of year to be one of THE MOST stunning times with the Fall foliage. I have taken EVERY moment to enjoy the stunning environment around me, through walks at local ponds near me to taking in alll the crisp Fall air when I step foot outside, to views of the foliage when I drive on Fairfax County Parkway. I have truly taken a moment this October to take a step back and practice mindfulness via simply being in the moment of Fall 2023 … we will never see Fall 2023 again, so why not enjoy it?!
  • Early this month, I got a surprise email in my inbox that I had been … PROMOTED (!!!!). My promotion was well-earned and a result of A LOT of hard work that I put in on the job. I have grown SO SO SO passionate about my work since starting at my current employer since graduating from college in 2021. I am extremely blessed to be able to work for my incredible employer and am SO excited to have been promoted this Fall season. I feel A LOT of confidence that others are seeing the hard work that I am putting in with tons of passion and am extremely proud of myself for earning it, too. To celebrate, I went to my favorite spot: Old Town Alexandria where I got a bottle of Italian women-owned bubbly at Virginia’s Darling, stopped by the Lilly Pulitzer store on King Street, strolled alongside the iconic Captain’s Row (more on that below!), and purchased a new dress at The Lucky Knot on King Street. I, then, went to my Mom’s house to enjoy some takeout Afghan cuisine from her favorite spot Afghan Bistro with a bottle of wine I picked up from Virginia’s Darling’s market and it was DELICIOUS. My Mom (and Dad, too) has been one of my biggest cheerleaders in life, so it was special to be able to celebrate with her.
  • Back to the classroom for me this October 2023! I started my monthly program – Ignite Young Professionals via the Leadership Center for Excellence – and have LOVED getting to be a student again and network with likeminded professionals all across different industries in the Washington, DC and more specifically Arlington, Virginia area. The Ignite Young Professionals program focuses on empowering the next generation of leaders with the skills to succeed professionally and personally alongside an incredible civic engagement component with a local Arlington, Virginia-based nonprofit. I LOVE LOVE LOVE and am so blown away by my classmates, how much I learned from them, and what incredible people they are. I am *VERY* excited for what is to come over the next 8 months as a student via the Leadership Center for Excellence!
  • This month, I had the HUGE honor to represent my employer where I moderated a panel at Women in Data, Washington, DC’s Making Sense of Data 2023 conference at the National Children’s Museum (which is SUCH A COOL museum!!). My panel was focused on 7th grader students and featured other working data professionals in government and the public sector. The students were extremely interactive asking several great questions AND loving learning the fact that data helps power TikTok and Instagram – LOL! Also, I LOVED getting to network with some incredible fellow women (and men!) in data who both volunteered at the conference whether with a booth or through the event as a whole. One of my biggest passions is empowering the next generation of girls and women in STEM-based careers, which Making Sense of Data 2023 allowed me to do! The BEST part?!?! I got to strike a few poses at the Barbie booth (!!!!!!).
  • I got a new PINK iPad!! In case you haven’t been following along on my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee) stories, I accidentally spilled water on my 2017 MacBook Pro. Fortunately for myself, I had insurance to cover the replacement of my laptop, which allowed me to replace it with … a PINK iPad and a Magic Keyboard to go with it. Needless to say, my excitement is definitely an understatement and the iPad is PERFECT for what I need for regular personal use. I actually picked up my iPad after the Making Sense of Data conference in Georgetown where I dined at Martin’s Tavern for a splendid solo date filled with espresso martinis, burgers, and fries (!!!).
  • Papa, Rosie, and I made a visit to Burke Nursey & Garden Centre‘s Fall Market on a weeknight and it was so fun! We went there last year and brought Rosie then, too, and had such a blast. There are two parts to the Fall Market: the the market filled with aisles of locally made goods ranging from their homemade Apple Cider Donuts, curated jams and sodas, and produce and the pumpkin patch and playground with Spooky-themed murals, hay bails, and *of course* pumpkins. This time around, we enjoyed browsing, walking around and admiring both the market and the patch, and watching Rosie enjoy it all, too.
  • One of the BEST parts of October in the Washington, DC area is making a visit to Old Town Alexandria’s iconic cobblestone streets of Captain’s Row to see the well-known Halloween decorations. Confession: I hadn’t have made a visit to Captain’s Row since I moved back to the Washington, DC area after college. SO, I LOVED getting to make a visit to Captain’s Row after enjoying some bubbly at Virginia’s Darling (!!!!) to celebrate my promotion. The Halloween decorations were so so so fun to see, especially since I recently learned that the Halloween decorations change within the community year after year!
  • At the Jonas Brothers concert back in September (here), I met a new friend Liz while getting lost on the way to Metro. Liz and I have met up again since the Jonas Brothers concert right by our Tysons-based offices at Coastal Flats in Tysons Corner Center where she brought Joe Jonas in the form of a pop-up! Needless to say, I am SO blessed that Liz and I met while getting lost going to Metro after the Jonas Brothers concert and have bonded ever since. Liz truly is a blessing!
  • My Dad came to visit for a weekend and we had an amazing time together! Our first stop was to Washington, DC to dig into our family genealogy research at the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Library which is a STUNNING library (!!!!). We met with some genealogists and had a great time meeting with them and exploring the gorgeous library, museum, and state rooms which showcase historical representations of rooms from different states in different time periods. While we have literally hit a brick wall with a bit of our family genealogy, we did enjoy our time there and the several impressive resources at this incredible free library. After our time digging back in time, Dad and I headed to Thompson Italian aka one of my favorite local restaurants (!!!) in Old Town Alexandria to enjoy some amazing wine, short rib ravioli, and dessert before walking down King Street to stop into The Lucky Knot (who have the sweetest ladies there!!!!), enjoy some live music, and take in all of the spooky vibes. The next day, we got brunch in Occoquan, Virginia’s historic district at our favorite spot: The Secret Garden Cafe. We also strolled through the town, which is DECKED OUT for Halloween and so so so charming, and admired the adjacent Occoquan River, window shopping, and the crisp Fall air. I had an amazing time with my Dad and I truly cherish our time together.

DAR Library

Old Town Alexandria

Occoquan Historic District

  • Every October, Papa and Rosie and I take a day trip to Shenandoah National Park’s Skyline Drive to enjoy the foliage. This year, I took a Thursday off of work and we got a peak at the leaves a bit pre-peak and pre-mega crowds, too. The day we went was a BEAUTIFUL sunny day and literally THE PERFECT day to go! We enjoyed taking in ALLLL of the stunning and cloud-free scenic views, crisp Fall air, and time together. Afterwards, we got lunch in Old Town Warrenton, Virginia at Denim & Pearls which was dog-friendly and had amazing daily deals on both beers and burgers aka the golden ticket (!!!!). The staff at Denim & Pearls were SOOO friendly and hospitable, too. Afterwards, I took a brief stroll through Old Town Warrenton before heading back home. Papa and Rosie and I definitely had a very special day for YEAR …. 3 of our Shenandoah National Park Fall day trip!

Shenandoah National Park

Warrenton

  • Just HOURS after I got back from Shenandoah National Park, my friend Liz and I met up at Panera Bread for dinner and then off to Tyson’s Showplace Icon Theatre and Kitchen to see … Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour movie. I *of course* got the bucket and cup and some popcorn, too. Liz and I dressed up in PINK and enjoyed time together just simply bonding and enjoying one another’s company while LITERALLY sobbing over our mutual love for Taylor Swift (and the Jonas Brothers, too!). I enjoyed Liz’s and I’s time together AND the amazing reclining chairs at the theatre!
  • The last week of October, it felt *just as if* ALL of the happy hours were manifesting (!!!). My back-to-back happy hours kicked off with Causes & Cocktails at The Commentary in Arlington’s Ballston neighborhood. Causes & Cocktails is an event hosted by Volunteer Arlington to highlight different charities focused on different causes in the Arlington, Virginia area, with this month’s being focused on Food Insecurity. I got to network with those at the local nonprofits alongside others in the amazing Leadership Center for Excellence network that I recently became apart of via Ignite Young Professionals (INCLUDING some of my classmates!!) and *of course* my best friend Stephanie who completed a high school program through the Leadership Center for Excellence. The next happy hour was the 2023 Achieving After-school Celebration to fundraiser for Aspire After-school Learning: an Arlington-based nonprofit focused on providing additional After-school programming for students. I got to network with others from my Leadership Center for Excellence network AND enjoy the incredible skyline views at the venue: Army Navy Country Club! Because I was tired from a busy week the past week, I’m proud of myself for declining additional happy hour invites to simply rest.

Causes & Cocktails

Achieving After-School Celebration

  • Halloweekend was filled with LOTS of rest and LOTS of fun! Friday, I enjoyed the night in with carry out Chinese food and some tea on my back porch with my best friend Haley in the early evening. Saturday, I ran some errands including a stop by Home Goods (!!!!) and to a Trunk or Treat that Papa was volunteering at during setup. The Trunk or Treat had *none other than* a Fall-themed balloon arch, SO I *of course* snapped a few photos in front of it! Sunday, Papa, Aunt Amy, and I enjoyed a brunch at Ada’s on the River at the Old Town Alexandria waterfront. Our brunch was amazing (as per usual!) and I had one of the best Aperol Spritz’s I’ve had! Afterwards, I took Papa and Aunt Amy to Captain’s Row to see ALLL the spooky Halloween decorations (!!!). Captain’s Row brought GREAT joy to all three of us. Sunday evening, I organized, did some home decor projects, and meal prepped for the week ahead. The entire weekend included LOTS of the Hallmark Channel’s Christmas movies, too.

Trunk or Treat

Ada’s on the River

Captain’s Row

Lows:

  • 2 weeks without a personal laptop SUCKED at the beginning of the month. I ended up using my work laptop for personal use including writing blog content where I encountered … a BUG with WordPress. The WordPress bug delayed ALLL my blog content for the first few weeks of October. HOWEVER, I am SO grateful for my new iPad and excited to have it to easily carry and take with me everywhere I go!
  • Early this October, I had horrible burnout. And, my burnout made me feel sick, as a result. Since then and luckily with the support of friends, family and my coworkers, I have made some adjustments to my day-to-day life, including scaling back on some of the work I am committing to both professionally and personally. One of the BIGGEST changes that I am making is avoiding (for the most part) signing onto my work laptop after 5pm on weekdays and on the weekends. I since deciding to do some scaling back, I have felt SO MUCH BETTER both mentally and physically.
  • NOT to be dramatic, BUT I had my lovely car Daisy towed without realizing that she was 1000% fine this month – BIG WHOOPS!!! SO, I drove to Starbucks after my vaccines and on the way home a warning light came on telling me to stop driving my car. While I got home safely, I was SOOO nervous that something bigger was going on with poor Daisy. I talked to my local body shop and had her towed (free thanks to insurance!) only to discover that she just needed a programmatic reboot. WHELP! In the end, I am grateful that I brought my car in to be extra sure and that everything is good and that I didn’t have to spend a ton on repairs, either.
  • I got my COVID and Flu vaccine at the same time towards the middle of the month. My experience to say the least was quick and easy, but left me with a horrible fever that night and out all weekend. I had to reschedule plans with friends that I planned that weekend thinking that I would be *TOTALLY* fine with just a sore arm (or two!). HOWEVER, the universe had other plans and I ended up barely leaving the couch ALL WEEKEND LONG. BUT, I am grateful for the opportunity to simply rest, be still, and in the moment for one weekend before they all get super busy with the upcoming holiday season. I am also extremely grateful for science and the scientific advancements that have come to allow us to get vaccinated, in order to stay safe and healthy and protected against COVID-19.
  • My seasonal allergies have been THE WORST this past October. The exact Friday I was supposed to host a Halloween Happy Hour at my house, I ended up having an awful bit of allergies get sprung upon me. I had a bunch of work calls in the morning that required me to have myself in my typical work from home attire (here and here) while dying on the inside. Ultimately, I ended up sadly cancelling my Halloween Happy Hour for 2023. And, while a disappointment, I am glad that I was able to prioritize rest and that I was able to get one-on-one time with my friends soon after who intended to attend.

I am going into November 2023 filled with SO MUCH gratitude. I turned 24 in May of this year and it’s CRAZY to think that in just 6 months I will be turning 25! I have really enjoyed Chapter 24 so far in my book of life and am more than excited for what is to come for the second half of this magnificent chapter! NOW, onto November!

XOXO – Katie <3

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What I Wore to Work – October 2023

From feeling like Summer to feeling like Winter to everything in between, weather-wise, October 2023 truly was the perfect definition of a typical Washington, DC Fall (if you know, you know!). And, in my professional life, A LOT of excitement has occurred (!!!!) from getting an unexpected promotion to working on some very exciting tasks to going back to the classroom to starting my first-ever professional certification and *even* speaking at a conference in Washington, DC in between it all, October 2023 has been one of THE MOST exciting professional months for me. Personally, October 2023 has sucked when it came to allergies and feeling perhaps under the weather more than usual. I definitely chose leggings and skorts *even with a cute and maybe snazzy top* over a dress and likely will continue to do so this Fall/Winter season! Anyhow, with the transition from warmer temperatures to cooler ones, I am very excited to be able to style some Fall/Winter pieces from within my own closet.

I think one of the biggest themes within my fashion choices this October 2023 is how much I LOVE choosing comfort over anything else. And, yes, there IS a benefit to comfort when working from home. BUT, I can also dress stylish and make comfortable feel confident and fun, too. Comfort is MORE than just a pair of sweatpants and a fuzzy robe (HOWEVER, that is a great way to snuggle up in these chilly temperatures, too!). I have definitely found myself enjoying hibernating, too, as it gets cooler which I think leads to why I’m often opting for leggings. We shall see how I progress over the rest of the Fall/Winter season, though! And, as it appears in the most recent Washington, DC news, it will be a snowy snowy snowy Winter (!!!!), which may make for some ultra-stylish and fun photos.

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

Dress: Amazon; Cardigan: Ralph Lauren; Necklace: Cora’s Den; Headband: Packed Party; Bracelets: J Crew Factory & Amazon
Top: Amazon; Skort: Lilly Pulitzer; Headband: Simply Southern; Bracelets: Lilly Pulitzer; All She Wrote Notes; & Teleties x Scout Bags
Top: Old Navy; Skort: Lilly Pulitzer; Earrings: Local Shop at the Charleston City Market; Bracelets: J Crew Factory & Lilly Pulitzer; Flats: New Bella
Dress: Crown & Ivy at Belk; Blouse: Tory Burch; Earrings: Kendra Scott; Headband: Simply Southern; Tote: Lilly Pulitzer; Bracelets: Lilly Pulitzer & J Crew Factory; Flats: Tory Burch
Cardigan & Headband: Rachel Zoe; Blouse: J Crew; Leggings: Spanx; Earrings: Kendra Scott; Bracelets: J Crew Factory & Lilly Pulitzer; Flats: Burberry
Dress: Lilly Pulitzer; Headband: Lilly Pulitzer x Lele Sadoughi; Earrings: Lisi Lerch; Necklace: Thrifted; Bracelets: J Crew Factory: Tote: Longchamp: Keychain: Nordstrom; Flats: New Bella
Blazer & Flats: Thrifted: Pearls: Vintage: Dress: J Crew Factory: Earrings: Kate Spade; Bracelets: Amazon, The Inspiration Co, Kendra Scott, & Alex and Ani; Tote: Lilly Pulitzer; Keychain: Nordstrom
Dress: Macy’s; Cardigan: Rachel Zoe; Scarf: Vera Bradley; Pearls: Vintage; Bracelets: Amazon; Flats: New Bella
Earrings, Sweater, & Vest: J Crew Factory; Headband: Spartina 449; Leggings: Shapermint; Flats: New Bella
Vest: Dennis Basso; Blouse: Lilly Pulitzer; Earrings: Booth at a Market in Charlotte, North Carolina; Leggings: Spanx; Bracelets: Lilly Pulitzer & The Inspiration Co; Flats: DSW
Blouse: Talbots; Skirt: TJ Maxx; Headband: Lele Sadoughi; Bracelets: Lilly Pulitzer, J Crew Factory, & All She Wrote Notes
Dress: Crown & Ivy at Belk; Vest: Amazon Essentials; Bracelets: Lilly Pulitzer & Amazon; Headband: SugarFix by Target; Slippers: J Crew Factory
Dress: Lilly Pulitzer; Flats & Necklace: Thrifted; Bracelets: Amazon & Kendra Scott
Dress: Draper James; Blouse: Brooks Brothers; Earrings: J Crew Factory; Bracelets: J Crew Factory, Lilly Pulitzer, & Amazon; Flats: Thrifted
Blouse: Anthropologie; Leggings: Fabletics; Flats: Thrifted; Earrings: J Crew Factory; Bracelets: Amazon & J Crew Factory
Headband: Lilly Pulitzer; Sweatshirt: Women Owned Wallet (Louisville, Kentucky-based boutique!); Leggings: Crown & Ivy at Belk; Slippers: J Crew Factory
Dress: Target; Necklace: J Crew Factory; Bracelets: Lilly Pulitzer; Bag: Kate Spade; Flats: Banana Republic
Top: Lilly Pulitzer; Pants: Isaac Mizrahi; Necklace: Talbots; Flats: J Crew Factory
Top: LL Bean; Vest: Thrifted; Necklace & Slippers: J Crew Factory; Leggings: Shapermint; Bracelets: Amazon, Kendra Scott, & The Inspiration Co; Headband: Rachel Zoe
Tee: Vineyard Vines x Washington Commanders; Skort: Thrifted; Scrunchie: Lele Sadoughi; Headband: SugarFix by Target; Bracelets: Amazon, The Inspiration Co, & Kendra Scott

October 2023 has definitely been a fun fashion month. I am definitely excited to style some more fun pieces this Fall/Winter season and into the holidays. Here’s to MORE fun fashions to come in these cooler temperatures!

XOXO – Katie <3

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