Summer Strolls – Fountainhead Regional Park, Virginia

Welcome to my brand-new series … Seasonal Strolls! In this series, I will be sharing mostly photo diaries and current ramblings from my recent stroll. On my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee), I have been sharing content from my recent local Summer strolls where I take my camera and snap some photos of the surrounding nature (and a few of myself!). Usually, I have gone with my best friend (and neighbor – I feel REALLY lucky in this department!) Haley on walks but plan to do some dog-free on my own, too. Recently, I have been enjoying taking some Summer strolls close to home, but am looking forward to taking some on my upcoming travels, too! I hope to do some more strolls beyond Summer seasons, too!

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

Haley and I a couple of weeks ago checked out Fountainhead Regional Park located in Fairfax Station, Virginia off of Hampton Road which is directly off of 123/Ox Road. Fountainhead Regional Park offers kayak/canoe access, fishing, and several walking/biking trails. What I LOVE about Fountainhead is the opportunity to do something outdoors that YOU love is there for everybody. Not to mention the fact that the waterfront views are truly breathtaking!

On our Summer stroll at Fountainhead Regional Park, Haley and I discussed the importance of budgeting and strategic ways to save money, especially during the seasons of life that can be more expensive. Haley and I are striving to do things more affordably and even packed a picnic dinner while at Fountainhead, as opposed to getting dinner via carry out or at a nearby restaurant. One of the BEST ways to cut back and save some money is to get out in nature and enjoy a local park. Luckily for us living in the Washington, DC area, there are SEVERAL free admission local parks for us to choose from!

Some of the ways that I am cutting back financially is by opting to take public transportation instead of Ubering places (especially downtown), choosing happy hours and brunch/lunch with friends/family over pricier dinners (however, there is ALWAYS room for an occasional dinner!), shopping online less frequently and less items in my cart (this has been tough at times), cooking more dinners at home, and less frequent trips to Home Goods/TJ Maxx/Marshall’s and the thrift store. There were times post-Fountainhead walk where I had to be transparent with friends and family about where I was willing to spend and where I wasn’t. I felt nervous to do so, but am so proud that I did it and that those in my life truly understood and respected my decisions! In all honesty, cutting back financially takes A LOT of discipline and can be tricky, but in the end, it is worth it to know that I’ll have more money moving forward sitting in my savings account.

Here’s to *many more* Summer (and Fall and Winter and Spring) strolls to come!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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A Day Trip to Cork County, Ireland

Over on my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee), I have been sharing ALL about my first-ever solo trip to Ireland that I took in early April over the past few months. Now, I have *finally* gotten the chance to start sharing ALLLLL about this incredible trip of mine!!! I will be splitting my content into each day trip (I took 5!) alongside one bigger guide for my home base for those amazing 8 days in Dublin (including hotels, getting there, dining, etc.). And, I am going to start my first of MANY Ireland posts over here with my day trip to Cork County, Ireland.

*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 travel abroad inspiration, check out my exploring 50 Countries Expedition page.

A Day Trip To Cork County, Ireland

Cork County, Ireland was the first of 5 day trips that I took on my trip to Ireland. I used a few different tour operators throughout my time in Ireland (more on that below!) and primarily used GetYourGuide to book each of my day journeys across the Emerald Isle. Personally, as a first-time solo traveler, I LOVED getting to simply hop on a tour bus with a ton of other people hassle-free as I got to see SOOOO many incredible sights that Ireland has to offer. And, overall, my day tour to Cork County truly BLEW ME AWAY. Not only were my fellow travelers on my tour bus pretty awesome people that I learned SOOOO much from, but I ALSO ran into my cousins’ former high school classmates while at Blarney Castle (VERRYYYY small world!) AND spent much of the day with my jaw LITERALLLY on the floor!

About:

Cork County, Ireland covers the majority of Ireland’s southwest coast upwards. From fertile farmlands and castle country to the North to rugged coastlines and peninsulas to the South, Cork County, Ireland truly has it all. It is also home to Ireland’s second-largest city and the 2nd stop on my Ireland tour … Cork! Cork is home to much of Ireland’s tech hub, having both Apple’s and Amazon’s international headquarters (including several other tech companies) located there. Some of the most notable sights in Cork County (which I saw on my incredible day there) include Rock of Cashel and Blarney Castle which is home to the well-known Blarney Stone.

Tour Operator:

Paddywagon Tours is a popular Irish-based tour operator with headquarters in Dublin (with pick up’s literally just a couple of blocks away from both of my hotels!). I ended up doing 3 Paddywagon Tours while in Ireland, especially due to its utter convenience of pick-up right by my hotel!

Rock of Cashel

Rock of Cashel was our first major stop on our tour of Cork County. Technically, Rock of Cashel is located in Cashel County, Ireland about 1-2 hours from Cork City. The significance of Rock of Cashel is that it served as the traditional seat for the Kings of Munster before the Normans invaded Ireland. Much of the structures at Rock of Cashel date back to the 12th and 13th centuries.

Truly, Rock of Cashel was magnificent! The tour bus stopped at a scenic overlook of Rock of Cashel at a distance for a few minutes and it truly was incredible to see it amongst the partially cloudy skies and green Irish pastures. Once we drove and walk up to and around Rock of Cashel, I was TRULY in awe at the magnificent structures that laid before my eyes. Indeed, Rock of Cashel was the start of many jaw-dropping moments (LITERALLY!) throughout my weeklong adventures in Ireland!

Cork City

As previously mentioned, Cork City is the second-largest city in Ireland and home to many international hubs for tech companies. Needless to say, Cork is a VERY tech-savvy city! Cork is ALSO the county seat of Cork County and our *very first* stop in Cork County. We had a brief lunch stop in Cork where I got *none other than* fish & chips at a local Irish cafe/pub. Cork was extremely colorful and gorgeous. The streets were lined with beautiful shops holding many charming antique and grand millennial inspired finds. Not to mention the fact that the buildings alongside Cork’s streets were super colorful and fun! I seriously wish we had more time in Cork to stroll the shops and colorful streets (alongside the city’s notable historic market which some of my fellow bus-mates explored!).

Blarney Castle

Located near downtown Cork, Blarney Castle was our final stop on our tour and BY FAR my favorite of them all! Blarney Castle is home to the *VERY* notable Blarney Stone. Blarney Castle is a medieval structure built as early as 1446 by the MacCarthy of Muskerry Dynasty, which is a cadet branch of the Kings of Desmond. To kiss the Blarney Stone, you are gifted with the gift of great eloquence. Alongside the Blarney Castle which provides guests with the opportunity to kiss the Blarney Stone, guests can enjoy Blarney Castle’s extremely gorgeous gardens and stroll alongside its stunning medieval structures including the Blarney House (which ALSO left my jaw dropping literally again!!!!).

My jaw was dropped THE MOST while at Blarney Castle during my day in Cork County! I opted to not kiss the Blarney Stone (however, I DID climb a bit of the stone tower that IS Blarney Castle though!!!) and the line that ensued to do so to stroll the gardens instead. While strolling throughout the gardens amongst the rain and mud and my forgetfulness in bringing an umbrella during the day, I truly enjoyed every twist and turn and opportunity to take in ALLLL of the sights and sounds and smells around me. One of the BEST parts of it all was coming across the Victorian looking home that is known to be the Blarney House. I LITERALLY gasped when I saw it! It was STUNNING!!!!! There were also some extremely gorgeous medieval stone towers amongst the gardens and green pastures around me, too. Blarney Castle was truly my highlight of the day!

Most notably, I ended up coming across my cousins’ former classmates via recognizing their high school name on sweatshirts while strolling through the gardens. As I was leaving, my cousins’ classmates and teachers were gathered getting ready to leave as well, so I *of course* introduced myself and confirmed that they were my cousins’ former high school classmates (they are in early college/post-college now!) which was a super special and fun moment!

After I left Blarney Castle’s grounds, I went to the gift shop and the Blarney Woolen Mills outlet which is the largest Blarney Woolen Mills outlet (I discovered that there are MANY of these throughout Ireland!) in all of Ireland. I got a gorgeous hot pink woolen blanket there and two wool scarves at the gift shop. Irish fashion is pretty similar to my own preppy and grand millennial style, too! It was super fun to see the similarities between my own personal style preferences and those that are considered mainstream Irish to visitors and locals, alike.

Wrap-Up:

My day trip to Cork County, Ireland was the first of MANY tours that I took throughout my 8 days in Ireland. I LOVED the people I met on my tour throughout the day alongside those that I ran into, too! I found the most similarities with people on my Cork County tour than any others, which makes it have a special meaning to me. Truly, I look back and smile when I think of this tour the most out of all of my Ireland tours.

Stay tuned for more details on the rest of my experience and adventures in Ireland in the coming weeks/months!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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National Wear Your Lilly Day 2024

HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY Summer Solstice ANDDD National Wear Your Lilly Day!!!! SO, *of course* I am celebrating the start of my FAVORITE season in *none other than* my favorite fashion brand Lilly Pulitzer! Every Summer, I fall IN LOVE with Summer more and more and more than the Summer before. Funny enough, I used to despite Summer, as I despise the heat and humidity in the air (despite LOVING Summer ironically – LOL!). But, today and every day this Summer 2024, I am going to celebrate my favorite season of the year in *of course* Lilly Pulitzer!

*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.*

Summer brings me SO MUCH JOY! Not only is it a unique time as its peak tourist season in the prime spots that I spend Summer in aka my home base of the Washington, DC/Northern Virginia are and my Dad’s home base and my Summer escape of Bethany Beach, Delaware, but it is also a prime travel time making it much more relaxing on the work and personal front. Oddly enough, I LOVE peak tourist season, due to the fact that I get to meet people from EVERYWHERE without leaving my own backyard and it truly is a melting pot (both culturally and LITERALLY with the heat!). It truly is magical when tourists are around! Summer is truly an opportunity to explore where I live but also some new-to-me places, too, as I try to add 2-3 new places to my list of places been each Summer as well. At the same time, I LOVE the many opportunities to truly slow down, recharge, and emphasize the need to practice mindfulness in the Summer months. Truly, there are SOOO many reasons that I love Summer, and I could gush about this incredible season that I adore ALL SEASON LONG.

My Summer 2024 is an exciting one, as I have two trips planned to two very new-to-me states, yet two states that I have had on my radar for YEARS (more to come in August/September on those!). I am also going to visit some previously visited places in North Carolina and the Midwest, too, to visit some friends and enjoy some new spots in those places this Summer season. At the same time, I will ALSO be spending LOTS of weekends (and weeks too) in Bethany Beach, Delaware with my Dad, Step Mom, and their Yorkie aka my “Sissy” Ginger whom I have a close bond with, alongside our family and friends. My Summers in Bethany Beach are SO SO SO special to me and nothing short of a blessing. I also love the magic of the beach (and busy boardwalk) during the peak Summer season! At the same time, I plan to spend some special moments with my friends close to home, such as happy hours overlooking the waterfront in Old Town Alexandria, a few performances at the Kennedy Center, picnics with friends to local parks, and many days in the sunshine with my dog Rosie. Through it all, I am excited for what Summer 2024 has in store!

As we all know, Lilly Pulitzer is SUCH a Summer staple. Although I am a firm believer that Lilly Pulitzer can be beautifully styled in different ways all year long, Summer truly is THE MONTH for styling ALL THINGS Lilly Pulitzer! One of my favorite Summer staples is the Kristen Flounce Swing dress (similar style here) that I am styling that can be worn for casual Summer work from home days and walks with Rosie to dinners on the town or (in my case) the boardwalk. Truly, my love of Lilly Pulitzer and wearing it in the Summer months is the icing on the cake of my love for Summer!

My love for Summer truly continues to grow as the years go by! Lilly Pulitzer has definitely made my love for this fun month only bloom into something very beautiful. For now, I am *more than excited* to enjoy the longest day of 2024 and I hope YOU are too!!!

See my previous posts on National Wear Your Lilly Day here:

Happy National Wear Your Lilly Day 2024!!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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BERLOOK Swimwear Review

Many many many times, I want to find (and eventually purchase!) gorgeous and stylish swimwear, YET I find it challenging to know that I am making a difference environmentally. I know YOU have probably felt the same way, too. However, when BERLOOK, a sustainably-made swimwear brand, reached out to me about sharing some of their environmentally-conscious AND stylish swimwear finds with y’all, I knew I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to do a Berlook swimwear review!

About: BERLOOK’s mission is to make their customers feel great in swimwear while making a positive impact on our environment. The best part?!?! BERLOOK’s swimsuits are fully made with sustainable materials. Overall, BERLOOK strives to create comfortable, well-made, and stylish swimsuits that give their customers piece of mind that they are making a difference in our world tomorrow while feeling confident and beautiful in their own skin today.

Personally, I had a BLAST styling my BERLOOK swimwear while on a brief weekend getaway to Bethany Beach, Delaware! My swimsuit and skirt were both super comfortable that I could easily lounge in them ALL day! At the same time, my swimsuit was so intricately made with love, passion, and purpose by the BERLOOK team – something that they strive to do for ALL of their customers!

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

BERLOOK has SO many gorgeous swimwear looks to choose from. Here are some of my many favorites!!!

Knowing that I can feel stylish AND help make an impact on the environment is such a GREAT feeling!

A special thanks to BERLOOK for sponsoring this blog post and the pieces advertised within it. All opinions are my own.

XOXO – Katie <3

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My Dream Rattan Bookshelf!

Sharing treasures both old and new, everything has a story to it and I am proud to have a mini rattan bookshelf in my apartment that does just that! Back in Fall of 2022, I updated my furniture including getting this beautiful mini rattan bookshelf from Home Goods (when they were also available for online shopping!). Today, I have styled that mini rattan bookshelf to share pieces that share meaningful stories from my family, travels, and *just* a few newly purchased items! Overall, I hope this provides you with some rattan bookshelf styling inspiration, in the case that you’re interested in purchasing your own someday (or already have!).

*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.*

Let’s stop from the top of the rattan bookshelf styling inspiration! Atop of the bookshelf hangs a beautiful woodworker’s cross painted pink saying “Amazing Grace”. My best friend from high school and church’s Dad has a beautiful gift for woodworking and made this beautiful cross for me as a graduation gift. Her Dad is an extremely thoughtful human being and, to this day, I always felt cherished by my friend and her family for thinking of me to make and gift me such a beautifully handmade design. It is something I’ll LOVE for years to come, too!

Below the cross is a floral canvas designed by Carrie Schmitt. In our college apartment, my roommate Sophie got us a canvas designed by Carrie Schmitt that hung in our living room throughout our Junior and Senior years of college. That canvas brought me SO MUCH JOY that I knew when I got my own place I needed to get a Carrie Schmitt canvas of my own!

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

The top shelf of my rattan bookshelf styling has SOOOO many treasures on it. Starting on the left side, some of the many treasures are including: a mini mannequin that my Mom and Step Dad found at a vintage shop in San Antonio, Texas, a flamingo candle holder (that *still* remains candle-less!), a floral candle holder that once belonged to my Great-Grandparents on my Dad’s side, a copy of the book Notorious RBG which documents the life and story of Ruth Bader Ginsburg whom I got to watch speak live during my Junior year of college, and a decades-old copy of Vogue Sewing that I likely thrifted or picked up for free alongside someone’s curbside. And, ending on the right side, the bookshelf’s top row includes: a stainless silver duck ice bucket that my Aunt Kim gifted my Papa and Grandma years prior and has since become mine, an Eiffel Tower figurine that my Dad’s parents got as a souvenir during one of their many trips including one to Paris, France, a plate that presents a replica of the signing of the United States Constitution, and a Rifle Paper Company x Target memento box.

And, the second and third rattan bookshelves styling also contains several other treasures, too! Most notably, on the second shelf, I have a Seaton family buffet dish from my Dad’s Mom’s side of the family’s family china set and teapots which I have since inherited. Another memorable piece is the painted seashell that I found in Isle of Palms, South Carolina and painted on my beautiful trip there last summer with my best friends Hannah and Alanna and Bryn. I also added several books to the shelf, including some beach reads, cocktail recipe books, a travel guide to my mainly ancestral homeland of Great Britain and a childhood Christmas gift favorite of mine …. A book on New York Fashion Week! But, last but not least, I have two gorgeous boxes on display that are considered shabby chic and Parisian inspired that my late Grandma got for me to store cards/mementos from loved ones for years to come.

Right next to the bookshelf, I have a gorgeous fake Lilly pad-looking plant that has been in my family for decades. I switched out its original planter for a gorgeous rattan bucket that I thrifted back in the Fall of 2021, yet, remained without a true place and purpose in my apartment up until recently. Today, I am glad to re-home both that fake plant and that rattan bucket.

My mini rattan bookshelf is a treasure to me! And, it is a treasure of a bookshelf that holds SOOOOO many of my *very own* treasures, too!! I love that I have been able to style this gorgeous bookshelf of mine and make it meaningful to me and filled with several amazing memories of mine! I hope it inspires YOU with your own rattan bookshelf styling, too!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Happy Hydrangea Season

Since last year, Summer has become my FAVORITE season. From longer days filled with sunshine to all occasions outside to beach and pool days, Summer is just nothing short of a fun season. Seasonally, one of the highlights of my backyard is the 2 beautiful hydrangea bushes that bloom every summer! And, if you know me in real life, THEN you know that hydrangeas are my favorite flower!!!

Summer helps me be more mindful, overall. I mean the added days of sunshine via the mere statistical frequency of more sunny days over rainy days during these fun months adds more opportunities to explore nature Hollywood hike style (if you know, you know!!!) and truly be more mindful. The outdoors helps me to be more mindful. And, to be transparent over here, I have THE WORST time wanting to go outside when it is raining/windy/snowing. I LOVE being mindful via a strong sauna moment outdoors! And, this Summer season kickoff, the hydrangeas in my backyard have made me feel much more mindful.

Recently, I was gifted a camera from my family and have *finally* gotten to use it. My favorite things to photograph are of my travels, home, fashion, and *of course* backyard flowers!!! I have found myself with nothing short of even just my phone standing into …. Mulch to get some photos of hydrangeas when on the go – LOLLLL!!! Needless to say, hydrangeas and many flowers in general bring me SO MUCH JOY.

One of my Summer 2024 and beyond goals is to be more mindful and by doing so also enjoy what’s LITERALLY right in my own backyard! Whether it be a hydrangea or azalea or holly bush or Fall foliage, there is SO MUCH to enjoy and love without even having to take a step beyond my own home. I hope this Summer that YOU strive to be more mindful, too! Remember that mindfulness looks different for every person, as we are all unique individuals.

XOXO – Katie <3

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The Life of Katie – May 2024

From turning 25 to turning a major growth leaf professionally (more on that to come in the coming months!!!) and everything in between, May 2024 has been nothing short of, well, chaotic to say the least! Through it all, the memories and moments of May 2024 make me SO SO SO grateful for my friends, family, and broader network both professionally and personally. I am also incredibly thankful for the times, too!

*Disclaimer: Please note that this post is sponsored and may contain 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 sponsored, and all opinions are my own.*

Favorite Finds: 

  • I had an incredible opportunity to work with Caloosa Waterwear this past month. Caloosa Waterwear is known for their super cute and stylish performance Waterwear inspired by the Florida beaches. I was SOOOO honored when they reached out to me, after I had seen and admired their adorable shirts at gift shops on the Bethany Beach boardwalk in previous summers. Now, I have my *very* own Caloosa Waterwear shirt that is SOOOOOO comfortable and literally perfect to wear on hot summer days! Use my discount code “_THEPINKCHICKADEE” for 10% off your purchase today!

May Ongoings:

  • To kick off the month of May, I celebrated turning … 25!!!! I am beyond lucky to have many friends and family members that all came together (shoutout to Lindsay for generously making the trek from Indiana!!!), both from near and far to celebrate this milestone Birthday with me. To celebrate, dinners were had at Filomena in Georgetown, Ada’s on the River and Josephine in Old Town Alexandria, and Mi Vida at The Wharf; brunch at Le Diplomate in Logan Circle; a Kentucky Derby party at a family friend’s house; and a celebratory party with family + friends at my house complete with Georgetown Cupcake! All in all, I am oh so blessed to have such an incredible tribe in my corner to ring in 25 with!

Filomena:

Ada’s on the River:

Mi Vida + The Wharf:

Le Diplomate:

Josephine:

Kentucky Derby Party + 25th Birthday Party:

  • I enjoyed a few weeknights/afternoons on the town! My best friend Briana and I enjoyed a baseball game together at Nationals Park. We were NOT in our seats for even 30 minutes LOL we mainly walked around the park and had a BALL at the BALLGAME! Beforehand, we enjoyed a happy hour at The Bullpen, complete with live music and cocktails and skyline views. Liz and I enjoyed seeing Little Women at Capital One Hall in Tysons with drinks/dinner beforehand! I wrapped up my Ignite Young Professionals program via the Leadership Center of Arlington with the Leadership Summit, where Arlington, Virginia-based leaders and Arlington Center graduates came together to share ideas and learn from one another. I also went to a company-hosted mini golf happy hour at Perch Putt in Tysons and then another company-hosted happy hour at Starr Hill Biergarten in Tysons, too. It was GREAT to network with my classmates and coworkers and other community members. My best friend Stephanie and I enjoyed happy hour at the amazing Screwtop Wine Bar (!!!!). And, last but not least, I got to network and *finally* meet some fellow Washington, DC-based influencers via The DC Influence’s happy hour and wine tasting at Unwined in Alexandria, Virginia. All in all, I LOVED getting to kick off happy hour season!

Nationals Night:

Little Women at Capital One Hall:

Screwtop Wine Bar:

Networking Events:

  • Not ONE, but TWO of my North Carolina-based best friends – Hannah and Bryn – each came to visit on back-to-back weekends. Hannah and I strolled around Old Town Alexandria and did dinner + drinks at Fontaine Caffe & Creperie and then the National Mall most specifically the Smithsonian Castle the next day. Bryn and I strolled around the National Mall, too, specifically the World War 11 Memorial and Lincoln Memorial and hydrangea admiring near the African American History Museum and then onwards to lunch at Wok and Roll in Chinatown and then that next day we did adulting things with grocery shopping at Wegman’s and crab legs for dinner at the house with Papa.

Highs with Hannah:

Highs with Bryn:

  • Papa and Rosie and I visited some family in Carlisle, Pennsylvania and went peony-peeping in the backyard garden! I have also been spending several nights hanging out with Rosie and Papa by cooking dinners together and simply enjoying the sunshine.

Lows:

  • Oddly enough, I have been struggling with … allergies ALL throughout the month of May. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Summer heat and weather, as it’s creeping up throughout May and into early June here in the Washington, DC area.
  • I had the WORST headaches throughout the last week of May, which made for a VERY unproductive short week post-Memorial Day Weekend.

XOXO – Katie <3

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What I Wore to Work – May 2024

Out of all of the 2023-2024 work months so far, May 2024 has been the MOST transformative for my career in many ways (more to come on that soon!). Work-wise, I started the month in nothing short of a panic to learning and growing in several ways to experiencing so many pivotal moments in the direction that I want to take my career given the current professional landscape of our world. I have also started company-sponsored leadership coaching which has been SO amazing!! All in all, I am VERY proud of where I am now and where I am going!

One of the biggest takeaways I have experienced throughout May 2024 is the simple joys of getting dressed to be more productive. There IS something major to be said for getting dressed, doing my skincare + makeup routine, and making my bed that makes the day SO MUCH better. *Even* when I feel like not getting ready for the day and hanging low in my pajamas, the act of doing so makes a MAJOR impact positively on my days!

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

Dress: Lord & Taylor; Scarf: Lilly Pulitzer; Earrings: Kate Spade; Bracelets: Alex and Ani, Lilly Pulitzer, Amazon, & J Crew Factory
Tee: Lilly Pulitzer; Jacket: Lands End; Shorts: Fabletics; Necklace: Kendra Scott; Bracelets: Scout Bags x Teleties
Blouse & Handbag: Lilly Pulitzer; Necklace: Kendra Scott; Earrings: J Crew Factory; Skirt: BCBG; Bracelets: Amazon & Lilly Pulitzer; Shoes: Vintage
Sweater: Vintage; Jeans: D Jeans; Necklace: J Crew Factory; Earrings: SugarFix by Target
Tee: Mountain Moverz; Jacket: Isaac Mizrahi; Leggings: Shapermint; Boots: Hunter Boots; Tote: Target: Earrings: J Crew Factory; Bracelets: Amazon, Alex and Ani, & Lilly Pulitzer
Dress: BCBG; Necklace: J Crew Factory; Earrings: House of Harlow 1960
Sweater: Vintage; Pants: TJ Maxx; Necklace: Target; Headband: Lilly Pulitzer; Earrings: Kate Spade; Bracelets: Amazon, Lilly Pulitzer, Kendra Scott, & All She Wrote Notes; Sandals: Jack Rogers
Tee: Vineyard Vines; Skort: J Crew Factory
Blouse: Thrifted; Pants: Isaac Mizrahi; Necklace: J Crew Factory; Earrings: House of Harlow 1960; Bracelets: Amazon & Lilly Pulitzer
Dress: Hill House; Earrings: House of Harlow 1960; Bag: Target; Sandals: Jack Rogers; Bracelets: Amazon, Lilly Pulitzer, & Kate Spade
Dress: J Crew Factory; Pearls & Heels: Vintage; Earrings: Charming Charlie; Claw Clip & Crossbody: Target; Bracelets: J Crew Factory, Amazon, & Kendra Scott
Dress: Hill House; Bow: Lele Sadoughi; Heels: Vintage; Earrings: J Crew Factory; Necklace: Kendra Scott; Bracelets: Amazon, Lilly Pulitzer, & Kendra Scott
Dress: Lands End; Necklace: Thrifted; Bracelets: Amazon & Lilly Pulitzer; Earrings: House of Harlow 1960; Sandals: Jack Rogers
Dress: Lilly Pulitzer; Necklace: Cora’s Den; Bracelets: Amazon, Kendra Scott, Lilly Pulitzer, & Scout Bags x Teleties; Earrings: SugarFix by Target
Lounge Set: 66Disco; Headband: Anthropologie
Blouse: Amazon; Jeans: D Brand; Earrings: House of Harlow 1960; Bracelets: Amazon, The Inspiration Co, & Ralph Lauren
Shirt: Caloosa Water Wear; Skirt: Vineyard Vines; Sandals: Jack Rogers; Earrings: Lilly Pulitzer; Necklace: Kendra Scott
Tee: Vineyard Vines; Skirt: Lilly Pulitzer; Headband: Anthropologie; Handbag: Mark & Graham; Flip Flops: J Crew Factory; Bracelets: Lilly Pulitzer & All She Wrote Notes; Necklace: Kendra Scott
Dress: Target; Necklace: J Crew Factory; Braclets: Kendra Scott & J Crew Factory; Earrings: Kate Spade; Heels: Lands’ End; Handbag: Mark & Graham

XOXO – Katie <3

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A Day at Assateague Island National Seashore

Flashback to a few months ago and my best friend Amanda and I were planning our next trip (see one of our previous trips to Philadelphia here!) to visit my Dad and Step Mom and my “Sissy” aka their Yorkie Ginger in Bethany Beach, Delaware. Out of the blue, Amanda texts me that we MUST go to visit Assateague Island National Seashore on our visit. I had been previously to Assateague and had yet to see *even* one horse, HOWEVER, we truly hit the jackpot this time around. Long and behold, we had a sunny day AND saw … HORSES!!! Needless to say, it is worth making an Assateague Island day, especially as its within a reach from Washington, DC and Philadelphia to catch some waves and perhaps see a pony (or a few!!).

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:

Assateague Island National Seashore is located in Berlin, Maryland and is proudly on the edge of the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Assateague Island National Seashore is a National Park Service destination and offers a variety of different day and overnight activities for visitors to do, including: oceanfront camping, kayaking, and simply driving through and sightseeing. Check out more information here.

Getting there:

Assateague Island National Seashore is located about 3-4 hours (give or take traffic) from Washington, DC. It is within either a day’s trip reach from the city or makes for a great overnight trip combined with the nearby beaches of Ocean City, Maryland/the Delaware beaches (Bethany Beach, Dewey Beach, and Rehoboth Beach) or the charming nearby town of Berlin, Maryland. Note that one must pay for admission via a Standard Pass of $25/vehicle to Assateague IF you do not have a National Park Service pass already, so plan accordingly!

Overall Experience:

While we opted to mainly drive through for our Assateague Island Day as we went on an overcast April day, yet you could easily spend an entire day or even weekend here! Through it all though, I was SOOOOO happy that we got to see … ponies!!!! After multiple visits to Assateague Island National Seashore without seeing ANY horses, I was genuinely SO SO SO excited to see many of them at once and I know my crew aka Amanda and Dad and my Step Mom and Ginger were, too. At the same time, we took the opportunity to walk to the ocean from the parking lot filled with horses. Amanda and I did a mini photo shoot, admired the gorgeous coastline with peeks of sunshine, and Ginger ran allll across the sand A TON. It was a GLORIOUS time!

Wrap-Up:

The bottom line is to keep expectations LOW when visiting Assateague as to whether or not you will see horses. Seeing horses there is definitely hit or miss, but can be so beautiful to see. Either way, the scenery at Assateague Island National Seashore from marshes to ocean to everything in between is STUNNING and worth a visit!

XOXO – Katie <3

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