3 Affordable Fall Pieces from Amazon

Happy Fall y’all!!! Recently, I have had the amazing opportunity of working with a few different Amazon shops. While I am a semi-frequent Amazon fashion shopper on my own (I plan to share more of my favorite finds here soon!), I have found Amazon fashion finds to be some of my favorites in their quality and price point. So, today, I’m going to be sharing some of my favorite Fall fashion finds brought to you by … Amazon!

*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 sponsored, and all opinions are my own.*

One thing that I LOVE about Amazon finds is the variety of colors and sometimes even variations in each style. I also love the size inclusivity of several Amazon pieces, too. Truly, there is something for everybody! At the same time, I LOVE the fact that I can simply order what I like and can receive it in the mail just a few days (if not sooner!) later. And, the return policies are pretty great and easy. Needless to say, Amazon is such a convenient way to order and shop styles I love at an affordable price point and that is accessible for all.

Now for some adorable Fall pieces!

Chunky Knit Cardigan

From Amazon’s shop Larace, this chunky knit long cardigan with pockets is SOOO comfortable and literally perfect for lounging days. Just like much of Amazon’s clothing items, this cardigan comes in several different colors and is size-inclusive as well (which we LOVE!). I LOVE the versatility of this cardigan as well as how comfortable it is (and not itchy either!). Use my unique discount code “1010katie10” for any color of this unique cardigan style *with pockets*!

Sleeveless Dress

Also from the lovely Amazon shop Larace, this ultra-comfortable purple button sleeveless dress is a keeper. I LOVE the comfort of Larace’s dresses and tunics (which I own a few of!) as they’re lightweight, ultra-soft, and of course at a great price point and comes in a variety of colors/prints. Use my unique discount code “15IMPLRB” for 15% off your order of this unique style in all colors/prints!

2 Piece Lounge Set

From the shop Pink Queen, I am LITERALLY obsessed with this 2 piece lounge set. It is SOO soft and comfortable. I literally could LIVE in this lounge set. These are so trendy right now and seriously perfect for work from home days or cozy lazy Fall/Winter days at home. Like all of the other Amazon pieces mentioned, this lounge set comes in a striped print in several other colors. Definitely a great investment for Fall/Winter!

With my recent Amazon fashion obsession, I have come to LOVE the variety, accessibility, inclusivity, affordability, and convenience of ordering some pieces from there. I will definitely be sharing more pieces from Amazon (and other places!) with y’all, too!

XOXO – Katie <3

September 26, 2024September 25, 2024

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Finally Feeling Fall

Happy Fall 2024! Personally, I had a tough transition into the Fall 2024 season as I’ve shared on my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee) which is probably a first for me. However, to kick off Day 1 of Fall 2024, I blasted a Fall movie marathon thanks to the Hallmark Channel, decorated for Fall around my apartment, walked my dog Rosie in a Fall outfit (Hunter Boots crushing on a few leaves on trails included!!!), lit some Fall-scented candles, and cozied up in a Fall-themed pajama set. Now, I am officially excited to kick off Fall 2024! I am finally feeling Fall y’all!!!

Let’s just say that Summer 2024 was not an easy one for me. While I won’t get into the details of what all went down, I will say that as Fall approached, I was pretty disappointed to let Summer go. I was REALLY sad to see my favorite season of the year go without much time to enjoy it (with the exception of two GREAT trips that I still cherish memories from – one to the Midwest to visit my best friend Lindsay and another to Hawaii to visit my friend Maxwell with Bryn – alongside some special memories made close to home). When I got back from Hawaii, it started to hit me that Summer was *literally* slipping through my fingers as if I was cueing the popular song from Mamma Mia! And I felt sad to see a change. However, through it all though, I have finally come to accept that Fall is near and am … *finally* feeling Fall!!!

With the gateway to Fall comes the gateway to the holiday season aka a FAVORITE season of mine. I LOVE how Fall brings people together in the midst of pumpkin patches, pumpkin spiced lattes, and pumpkin decorations GALORE amongst many other Fall things. I adore the Fall season (and this Summer-Fall transition is unusual for me hence the initial disappointment!). I am a HUGE pumpkin spiced latte fan and find joy in enjoying a daily pumpkin-flavored morning coffee and an *occasional* PSL run to Starbucks. I LOVE the feeling of crushing leaves on my feet as I walk my dog Rosie. I take JOY in seeing decorations to commemorate the Fall season at every turn. And, I cherish the excitement that others have with the joy Fall brings to us all.

I strive to find joy in all of the seasons of the year. At the end of the day, we only get 1 Fall per year. That is 18 Falls in our childhood and 10 Falls per decade following our childhood. As crazy as it sounds, we only have a number of Falls in our lives (whether a big or small number). We must take the time to enjoy and savor the Fall moments in our lives. Just like the Summers we cherish with lasting memories and longer days of sunlight, we must do the same with the Falls that we have. While the days of sunlight may be shorter, the memories we make can be cherished just as much. We must enjoy the pumpkin patches, the Fall festivals, the Hallmark Channel movies, the candles, and *even* a pumpkin spiced latte. I hope YOU find the joy in all of the seasons, including Fall, too!

For now, I will be enjoying wearing my Hunter Boots again on repeat while the leaves crush on my feet with a pumpkin spiced latte in hand and a breath of that crisp Fall air. Wherever you are this Fall season, I hope YOU can find that joy and love for the season in front of us. Indeed, we can make it a GREAT one if we want to!

XOXO – Katie <3

September 24, 2024December 29, 2025

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Where to Meet Friends in a New City

One of THE things that was most challenging for me in my first few years after college was meeting new friends in a brand-new city. For context, I moved back to the Washington, DC/Northern Virginia area after 4 years of college in Raleigh, North Carolina with *very few* Summers home in between (read my moving announcement here!). That all being said, it was quite a challenge to meet friends after 4 years away from my city. I pretty much had to start all over again. Nevertheless, 3 years (and counting!) since my relocation back to the nation’s capital, I feel SO fortunate to say that I have an incredible network of friends (and family too!) in my city. But, there was a time where I wondered where to meet friends in a new city.

I remember relocating back to the Washington, DC area thinking it would be like moving into my North Carolina college dorm – social events at every turn and sooooo many opportunities to meet and mingle with peers. HOWEVER, moving into my apartment post-graduation was VERYYYY different. College is the last stepping stone for some and high school for others where we don’t have to put much effort into making meaningful connections and friends. However, once we leave the academic world, it becomes much trickier to meet friends and even future partners to date. Facing this new and rather dreadful reality, I recall laying in bed some nights so upset that I hadn’t found a community in my new city. It was tough as others in my network, whether coworkers or former high school classmates, had lots of college friends relocate to the Washington, DC area which made things a bit easier (however, new city or not, early post-graduation years are TOUGH for all and many want to make new connections). I remember feeling SO sad and down and discouraged that I would NEVER find a community. Hence, I asked myself: where to meet friends in a new city?! And, hence, you may also be asking that same question.

Now, for some of my personal key takeaways that I’ve found to be impactful during my post-graduation years in making new friends and where to meet friends in a new city:

Key Takeaways:

Takeaway 1 – The biggest step to meeting new friends is … to put yourself out there and admit it. YES – that daunting first step is to admit that you want to make new friends and put yourself in those *maybe* out of the comfort zone experiences to reap those benefits. Unlike high school and college, we HAVE to put in the effort to meet others and make new friends. Go to events alone and don’t be afraid to. The best part?!?! Getting out of your comfort zone helps you GROW! And, if an event isn’t a success in meeting others, then, that is OKAY. The more you put yourself out there, the more likely you will be to find your community in your new city.

Takeaway 2 – Find a community or network of interest. The best place to meet others that are likeminded?! Join a special interest group! Note that this one will look different for everybody, based on our own special interests. For example, many major cities have their own sports leagues or exercise groups. My best friend Shivani has met friends through tennis and pure barre. There are also book clubs at several local libraries and bookstores in ALL genres and can also be found websites such as Goodreads (I think?! I know a basic Google search knows this one!), which my friend Ashley has joined. In Washington, DC, I have joined the City Girls Who Walk DC community on Discord and while I am not an active member yet, I do adore their content and have been inspired by my friends Stephanie and Brittany to join, as they have actually attended their events! The best way to start is to do basic Google searches, follow local influencers who focus on things to do in your city (and see what communities interact with their content/who they follow), and check out sites like Facebook, Meetup, and Eventbrite. As for myself, I will be taking a class and meetup soon with DC Mahj, am in the process of applying to a local Daughters of the American Revolution Chapter, and skimming on occasion the City Girls Who Walk DC Discord channel (hopefully I attend an event soon and can change this!) alongside the DC Influence social media channels (which I have attended some events through!). There is definitely something going on and there will likely be something of interest to you, too!

Takeaway 3 – Google where to meet friends in a new city and the first result says …. online. However, online meetings may or may not be the best fit. Indeed, some online platforms may work better for you than others. I’ll be honest: I tried Bumble BFF and didn’t find any friends that I still have today. While I am grateful for the connections made (some of which I still have!), I am also grateful that I gave it a whirl. Bumble BFF was my first channel to get out of my comfort zone and meet others. Instagram can work, too, if you’re in communities such as blogging or join a local influencer of interest’s community/events. I have definitely seen more results through Instagram, as I met one of my BEST friends (while not in Washington, DC) Lindsay of @sunshineandstairclimbs through our blogs alongside several other incredible bloggers, influencers, and small business owners.

Takeaway 4 – Oddly enough, I have found networking to be a GREAT way to make friends and connections. Whether in my 9-5 or beyond, networking is a GREAT way to establish friendships and meaningful connections. Funny enough, I met two of my best friends Brittany and Briana in an .. elevator. We were at a holiday networking event leaving and just really hit it off! I was fortunate enough to be apart of a Northern Virginia-based young professional leadership program during the 2023-2024 year and met several young professionals in my city – some of which are now friends! Networking can be daunting (this is something I want to share more insights on soon, too!), but can seriously be sooooo rewarding in the end. Networking can ALSO be used beyond the professional world too and in our personal lives and communities of special interest, too, especially when meeting new friends.

Takeaway 5 – Be patient. Just like in college and high school years, finding a community takes time and is an ever-evolving process. Even after feeling like I have established a great network and community of people in my own city, I still am always looking to expand and evolve within my community, too. It took time for my community to come together, but the universe (or any higher power if you believe in one!) is truly working in mysterious ways ALL THE TIME. Just know, it’s coming. Don’t worry!

Takeaway 6 – Always do YOU. Be yourself, because everyone else is already taken. Yes, I know that this can be sort of a cliche quote that is ALWAYS shared, but this quote has a lot of truth to it. There is only one you. Don’t try to conform to others’ expectations or strive to change parts of yourself to make yourself more likable to others. Simply, just be YOU. The right people will come to you over time and they’re so worth the wait.

Takeaway 7 – Keep in touch with your friends that you’ve moved away from. Through it all though, I think it is SO important to make time for your friends who you may no longer live close to anymore. It WILL be worth it. I find it SO nice to be able to have a free place to stay in my former city (and/or my friend’s new city) when I want a weekend away alongside *of course* time with my friend and vice versa when they come to visit you! At the same time, sadly, not all friends from your previous city will be meant for the long haul and sustain your move. And, guess what?! That is OKAY. I remember feeling SO SAD that not all of my friendships from college and in Raleigh stuck in my post-graduation years in the nation’s capital. But, those friendships that did stick are the ones that I cherish and am SOOOO grateful for. Trust me, that phrase “friends come and go” reigns true especially when moves are involved.

Wrap-Up:

While moving to a new city is SO exciting and a great way to gain independence and experience new things as well as for our own personal development, it can also be daunting having to start all over in a brand-new place. Where to meet friends is not a one-size fits all answer either. In fact, meeting friends can be difficult and take time, but we have to give ourselves grace and space to find our own communities. It won’t happen overnight, but when it does, cherish it and the community you will establish and have.

XOXO – Katie <3

September 23, 2024December 29, 2025

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The Life of Katie!

Since getting back from Hawaii earlier this month, I have had nothing short of an emotional roller coaster that’s ended in feeling so much gratitude for where I’ve been and what’s in store for me moving forward. I have been sharing tons of Hawaii content over on my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee) and I STILL feel as if I’m in multiple mega “pinch me” moments realizing that I was in the Aloha State to kick off September 2024. My week on Hawaii was incredible and such a blessing to me. Getting to spend time with my friends Bryn and Maxwell (our amazing host and tour guide!) all across most of Oahu and Maui was AMAZING!!!! Truly, a dream come true to me!

I loved over these past few weeks either preparing for the trip to Hawaii, getting to explore and take photos in Hawaii, or organizing my apartment and looking through ALLLL the almost 1,000 photos that I took on my camera while in Hawaii once I got home. Pinch me now!!! Most of my life recently has revolved around the empowerment that it took to go on such a huge trip (with 15+ hours of travel time each way!) and coming home feeling so empowered to take on all that comes my way back at home. But, at the same time, I have enjoyed taking on a new leadership role in my 9-5, time catching up with family and friends and my dog Rosie, and moments to focus on my wellness as it felt GREAT taking 10,000+ steps a day in Hawaii. Needless to say, my trip to Hawaii was truly transformative for my physical and mental wellbeing overall.

Now, as always, I bring y’all … recent life updates:

Wellness journey – I have started to make some recent health changes. While in Hawaii, I discovered (or finally realized) that I have a resistance to certain liquors, including tequila, rum, and vodka. I also have a major resistance to large amounts of sugar. Since cutting these high-sugar items out of my diet, it has been … groundbreaking. At the same time, I am starting to get in more steps, including during the work day, as I’m *confessions* one to simply sit at the desk all day long without many breaks up and at it. September is the time to change all of that.
Happy hours – While I do LOVE an excellent cocktail even if not as frequent, I do Stan being a wine-loving queen! I have enjoyed some happy hour moments (with wine!) with some friends and family and cohort classmates at Screwtop Wine Bar, Ozzie’s Good Eats, Barca, Virtue Feed and Grain, and Metrobar. At the same time, I have ALSO enjoyed some at-home happy hours with homemade Aperol spritzes and *of course* some wine!
Lilly Pulitzer Sunshine Sale & Lenox Spice Village – My first week home was a BIG shopping week for me. The September Lilly Pulitzer Sunshine Sale came around, which is my FAVORITE annual Lilly Pulitzer sale to stock up during (!!!!!). At the same time, Lenox released its iconic spice village again at its original price for preorder, which I may or may not have snagged the entire 24-piece collection of ….
Hawaii flight – I am beyond proud of myself for surviving the 11 hour flight from JFK Airport in New York City ALLLL the way to Honolulu. Bryn and I met up at JFK Airport after connecting flights from our respective cities and sat next to one another via the loooonggg haul to Honolulu. The same on the way back to the United States mainland (as Hawaiians call it!) as we flew from Honolulu to Detroit airport. Unfortunately, I have recently had trouble sleeping on flights which made me super sleep deprived on both long treks to and from Hawaii. Nevertheless, the crazy long amounts of travel time was SO WORTH IT, especially to see beautiful Hawaii when landing/taking off from our window seat!
Hawaii 2024 – aka one of THE BEST TRIPS I have ever taken!!! More in-depth content to come soon from this incredible trip. But, for now, enjoy some content on my journey to Manoa Falls and my Lilly Pulitzer holy grail moment at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel.
Car issues – UGHHHHH … sometimes I feel like I have THE WORST luck with car issues. Whenever they happen, it always seems that multiple issues pile up all at once. This time around was NO different when my car needed to go in for new front brakes and the back brakes started to malfunction. Needless to say, it feels super frustrating at times to have a huge lineup of car issues. ARGH!

Making an at-home Apple Cider Aperol Spritz

The incredible view when landing in Honolulu!

Bryn and I right before we took off at JFK!

The beautifully decorated doors at Virtue Feed and Grain

Happy hour with Stephanie at Screwtop Wine Bar!

More to come soon!

XOXO – Katie <3

September 18, 2024December 29, 2025

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4 Hours in Glendalough, Ireland

Long time, NO talk about my incredible solo trip to Ireland back in April of this year! While in the Emerald Isle, I went on several day trips (including Cork County and the Cliffs of Moher) across the country, including a magical 4 hours in Glendalough, Ireland – a gorgeous glacial valley tucked in the Wicklow Mountains that’s home to a 6th century monastery. Truly, getting to visit Glendalough felt as if I was in an Irish lakeside fairytale come true!

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4 Hours in Glendalough, Ireland

Day Trip Operator:

Just like my day trips to Cork County and the Cliffs of Moher, I used Paddywagon Tours for my half day trip to Glendalough. Paddywagon Tours is an affordable and well-known tour operator with several tours leaving from Dublin (and a few other Irish cities!) for the day. I LOVED how convenient the pickup location was for these tours, too, as it was *just* a couple of blocks from my hotel, making for an easy morning stroll.

About:

Located in a glacial valley with two stunning adjacent lakes within the gorgeous Wicklow Mountains, Glendalough is home to a 6th century monastic heritage sight. This 6th century monastic heritage sight was founded by St. Kevin who resided there as a hermit and attracted followers of the Christian faith who aspired to do the same. Indeed, Glendalough is a placed of pilgrimage and has been for over 1,500 years. While not much is accurately known about St. Kevin’s time at Glendalough, stories have been passed down over the centuries, some of which are of Irish mythology (which is contains a fascinating array of stories in itself!). Surrounded by natural beauty with an upper and lower lake, the Wicklow Mountains, the remains of two mining sites, and the monastic settlement, truly Glendalough is a peaceful place to simply reflect, enjoy your surroundings, and feel pride for those that have done the same before us. Learn more here, including information on the first-ever pilgrimage aka a series of walks on St. Kevin’s day on June 1, 2024!

Takeaways:

Glendalough is indeed an incredible place. Upon exiting the tour bus for approximately 90 minutes to stroll at the Glendalough (including the heritage site and adjacent lakes and trails to/from it all!), I was able to see the monastic heritage site and both lakes amongst the breathtakingly gorgeous Wicklow Mountains. Upon first glance, I found myself walking across stunning cobblestone bridges like I was *in* an Irish fairytale (!!!!!) to the monastic heritage site. At the monastic heritage site, there is a cemetery of crosses (which is *very* hard to get a slot in nowadays as its super prestigious), the monastic tower, and the cell where St. Kevin would pray and practice his faith as a hermit. Truly, it was an incredible experience to see where so many have come before us to practice the faith that they loved and were so passionate about exploring and touching others’ lives with. Glendalough is such a place filled with love, hope, and beauty!

To top it all off, after a visit to the monastic heritage site, I started my stroll on the trail to the upper and lower lakes nearby. On the way to the lakes, I saw … a waterfall (!!!!!) amongst stunning beautiful green moss. HOW MAGICAL!!!!!! And, well, the perfect home for fairies! The walk (if I recall!) is about a mile and SO worth it to be in a forest amongst waterfalls, mountainous views, and lakeside gushes of wind (when in Rome – am I right?!?!). At the lakes, it was SOOOO relaxing amongst the wind and showers of rain here and there to simply be in the moment. Bodies of water, especially lakes, given my childhood Summers spent at East Grand Lake in Northern Maine, have a special place in my heart!

And, on the bus ride home, our tour guide shared some beautiful Irish mythological stories as we drove through the Wicklow Mountains on our way back to Dublin. While I don’t remember a ton about the stories that she told us, I do remember just enjoying how perfect this morning and the moments were at and around Glendalough. It is such a special place!

Wrap-Up:

Being at Glendalough was such a magical experience. I seriously felt as if I was in an Irish lakeside fairytale. Sadly, no fairies to be seen this time around, but maybe next time!

XOXO – Katie <3

September 17, 2024January 27, 2026

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A Lilly Pulitzer Holy Grail Moment

Ever since Bryn and I were planning on visiting our friend Maxwell in Hawaii, I had a dream photo shoot at the iconic “pink palace” aka the Royal Hawaiian Hotel located in downtown Waikiki. The Royal Hawaiian Hotel is seriously iconic in all its pink glory. And, what better way to style this photoshoot of my dreams than in a Lilly Pulitzer holy grail printed shift?!?!

*Just* in case you didn’t know, Lilly Pulitzer has a few select popular prints over the years that are considered “holy grail”. Many of these holy grail prints are archived and not sold/continued to be sold by Lilly Pulitzer. Some of these prints are upwards of 10+ years old, too. I found this amazing holy grail print guide by Ayana Lage here. When people think of Lilly Pulitzer prints, they may very well picture one (or more!) of Lilly Pulitzer’s iconic prints. Holy grail prints also sell for hundreds of dollars on secondhand sites such as eBay and Poshmark. Some of my favorites include “Let’s Cha Cha” (which I’m wearing for this photoshoot!) and “First Impressions” which I have hanging in a mini skirt form on my Lilly Pulitzer wall in my cloffice (here) alongside another “Let’s Cha Cha” shift. When I started to fall in love with the Lilly Pulitzer brand and styles, I immediately fell in love with many of the well-known holy grail prints, too!

For my photoshoot at THE Royal Hawaiian Hotel, I decided to *finally* style my “Let’s Cha Cha” shift that I purchased off of ThredUp earlier this year. I initially purchased a “Let’s Cha Cha” shift off of Poshmark in a much smaller size in my college years that now hangs on my Lilly Pulitzer wall! During my latter college years, I ended up growing into my figure and sadly couldn’t fit into many of my loved clothing pieces (including many holy grail Lilly Pulitzer garments). While it took quite a bit of grieving on my part that I probably wouldn’t be able to fit into many of my previously worn Lilly Pulitzer holy grail pieces, I was over the moon when I *finally* found a “Let’s Cha Cha” shift in my now-size for a reasonable price (thanks to eBay and Poshmark, usually it would be out of my price range!). During those years of grieving, I definitely struggled to feel confident with my newly grown into figure and truly feeling like my best self. It wasn’t until Summer 2023 that I felt like my best self again figure-wise. All bodies are beautiful bodies folks! Through it all, truly, having a photoshoot in my “Let’s Cha Cha” shift IN HAWAII no less years after not being able to fit into my previous one was such a full circle moment for me. Only if 2021 Katie knew, she’d be SO excited and smiling SO big!

Indeed, my Lilly Pulitzer holy grail photoshoot was such a dream come true and truly a full circle moment. 100000% one for the books!

XOXO – Katie <3

September 16, 2024December 27, 2024

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Manoa Falls: A Place of Natural Healing

I have started sharing A TON on my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee) about my weeklong trip to kick off the month of September 2024 to Hawaii. I truly had such a memorable experience visiting the Aloha State and getting to learn about Hawaiian life and culture. Indeed, Hawaii is a unique place with its own beauty and culture. I felt as if I was in a different country without having to worry about bringing my passport! One of our many adventures while in Hawaii was to Manoa Falls, which has been known (thanks to our *very own* host and tour guide Maxwell for sharing this with us!) to be a place of natural healing. Little did I know that I would feel the healing powers of Manoa Falls while there.

It was a Friday afternoon and I found myself on a week long trip to Hawaii hiking what I would consider an intense hike up to Oahu’s Manoa Falls. I wore the wrong shoes: a pair of oversized “gel” Jack Roger’s flip flops. The trail to Oahu’s Manoa Falls, located just outside of Honolulu and in close proximity to the University of Hawaii at Manoa’s campus, is a rocky one with some steep slopes that can be rather slippery and muddy. Clearly, I wore the wrong shoes and did not come prepared (nor did I pack any hiking-appropriate shoes). I also found myself screaming on the inside and moaning on the outside at all of the rocks on the rocky slopes that I kept slipping on and off of. As a self-proclaimed “Hollywood hiker” as my influencer bestie Lindsay and I both proudly say, I find myself doing nothing but paved outdoors trails. I found myself practically the entire way to Manoa Falls whining like a toddler in a 25 year old woman’s body.

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I sat down having pretty much given up on this hike that I called “the worst hike ever” within my toddler-like whining. And, then, a release came. A release of tears. A breath of fresh air. And, last but not least, the beginning of healing for me from something from my past. Little did I know, Manoa Falls is well-known as a place of healing. Little did I know that I was in one of the best places to begin healing past wounds. Sometimes, the universe and/or a higher power (if you believe in one) puts us in places to begin our own healing and to empower us to get out of our comfort zones. Manoa Falls did just that for me while on my weeklong adventure to Hawaii. Truly, I am blessed that in those vulnerable moments I was in a beautiful place filled with natural healing powers.

After a healing release on our way to Manoa Falls, we continued our hike to see our first (for me and Bryn!) Hawaiian waterfall (!!!!). It was indeed worth the release of past pain and suffering at such a healing place. Truly, I wish everyone the power of healing that the world can bring us if we open up to it. Throughout the approximately 1.6 miles hike to Manoa Falls, I felt ALL the feels. But, through it all, I began to heal, which is a beautiful thing. Manoa Falls brought me back clarity, peace, direction, and, most importantly, healing power.

Thank you, or should I say, Manolo Manoa Falls!

XOXO – Katie <3

September 12, 2024January 28, 2026

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What I Wore to Work – August 2024

August is truly one of my favorite months of the year! The slower pace of this late Summer month with the looming excitement of Fall yet moments to enjoy the ongoing warmer days make it truly a favorite of mine. As for workwear, I definitely tend to be more comfortable and casual during these so-called “dog days of Summer”. Having taken a trip to Indianapolis and Chicago (here) early on in August, I also enjoyed being more mindful and enjoying some time locally at home, too. As for work-wise, I love the “Summer lull” that this month provides before the busy Fall season comes to fruition. Having gone to Hawaii for the first week of September (which has since happened by the time this post will be live – whoops!!), I am truly ready for what Fall 2024 has in store!

If I’m being honest, Summer 2024 was a bit stressful and chaotic and I am SO excited for what this new season has to bring. Over the years, I’ve talked with fellow colleagues about this, too, that when a tough season comes there’s always an opportunity for a fresh start when the new season arrives. Coming back from a week in Hawaii leaves me ready for Fall apparel while still sharing Summer looks (case in point with this posting – LOL!!) for all to enjoy AND a new season ahead. August can definitely be a strange time for us bloggers as Fall fashion starts to dominate our social media (and blog!) feeds while it’s still extremely hot and humid outside our own front doors. Personally, I choose to embrace the season and weather that I am in before speeding up ahead into the next. So, for August 2024, we will be solely focusing on Summer fashion with a transition to Fall 2024 workwear looks in September and beyond!

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