Fall Strolls – Burke Nursery and Garden Center

Indeed, this October, I have been Octobering more than past years and it has been AMAZING (!!!!). One of me and Papa’s and Rosie’s traditions is going to the local Burke Nursery and Garden Center in Burke, Virginia. Each Fall, Burke Nursery and Garden Center puts on a SHOW (!!!!) with an adorable all things Fall Fall Market, pumpkin patch, and Fall displays with complimentary rides for children. Needless to say, there were SOOO many photo opportunities, 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.

While on our outing to Burke Nursery and Garden Center, I had been reflecting with Papa on how I truly value the family traditions that we do year after year. From going to the Shenandoah National Park’s Skyline Drive (here) to see the Fall foliage to visiting Nall’s Produce to an annual Christmas Eve Eve dinner at Mike’s American Grill, traditions truly bring me joy and fulfillment year after year. Every Fall and into the holiday season, I LOVE to switch my activities here and there, but find tons of value in doing some of the same things with the people that I love year after year. Perhaps, some of my love for traditions has to do with the fact that I went to a tradition-centric all-women’s college?! Whatever the case may be, I am grateful for the traditions I take part in each year!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Fall Strolls – Occoquan, Virginia

Growing up, I spent several childhood weekends in the charming town of Occoquan, Virginia. My Dad lived in Occoquan for a few of my childhood years hence the many weekends spent there. Weekends in Occoquan were spent walking my late childhood Yorkie Butters alongside the gorgeous historic streets and alongside the adjacent Occoquan River, getting ice cream at the local ice cream parlors, and dinners and shopping via supporting the local small businesses (which are the only businesses in downtown Occoquan!). Through it all, Occoquan holds a special place in my heart!

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.

Truly, Occoquan is a unique as some may say “hidden gem” in the Washington, DC area – something that I LOVE about it too. At the same time, I truly view Occoquan as such a special place in my childhood and sometimes forget that it is there amongst ALLL that there is to do in my own backyard (something I feel VERY fortunate for!). And, in those few moments that I do revisit the charming town that is apart of my childhood stomping grounds, I am extremely grateful for it. Needless to say, I LOVE that Occoquan is a little oasis amongst the Washington, DC suburbs and hustle and bustle of the area.

One of the biggest things that I have found in strolling through Occoquan, while not as frequent as in the past, is that it’s important for us all to find time to explore places near and dear to our hearts. We must make time for those places that we adore and cherish. Even though, yes, it may be the same place time and time again, it is also going to be great for your mental health, too. I have found this to be true whenever I go to Occoquan and hope that others can do the same with their childhood stomping grounds (if/when able to), too!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Summer Strolls – Lake Mercer, Virginia

To celebrate the Summer Solstice, my best friend Haley and I enjoyed a Summer Solstice stroll to Lake Mercer! I recently shared another recent Summer stroll that Haley and I did to Fountainhead Regional Park, which we ALSO loved doing. I am hoping to continue sharing remarks from my local (and even far away strolls with y’all!).

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.

Lake Mercer is a man-made lake on a 154-acre park located just South of the Fairfax County Parkway in Springfield, Virginia. There is a loop that goes ALLL around the lake, allowing for visitors to take in ALLLL of the views of it from every angle. Lake Mercer is BEAUTIFUL, despite its small size and acreage, it is a mighty place to be!

On this Summer Solstice stroll of ours, Haley and I discussed the power of balance when it comes to all of life’s commitments. Both of us were agreeing on the importance of balancing work and other responsibilities with time to take care of ourselves and also enjoy our hobbies. Within this discussion, we truly emphasized the importance of setting boundaries when it comes to our commitments. Personally, I’ve found it a challenge at times to balance it all, but in recent times, I am striving to set more firm boundaries with where I am willing to commit, need to commit, and won’t commit (at least for now). Truly, I have been learning the true importance of boundaries. At the end of the day, boundaries are a gift.

At the same time, I am SO grateful for a friend who also agrees on the true importance of placing boundaries within our lives. Boundaries tell us what’s important to us and give us the opportunity to recharge before conquering all that’s in front of us.

XOXO – Katie <3

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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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Peak Bloom 2024

Flowers for Spring?!?! GROUNDBREAKING. On February 29, 2024, the Washington, DC area celebrated leap day with the announcement of the National Park Service’s Cherry Blossom Peak Bloom prediction for the upcoming Spring season. Peak bloom lasts approximately 7-10 days on a typical year. HOWEVER, little did we allll know, peak bloom lasted around 2 WEEKS (!!!!). Rarely does peak bloom happen for ~2 weeks and it was such an exciting time in the Washington, DC area. While the National Cherry Blossom Festival ended in Washington, DC on April 14 for 2024, the excitement of Spring and the blooms everywhere is still in the air!

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.

Personally, I never like to travel extensively during peak bloom/the National Cherry Blossom Festival, as it is such an EXCITING time of year here in my hometown. My best friends Haley and Shivani and I visited the blooms on the Tidal Basin this 2024 year AND have made it a tradition to do so in the future! Shivani and I went to see the cherry blossoms in 2022 (here) AND my influencer bestie Lindsay came with me last year (here). Also in 2022, Shivani and I attended the National Cherry Blossom Festival’s free opening ceremony at Warner Theater which was a CORE memory for us. Needless to say, cherry blossom peak bloom does nothing short of igniting incredible traditions and memories for me and my loved ones right in our own backyards.

Since the well-known beloved hollow cherry tree “Stumpy” is to be cut down as apart of a Tidal Basin restoration project, both Shivani and Haley and I on our two separate occasions to the Tidal Basin *HAD* to go pay him our respects. Stumpy is located just past the Tidal Basin further away from the Washington Monument and entrance to the Tidal Basin via coming in from the Smithsonian and Metro. We walked allll the way through and past the Jefferson Memorial – something that I had yet to do when visiting the Tidal Basin at peak bloom. I am someone who gets SOOOO triggered by crowds, however, over time, I have realized that seeing the cherry blossoms with all of their peak bloom glory is worth waiting in a packed group of people to see them. There is simply SO MUCH beauty in seeing the cherry blossoms in peak bloom alongside ALLL of the iconic Washington, DC monuments.

Washington Monument with Shivani

Tidal Basin with Shivani

Tidal Basin with Haley

The traditions made during peak bloom year after year are SO special. At the same time, I LOVE seeing ALLLL of the magic that is the National Cherry Blossom Festival here in my own backyard.

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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I Saw Aladdin at National Theatre!

Ever since I saw that Aladdin the Broadway musical was going on tour, I *knew* I had to go! In recent times, I have been trading concerts for the theatre and I have seen several shows since this past Fall. Shows include Hamilton, Wicked, and Hairspray. At the same time, I have fallen in love with getting to go to different theatre’s around the Washington, DC area. And, Aladdin happened to be shown at The National Theatre, which was a theatre that I had yet to go see a show at! SO, for my 24th Birthday, my Dad treated me and my best friend Haley to tickets to see Aladdin via the National Theatre’s Broadway on Tour 2022-2023 season!

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.

The National Theatre is *just* down the street from the iconic Willard Intercontinental Hotel on Pennsylvania Ave Northwest in Washington, DC. It is just a couple of blocks away from the Metro Center Metro Station on the Blue, Orange, Red, and Silver lines and an easy walk. The funnest part of the National Theatre when we left was seeing the theatre ALL decked out for Aladdin outside, including seeing the Aladdin truck outside. Unlike the Kennedy Center, the National Theatre is a bit smaller of a theatre, however, it offers SO MUCH charm and history to it. One of my favorite parts of The National Theatre’s interior design was the painting of a portrait of the woman known as “the First Lady of Theatre” – HOW NEAT!!!!

Ever since my college years, I have been OBSESSED with the soundtrack of Aladdin. And, coincidentally, Haley had been obsessed with the soundtrack, too! Both of us had been listening to the soundtrack pretty often during the weeks leading up to when we saw Aladdin, too. I LOVED watching the Aladdin soundtrack in action, too. I always find it to be super unique to hear any musical’s soundtracks beyond my daily life of listening to them on Spotify! The production was SO WELL DONE! And, I always find that musicals have such a beautiful way of tying together beautiful meanings that we can take into our own daily lives. In the case of Aladdin, I find the show’s catchphrase “the diamond in the rough” to be such a GREAT meaning to finding beauty in areas and things that it may be harder to find the good in.

For both Haley and I, Aladdin was one of the BEST shows that we’ve ever seen! The cast did such a great job and the props, scenes, music, and dancing was done SO well and beautifully. In recent times, I have LOVED getting to see shows locally in the Washington, DC area. I feel BEYOND lucky to be able to see some pretty incredible performances that happen to come to my city so I don’t have to make the trek ALL THE WAY to New York City or London to see a pretty great show. Haley and I both have been lucky enough to see a show at New York City’s Broadway (and London’s West End for me as well) and we both LOVE the affordability and accessibility of seeing a show in our own city.

A special thanks to my Dad for this incredible Birthday gift and experience that I will keep in my heart for years to come!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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A Visit to the Tidal Basin at Peak Bloom!

*Just* in case you didn’t know, my favorite color is PINK!! And, well, I LOVE that the pink cherry blossom trees are well-known in my home city of Washington, DC. Peak bloom for the iconic cherry blossom trees for this year aka 2023 was this past week (March 23-29). And, it just so happened to be that my blogger bestie Lindsay of @sunshineandstairclimbs on Instagram was in town to visit me! We had the PERFECT cherry blossom-themed weekend here in the Washington, DC area! Today’s blog post will focus on our visit to the Tidal Basin at peak bloom.

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.

The Tidal Basin is one of the most iconic places to see the cherry blossom trees in Washington, DC. Even though cherry blossom trees are planted in several different areas across the Washington, DC area even in the neighboring states of Virginia and Maryland and in my home neighborhood in Fairfax Station, Virginia, nothing really beats getting to see the cherry blossom trees at the Tidal Basin. People from ALL across the world come to visit the cherry blossom trees at the Tidal Basin! In fact, 2023 is the first year since COVID-19 that people from abroad are coming to see the cherry blossom trees along with Washington, DC area locals and visitors from all across the United States. That all being said, the cherry blossom peak bloom gets none other than CROWDED!

Personally, I get super overwhelmed and triggered by big crowds. I have NEVER liked crowded places and I refuse on the most part to be in a crowded place. I can likely thank my Mom for this one – LOL! I have learned since moving back to the Washington, DC area that there are a few times to go to certain places in the city than others if you want to see a big tourist and visitor heavy area that is popular (case in point: the cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin!). On Instagram, I have seen SO MUCH hilarious content about the brutal crowds at the Tidal Basin in the midst of all the gorgeous photos that the fellow content creators took. The crowds are brutal at the Tidal Basin, y’all! In the case of visiting the cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin, then it is best to go when the weather is rainy, cloudy, windy, overcast, all of the previously mentioned combined, OR at sunrise. In Lindsay’s and I’s case, we went to the Tidal Basin on an overcast Saturday afternoon the day that the National Cherry Blossom Festival’s Kite Festival was postponed to that following Sunday.

Living in Washington, DC, I have noticed that people DO NOT like to come out in crowds if there isn’t a big event or it’s not a beautiful sunny day or it’s not 5am. That all being said, Lindsay and I were both so so so glad that we went on an overcast Saturday afternoon. It was Lindsay’s first time ever to the cherry blossoms, too! Lindsay had only been to Washington, DC once for a brief day before last weekend. Seeing the excitement on her face when she saw ALL of the monuments and cherry blossom trees along the National Mall made me SO happy. I feel beyond lucky to live in and call the Washington, DC area home. When I have friends come to visit, I feel so excited to see the excitement in their eyes when they come to the place that I call home.

Some of my favorite places alongside the Tidal Basin to see cherry blossom trees in the Washington, DC area are the following:

  • Washington Monument
  • The White House
  • Smithsonian Gardens
  • Old Town Alexandria
  • There are ALSO probably many more places that I am forgetting to mention as well!

I am SO happy that Lindsay came to visit me to see the cherry blossom trees! And, until next year, I am going to smile at the memories made this year amongst the cherry blossom trees.

XOXO – Katie <3

 

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An Early Bloom

I am a sucker for Spring! A fun fact about me is that I am a Spring Baby – born in May. One of the biggest highlights of Spring since moving back to the Washington, DC area is that there is *none other than* the iconic cherry blossom festival with places ALL around the city and beyond to see these gorgeous blossoms bloom. The Cherry Blossom Festival is a BIG deal for myself and my fellow Washingtonians, alike, along with many who come to visit from around the world. On my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!), I shared a bit on my stories about the early peak bloom of Washington, DC’s cherry blossoms this Spring.

This morning, the National Park Service (NPS) announced that the cherry blossoms are expected to peak on March 22-25 on March 1 and The Washington Post reports that they are expected to peak March 23-29 on February 28. While both of these announcements from NPS and The Washington Post have overlapping dates yet aren’t exactly the same, their predictions are ONLY predictions that one person can go off of. What most people (including myself!) like to do is use the estimated peak bloom dates as a blueprint for planning our adventures to see the cherry blossoms. This year, the National Cherry Blossom Festival is planned for March 20-April 16, 2023. These National Cherry Blossom Festival dates are planned with a wide enough range of dates to both attract visitors from out of town and to ensure that peak bloom is within those scheduled dates. Read more about the National Cherry Blossom Festival and ALL of their events here: https://nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/

What is SO monumental about this year is that we are expecting an early bloom. The other weekend, I was in Raleigh, North Carolina visiting my friends in honor of my best friend Alanna’s Birthday Weekend. Alanna and I went on a walk nearby her house in North Raleigh to see some trees and flowers starting to bloom. It was BEAUTIFUL and I got to take some photos while on our gorgeous walk on that overcast Sunday afternoon. Winter can be a tough time for many of us. The weather is super cold which makes it harder for me to want to do literally anything including going for a walk as the sun also sets before I finish work on a typical day. At the same time, after Thanksgiving and Christmas and New Years, Winter just feels boring, too, as there’s isn’t much to do and it’s a tougher season for businesses and people, alike. Not to mention, as a fellow single lady, Valentine’s Day can sometimes just SUCK and the hype around it isn’t so much fun for me either. However, I do like Galentine’s Day and love all things self love and empowerment. So, that all being said, I am SUPER happy to have an early bloom this year, just like many other people that I know!

Now that the weather is starting to get warmer, I am starting to feel revitalized. I always feel so much refresher and ready for new beginnings when Spring comes, as odd as it sounds. The National Cherry Blossom Festival, to me, is an opening to warmer weather, new beginnings, and a happy warmer season ahead of us. Last year was my first year truly getting to experience the National Cherry Blossom Festival (well, besides going a few times as a kid and once on a Sunday morning with my best friend Haley in high school!) that I can remember as an adult. I truly had an amazing time getting to go to the National Cherry Blossom Festival and see what ALL the hype was about. Many special memories were made on solo adventures and with my best friend Shivani. I am SO excited to be able to spend it this year with my blogger bestie Lindsay of Sunshine and Stair Climbs, college besties Cassie and Caroline and Shivani, my family members aka Papa and dog Rosie, and high school classmates Haley and Laura and James. Much fun is to be planned and already planned and I am SO excited to see the cherry blossoms sooner than expected this year!! Read more about my experience at the National Cherry Blossom Festival last year here: https://pinkchickadee.com/2022/04/02/my-experience-at-the-national-cherry-blossom-festival-2022/

February was a ROUGH month for me. I got into an accident around 8pm that was a bit traumatic for me. The accident was not my fault either. Luckily, I was not injured and my car wasn’t totaled but it took a major mental toll on me and still is to some extent. What sucks is that during that time, I was gaining a lot of confidence when it came to driving, so it was horrible to feel that it was robbed from me via that accident. I ended up taking 3 days off of work to communicate with insurance and process it all. It sucked. So, long story short, an early bloom to me is like a breath of fresh air and hope for new beginnings and more happy memories to come.

XOXO – Katie <3

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My Washington, DC Area 2023 Bucket List!

*JUST* in case you didn’t already know, I am a Washington, DC area-based blogger! While I do travel frequently especially to where I have family and friends in Delaware, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey and love every minute of my adventures, I LOVE LOVE LOVE getting to explore my Washington, DC area backyard, too. On my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!), I am ALWAYS posting about my local adventures which I am SOOO blessed I am able to do close to home. Every now and then, well every year at this point since I moved LOL, I have shared a Washington, DC area bucket list, so here we go for 2023!!

Read my Washington, DC area bucket lists from the past two years’ past here:

Looking back at my Washington, DC area bucket lists from the past few years, I am lucky enough to have completed several of the items that I had desired to do. One of the highlights of my time in Washington, DC was dining at the bar at Old Ebbitt Grill – the oldest saloon in Washington, DC at least and a former boarding house for former President McKinley during his time as a Congressmen – which I will be dining at *yet again* for my birthday weekend (!!!) at the end of April. I have also enjoyed a gorgeous few strolls along Georgetown’s Waterfront Park and the food scene many times in nearby Arlington, Virginia. Touring the historic Tudor Place, National Cathedral, and Library of Congress have each been highlights of my own, too. My best friends and I enjoyed ice cream, sailing, and strolling in Annapolis, Maryland – a highlight of mine from when I first moved! Overall, looking back at both bucket lists, I feel beyond blessed that I have been able to do many of the things that I have previously desired to do.

Before I get into my Washington, DC Area 2023 bucket list, I do want to share that it is always likely that not all items will be completed in a year. Luckily for where I stand with where I want to go in my career, I will not be leaving the Washington, DC area anytime in the near-term future or even the next few years. More adventures to come both near and far!!

My Washington, DC Area 2023 Bucket List

  • See the cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin at sunrise
  • See a performance of The Nutcracker
  • Check out Cafe Georgetown
  • Visit the Renwick Gallery
  • Go mini golfing at Puttery
  • See Aladdin at National Theatre
  • Explore City Center
  • Enjoy pizza and/or Thursday night trivia night at The Winery at Bull Run
  • Tour the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland
  • Explore downtown Leesburg, Virginia
  • Visit the DAR Museum and Library
  • Take a day trip to St. Michael’s Island, Maryland
  • Try Ralph’s Coffee for the first time-ever at Tyson’s Galleria
  • Have a picnic at The National Mall
  • See The Lion King at The Kennedy Center
  • Visit an embassy for a free event/exhibit
  • See the orchid display at the United States Botanic Garden
  • Explore the Dupont Circle, Adams Morgan, Capitol Hill, U Street Corridor, and Shaw neighborhoods
  • Eat at The Point in Washington, DC
  • Admire the flowers at Greenspring Gardens in Alexandria, Virginia
  • Explore downtown Fairfax, Virginia
  • Enjoy a warmer weather evening at Fairfax Corner
  • Explore Shirlington in Arlington
  • Visit the Meadowlark Botanical Gardens
  • Watch the sunrise or sunset from Lincoln Memorial
  • Take a walk along the Tidal Basin not during cherry blossom season
  • Attend a blogger meetup
  • Try Cameron’s Coffee & Chocolates in Fairfax, Virginia
  • Go mini golfing at The Perch
  • Try LeBon Cafe
  • Dine at a restaurant in Chinatown
  • Tour The Carlyle House
  • Eat at Ambar
  • Try Chateau de Chantilly Cafe
  • Enjoy coffee flights at Loud’n Roasted Coffee Roasters
  • Visit a Basilica
  • Visit the Dumbarton Oaks Museum
  • Go back to Tatte Bakery & Cafe
  • Visit The Crossing at Clarendon *yet again*
  • Try 54
  • Try Breeze Bakery Cafe
  • Go to another National Gallery of Art After Hours event
  • Go back to the Library of Congress
  • Tour the Hillwood Estate
  • Visit the newly-updated Air & Space Museum
  • Visit the Old Post Office Pavilion

Here’s to MANY more adventures in the Washington, DC area!

XOXO – Katie <3

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