Category: Life of Katie

It’s been a HOTTTT minute since I last did a Life of Katie post. And, that is all for good reason, too! I have been on not one, not two, but THREE trips (more on that below!). When it comes to blogging while traveling, awhile back I made the executive decision to not post much on the blog and even on social media for that matter while I’m on the road. I like to truly be in the moment when not at home and have even added the same value to my weekends and other social outings, too, which is an additional time off for me. Rather, through it all, I’m preferring to share ALL types of content afterwards rather than while I am there. Now, enough of me rambling about my timing of posting content – LOL!!!! – and let’s get into some recent life updates.

*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.*

• Trips to West Virginia, New York City, & Toronto – Over the November weeks, I have been on the go from wonderful Harpers Ferry, West Virginia (here) to the Big Apple (more on that coming soon!) and allll the way to Toronto to see Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour (more on that coming soon as well!). I had an amazing time on each trip, too! Needless to say, I have LOVED getting to visit several places both close to home and either a train or plane ride away. HOWEVER, I am SOOO glad to be able to be at home to ring in the holidays!
• Decorating for Christmas – A few days after my final big travel hurrah of 2024, I decked the halls for Christmas 2024! Let’s just say that from now until January, I will be *very* reluctant to leave my cozy little Christmas pad!!!

• Six The Musical + Additional Outings Around Town – Right after I got back from Toronto, I made my way into downtown Washington, DC to see Six The Musical at National Theatre. Six has been on my bucket list of shows to see ever since it came to Washington, DC in Summer 2022 (sadly I couldn’t score a ticket then) and discovered that it was about the 6 wives of Prince Henry the 8th. The musical is 100000% about women’s empowerment, which was truly felt through the audience. I am SO excited to see it again (perhaps in New York City’s Broadway next?!?!). In addition to seeing Six, I also enjoyed some dinner and drinks with my friend Celeste at Brass Rabbit Pub – an adorable bar in Clarendon in Arlington – alongside an adorable cafe outing with my friend Maggie to the super cute Rare Birds Coffee Roasters in Falls Church.

• Friendsgiving 2024 – Over the most recent weekend, I hosted Friendsgiving for the 2nd year (!!!!!) and enjoyed having many of my friends over. Everyone brought a lovely dish to share and I cooked a ton, too. It was such a great time to enjoy with one another and simply be thankful for our friendships over the past year (and beyond!). I also enjoyed getting to model my gorgeous Ritera – aka a plus-sized fashion brand that sells adorable pieces at an affordable price point – dress (here) for the occasion, too!

• Planning for the Actual Holidays – As the holidays approach, the planning for the actual holidays also comes as well. I am planning to spend the actual holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years) close to home in the Washington, DC area with family and friends with an additional post-Christmas trip to Maryland + Pennsylvania + New Jersey to see my family who resides in those states, too. I have proudly solidified all of my dates for where I will be and when (which is a MAJOR accomplishment for me to have done before Thanksgiving approaches!!!!). I am definitely celebrating that I have awareness of where I’ll be and when early on and excited for what’s to come.
• Navigating ALLL the Upcoming Holiday Parties + Events – Alongside planning for the actual holidays and where I’ll be + when, I am also trying to navigate ALLL of the holiday-related plans, too. Whether it be a holiday dinner with friends, a holiday party, a work celebration, a family gathering, or an activity on my holiday bucket list, there is seriously SO MUCH GOING ON. It is tough to navigate at times, too, as I want to limit the amount of burnout I may experience from the heavier than usual social calendar. However, at the same time, I know that I will regret missing out on certain holiday gatherings as this time only comes once a year (and, I’m also super grateful that I am spending the weeks leading up to this crazy social time at home on my couch!!!).
• A Beautiful Sunset Walk – Right before Halloween, my Mom and I went on a walk in her new neighborhood near the Potomac River. We *just* so happened to catch the sunset at the right time when we did (!!!!!). Luckily, I had brought my camera to capture the AMAZING sunset in ALLLL its glory, too!

• Remember, It’s ONLY a Highlight Reel – Throughout the months of October and into November, I have been struggling mentally with some things in my personal life. While I won’t get into the details of it all, a lot of what has occurred has taken a toll on me. Stress and uncertainty can take A LOT out of any person! Needless to say, I am going to leave y’all with a reminder that social media (and most of this blog for that matter) is a ONLY highlight reel. Next time you go through something tough or less social media like, remember that all of us are going through similar things, too.

Happy Holiday season folks!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

Recently, I have been nevertheless embracing that it’s FALL Y’ALL!!! Last Life of Katie, I was having a hardddd time accepting that Fall was coming around yet again, but I am now proud to say that I’m fully excited for this new season that I’ve been enjoying. One of my fellow Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee) besties gave me the SWEETEST compliment: that my content gives her Gilmore Girls vibes (!!!!!) HOW SWEET! Anyhow, I’m hoping to continue to sharing Fall my way, however, this Fall may look for me in hopes of inspiring y’all, too!

*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.*

• Recent purchases – I made one *too* many purchases at the end of September into early October. One of my most notable purchases was the Urban Decay Naked eyeshadow palette reboot (since I never snagged one of these notable palettes the first time around!). And another being a pair of Kate Spade bow printed pajamas and some candles from a now favorite brand of mine Red Leaf Candles at TJ Maxx/Home Goods.
• Some self care Friday afternoons – I had a busy work week, recently, so I decided to take a few hours of out my Friday for some self care. I ended up going to Washington, DC’s Georgetown neighborhood and wandered the gorgeous cobblestone streets and admired the magnificent architecture as well as had a delicious brunch at Clyde’s on M Street. The next Friday, I went to my local Giant grocery store during my lunch break to find … free wine tastings thanks to Noble Vines – a California-based wine company sold at least in some of my local grocery stores.
• Walks with Rosie – One of my favorite forms of self care and ways to practice mindfulness while remaining active is to walk my dog Rosie in the afternoons. I have LOVED our walks, too! We usually stay within our neighborhood and on occasion go to the neighborhood pond, Heron Pond, and also explore some local trails. I LOVE getting to catch a few breaths of fresh air and enjoy time with my dog.
• Time with friends – I have been spending and striving to prioritize LOTS of time with my friends. Briana and I visited Texas Roadhouse (it was my first time there and it DEFINITELY won’t be my last!) and the beautiful Catoctin Breeze Vineyard in Thurmont, Maryland, as well as Trummer’s in Clifton, Virginia  over the past few weeks. Haley and I had a lovely dinner outdoors at The Secret Garden Cafe in Occoquan, Virginia with our high school friend Mary who was in town from Atlanta. My friend Stephanie had a lovely Birthday celebration where I got to catch up with our mutual friend from college Ashley and meet her husband Ryan for the first time. Sarah and I had a super nice pizza and Halloween movie night. I also got to meet up with my friend Andrea after briefly meeting and connecting on socials at the Lucketts Holiday House back in 2022 (WAYYYYY over due!) at Carnegie Diner in Vienna, Virginia for a lovely brunch! When it comes to family, Papa and I had a delicious Italian dinner at Villa Bella in its magnificent Amalfi-inspired atmosphere in Burke, Virginia.
• Going brunette – ANDDDDD last but not least, I went …. Brunette!!!!! I have natural brunette roots and finally decided to embrace them! You can read more about my Brunette chapter here. To celebrate becoming a brunette, I treated myself to a nice solo dinner at this adorable sushi restaurant nearby my hair salon: Sushi Prince.

Georgetown, DC Strolls:

Here’s to Fall … the Katie way!

XOXO – Katie <3

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!

More to come soon!

XOXO – Katie <3

In recent times, I have been sharing monthly life updates (see May’s, June’s, and July’s), however, I have missed sharing updates on an-almost weekly basis with y’all! So, I am going to get back into that brief and more concise format of updates. I am excited to share more frequent life updates that are MUCH easier to put together than a monthly update. Needless to say, here we go!

August is one of my FAVORITE months and August 2024 has not disappointed so far. I truly love the Summer lull and the so-called dog days of Summer that August brings. To kick off August, I visited my best friend Lindsay in Indianapolis (see one of our adventures this time around here) and Chicago (here). We have decided to make a Summer Midwest adventure a Summer tradition moving forward, too (!!!!). And, back at home, I have enjoyed some fun times on the town and some lowkey times at home with Papa and Rosie. August 2024 has truly been a great balance of fun and relaxation.

• Thrifting for Fall – This Fall 2024, I have LOVED getting to thrift at my local Salvation Army and 2nd Avenue thrift shops to find some adorable finds to wear for the upcoming season. Many of these pieces are designer household names, such as Theory, Nicole Miller, Tory Burch, and Alice + Olivia. I *even* found an Oscar de la Renta (!!!!!!) caftan that I plan to style for my final Summer trip (more on that below!) for $3.75! I also found a Giorgio Armani work dress in July, too. While I am pretty much shopped out for Fall 2024 fashion, I am SO excited to style many of the name brand pieces that I found for this upcoming season. And, soon, I plan to share more thrifting content here and on Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee).
• Summer Restaurant Week – my friends Briana, Torie, Brittany, and I tried Smoke & Mirrors – a rooftop bar looking over Washington, DC’s stunning skyline – and Ambar (Clarendon location in Arlington!) – an adorable Balkan cuisine restaurant that offers unlimited small plates for DC Summer Restaurant Week. I LOVED getting to enjoy several moments catching up with and vibing with each of my friends. Truly, friendships are a gift and I am striving to find more moments to be together with friends, especially before we all may have more commitments in life in the coming years.

Smoke & Mirrors

Ambar – Clarendon location

• Mamma Mia! The Musical – My best friend Haley and I since March have planned to see Mamma Mia! The Musical when it came to the Kennedy Center for a matinee performance! It did NOT disappoint (!!!!!). Mamma Mia! Is my favorite musical and gives me SO many memories of my study abroad time in London (here). I LOVED getting to experience this incredible musical again, but this time, close to home and with Haley. We had such a great time and enjoyed getting a nice early dinner afterwards at Tatte’s Foggy Bottom location (which ALSO did not disappoint!).

• Emily in Paris Pop-Up – My friends Briana, Torie, and I went to check out the exclusive Emily in Paris Pop-Up at Morris American Bar in Washington, DC *just* before I jetted off to the Midwest. While the menu is mostly drinks and small plates (macarons included for dessert!), the vibes were immaculate and ALLL-THINGS Emily in Paris! We enjoyed complimentary Lillet x Emily in Paris-themed shots, cocktails, and charcuterie and took several photos (!!!). All in all, a great time to celebrate the brand-new Emily in Paris season that I’ve enjoyed watching!

• Nationals Game – This time around, I *finally* went to a Washington Nationals baseball game AND got to see the President’s Race (!!!!). Normally, I’m never paying attention to see the President’s Race or have already left the game – whoops! As a Prospective Member of the Manor House Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) chapter, the ladies of Manor House invited me and others to the game, which was SO fun. It was great to get to know some of the fellow DAR ladies better than the brief times I have met them in the past.

• A brief trip to Delaware – To kick off August, I visited my Dad, Step Mom, and Yorkie aka my “Sissy” Ginger for a quick two days in Delaware. We went to the beach, dinner at The Restaurant at Lighthouse Sound (here), and time watching The Olympics. While a quick trip, it was a memorable and special one, too!

• Planning for my final Summer trip – For about 2 years, my friends Bryn and Maxwell and I have been looking at going to visit Maxwell in Hawaii where he is attending college at. SO, finally, after 2 years, Bryn and I are packing our bags for a week getaway and saying Aloha to Honolulu! My thrifted Oscar de la Renta caftan, alongside LOTS of Lilly Pulitzer shifts I’ve thrifted throughout this year will be coming along with me for my furthest trip away from home. I am SO excited for Hawaii and to see Maxwell’s stomping grounds for these past few years with Bryn.

All in all, the (more than) first half of August 2024 has been memorable for sure. One of the biggest lessons that I’ve learned this month so far is to find joy in the little things, the mundane, and to count your blessings.

XOXO – Katie <3

July 2024 was a WHIRLWIND of a month. It started off pretty rough with lots of uncertainty and it ended with a clear path forward and lots of clarity. Through it all though, I have been able to find the joy in a rather crazy month and make lemons out of lemonade. In life, we are always managing and navigating through one conflict or another or perhaps multiple, so why not find the joy during these times?!?! Needless to say, through it all, I am very proud of myself for staying busy and making time for myself, my loved ones, and to recharge, too.

*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.*

My Favorite Buys:

• Strolling through the aisles of Target with Papa, I found this Universal Thread dress *right* before I checked out and snagged it in pink. Then, I went back and ordered it in TWO more colors on sale!
• I have been EYEING a set of House of Harlow pajamas for MONTHS (since finding a pair earlier this year and not grabbing it when I wished I had). However, in July of 2024, I scored a House of Harlow tank pajamas set at TJ Maxx for $15!
• Bottles of Rosé at Trader Joe’s for under $10 is ALWAYS a favorite buy of mine! End of story.
• This past month, I inherited some family-owned gold utensils, candle holders, Pillsbury salt/pepper shaker set, plates, parfait glasses, and a hydrangea vase. I have been decorating these incredible finds around my apartment to put on display for generations to come. It is a HUGE blessing to be able to inherit these beautiful finds of mine with family ties.
• Thrifted scores were AMAZING this past month. These thrift scores included: Kate Spade leopard pumps at Bee Thrifty, Giorgio Armani dress at Salvation Army, Lilly Pulitzer for Target shift at Current Boutique, Brooks Brothers shirt dress at Salvation Army, ginger jar at Jayne’s Reliable, and a chinoiserie wine glass that I’ve been frequently using at Bee Thrifty.

Highs:

• July 2024 included an incredible trip: the Thompson Family Reunion and visit with my bestie Amanda in the SAME WEEKEND in Bethany Beach, Delaware. The Thompson Family Reunion had 14 people, 1 dog, 1 cat, and LOTS of memories made in the same house. We enjoyed pool time, dinners at Good Earth Market and Dockside, lots of at-home happy hours, thrifting at ACTS Thrift Shop and Jayne’s Reliable, and simply catching up. Times like the Thompson Family Reunion truly remind me of the importance to take a step back, savor the moment, and love my family for who they are.

• During the Thompson Family Reunion, we took a day trip to Berlin, Maryland. Berlin, Maryland is an ultra-charming town known as “America’s Coolest Small Town” located within close proximity to Ocean City, Maryland and the Delaware beaches. It boasts many small businesses that are local to Berlin, ranging from shops to art galleries to bars to ice cream parlors to restaurants. One of the biggest draws to Berlin shop-wise is their plethora of amazing antique shops. I enjoyed strolling throughout the streets of Berlin, lunch and beer with the family at The Globe, taking charming downtown photos of Berlin.

• To commemorate Independence Day, I took a pre-July 4th stroll at Old Town Alexandria and enjoy a nice solo happy hour at the city’s brand-new Hotel Heron’s rooftop bar Good Fortune. Good Fortune has the highest altitude in all of Alexandria, Virginia for a rooftop bar and offers AMAZING skyline views of Old Town Alexandria, the Potomac River/Woodrow Wilson Bridge, and parts of Washington, DC/Virginia/Maryland. SUCH A COOL SPOT!

• I took Rosie on a Starbucks outing on a Wednesday afternoon once I finished a work briefing. It brought me SO MUCH JOY to see my sweet pup enjoying a nice outing with me to my local Starbucks, which I LOVE to frequent a few times a week! I LOVED bringing Rosie with me as she brought me and so many other fellow customers lots of joy.

• July 2024 brought about many great moments to catch up with friends, including lunch with Stephanie and Ashley at Ballston, Arlington’s Punch Bowl Social (including a post-lunch stroll at the Smithsonian Castle), dinner with Briana at Occoquan’s The Secret Garden Cafe and Lorton’s Naty’s, dinner at Old Town Alexandria’s Barca with Brittany, solo dinner date at Washington, DC’s La Grande Boucherie, dinner with Papa at Burke’s Spartans Family Restaurant, and a movie night at Washington, DC’s The Wharf with Briana, Brittany, their Mom, and Torie seeing Dream Girls at sunset. All in all, I am extremely blessed to have such incredible friends and family members in my life to make memories with.

• Walks and chats at the local-to-us Burke Lake Park and Heron Pond with my best friend Haley have been MAJOR blessings in my life and especially this past month. With having gone through a pretty chaotic July, I have truly cherished my local walks with Haley and will continue to do so moving forward, too.

• My return to church (which I write about more here) and many more memories were made this July 2024 with Papa who is recovering from his knee replacement surgery! We have been going to church on Sunday’s together and plan to continue this Sunday tradition beyond his recovery and into the Fall with our church’s Wednesday Night Dinners and other events which kick off in September. At the same time, we have been going on outings to Target and enjoyed homemade potato pancakes (which Papa made for us!) from his garden.

Lows:

• Stress and uncertainty due to family-related things was how I kicked off July 2024. Needless to say, the month started off with a bang, but fortunately, these family-related things are things that have since subsided and are improving for the better. During this timeframe, I learned to truly be grateful for the moments that we have with our loved ones and strive to find the good in everything.
• Extreme burnout in late-July hit me like a TON of bricks, and, as a result of lots of chaos going on earlier in the month. However, at the end of the day, I am beyond proud of myself for identifying what I was struggling with as burnout and for simply taking the time to recover and recharge and take care of me.
• Allergies due to pollen of ALLLL the things kept me super exhausted most evenings until I got a shower. Classic with pollen, I guess. Pollen definitely feels like the carousel that NEVER stops turning – LOL!

As we wrap up July 2024, I will note that August 2024 is going to be one of my MOST exciting travel months to date (!!!!). I am going to be visiting two new-to-me states (one of which will go into September, as it’s over Labor Day Weekend and into the week!). This post will probably be short and sweet into August, but many many many travel posts will be coming soon on this platform, alongside my slowly-coming reflections of my day trips and experiences on my solo trip to Ireland (here, here, and here so far!) that I have been in the process of sharing. Needless to say, August here we come!

XOXO – Katie <3