The Life of Katie – March 2024

March 2024 started off as somewhat of a peaceful month and simply ramped up as the month evolved! After recovering from COVID in early 2024, I am OH SO HAPPY that March 2024 came and brought *none other than* Spring to the Washington, DC area (!!!!!). While a pretty busy month overall, it was also a pretty great month filled with lots of joy, memories made, and personal and professional accolades.

*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:

  • The first weekend of March after a brunch, I came home to some … Black Capped Chickadee Holiday hand towels gifted by my Mom. It was SUCH A SWEET gesture of hers and such a meaningful way to celebrate my platform with y’all since *of course* this blog is named after the Black Capped Chickadee!
  • I have been recently working with an incredible women-owned t-shirt brand: Mountain Moverz! Mountain Moverz’s focus is pretty incredible too – celebrating life’s peaks and uplifting during life’s valleys. The best part?! I will be continuing to share MORE about Mountain Moverz, including my exclusive discount code: KATIET20 (!!!!).
  • In March 2024, I got a bit into skincare. Through my Ipsy subscription (I talk more about that here) and some PR packages, I had some products on hand that happened to WORK (!!!!) for me. Those products in my skincare routine include: cleanser, SPF daily sunscreen, moisturizer, toner, and hydraulic acid serum. Moving forward, I am striving to keep my skin in good company!
  • I have been LOVING J Crew Factory’s Spring 2024 collection, SO I did a little splurge in early March and snagged *just* a few pieces that I have been LOVING, including this scalloped shift, a gorgeous midi dress (skirt here), and a pink ruffle neck suit dress!

Highs:

  • Papa celebrated another trip around the sun on March 11! The weekend before, I hosted a Birthday celebration for him with family at my apartment complete with taco salad, sheet pan nachos, margaritas, and ALLL things deer-themed (!!!!). About a week before Papa’s Birthday celebrations, my Aunt Amy and I enjoyed an amazing dinner with Papa at Ozzie’s Good Eats aka a favorite of ours. If you don’t know Papa personally, Papa is a HUGE deer lover and proud deer hunter. On Papa’s actual birthday, I treated him to dinner at a Northern Virginia restaurant staple and favorite of ours: Mike’s American. I had an amazing time showering Papa with SO MUCH love and celebrating him.

  • To enjoy the start of Spring in the Washington, DC area, my best friend Liz and I went to the gorgeous Meadowlark Botanical Gardens located in Vienna, Virginia. Liz used to work at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, so she gave me the grand tour, which was AMAZING! We saw geese literally walking in our way – LOLLL! – coy fish, and a wide array of stunning flowers. Afterwards, Liz and I enjoyed an incredible meal at Westwood Country Club overlooking the golf course as we wined and dined. All in all, it was a very special day with a very special friend of mine!

Meadowlark Botanical Gardens:

Westwood Country Club:

  • My best friend Briana and I enjoyed an AMAZING brunch at a place we have been eager to try ever since it opened right on the waterfront at Washington, DC’s The Wharf … Limani! We had an incredible bottomless brunch 4-5 courses of small plates to be exact (!!!!) for a fixed price of $60 of delicious Greek fares. I LOVED the lamb, hummus and pita spread, baklava, and salmon egg scramble. I also ordered a delicious Spritz. Above all else, our experience was NOT rushed (!!!!!!!) aka a major bonus for Briana and I both and oh so nice to just simply enjoy one another’s company. The Sunday we dined was such a BEAUTIFUL day at The Wharf and around town, too! After our much needed time catching up with one another and devouring bottomless brunch, we headed up to the Penthouse which is used for private events AND will open up the public in the warmer months as a rooftop bar … HOW EXCITING!!!! All in all, an AMAZING afternoon with a great friend!

  • Cherry blossoms peaked again *just* before my trip to Ireland here in the Washington, DC area. My best friend Shivani came to town for a long weekend and I got to see the cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin not once, but TWICE. I, then, hit the road for Raleigh, North Carolina for an incredible day of outreach at my Alma mater Meredith College. More on both in future posts! But, for now, I will share some photos below about my adventure to the Enid A. Haupt Garden near the Smithsonian Castle to see the gorgeous Magnolia trees before a celebratory birthday dinner for my best friend Haley. I wore a super fun PINK dress from Amazon (here) and got soooo many compliments on it, yet was also obsessed with this dress, myself!

  • After a basic search on the Visit Alexandria travel website, I found information on Old Town Alexandria’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade and sent it to some of my friends. My friend Haley and I decided to go and we had an INCREDIBLE TIME! We enjoyed getting to enjoy and see and learn more about the Irish culture and heritage that is preserved in Alexandria, Virginia and beyond. We also ran into a family friend of mine, Kelly, and had an amazing time getting in the St. Patrick’s Day spirit (!!!!!). With it being an overcast day, the crowds were not as crazy as we had expected which was super nice and we even got a great spot to catch ALL of the action, too. Afterwards, we took a stroll down to the waterfront via Captain’s Row’s stunning cobblestone streets to brunch at my favorite restaurant … Ada’s On The River (!!!!). With an amazing lunch, great memories made, and an immersive local cultural experience, Haley and I enjoyed one another’s company and getting in LOTS of steps!

  • The start of Spring arrived in the Washington, DC area this March 2024. The smell of Spring in the air, the flowers (and cherry blossoms!!!!) blooming everywhere, and *of course* the Spring fashion brings me SOOOO much joy. Being transparent over here that Winter 2024 was not the easiest for me after getting COVID and then a case of lingering COVID and having to spend a bit of the early months of 2024 in isolation, so Spring 2024 has been such a fresh start. To commemorate Spring 2024 and the then-upcoming Easter holiday, I put together an Easter tablescape to enjoy the season!

  • During the month of March, I discovered a brand-new happy hour spot in my favorite spot of Old Town Alexandria, Virginia: Mia’s Italian! At Mia’s, happy hour is primarily served at the bar and with pretty good deals, too. I came here once on my own and then again with my best friend Shivani when she came to visit and we did an Old Town Alexandria stroll. I spend LOTS of time in Old Town Alexandria especially to get my steps in via quick Metro ride and am SO SO SO happy that I was able to find a new spot that I LOVE there!

  • Happy hours + networking highs + office days galore as usual – LOL! My work can bring me joy, as I always strive to find the joy in my 9-5 life. I have become someone who LOVES networking (I plan to share more on that on this platform, too!). To kick off March, I shared a bit about the Women in Data Community of Practice that I co-lead at my company for a company-led symposium showcase. I had a booth and brought some chocolates, tons of props, and LOTS of information to share. It was a GREAT time to connect with my coworkers in-person, too! The next week, my Ignite Young Professionals class had a super fun happy hour at the Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington’s Innovation Studio Space in Arlington’s Pentagon City neighborhood where we had the pleasure of collaging over wine and beer together. I also attended a super fun Causes & Cocktails happy hour at Crystal City’s Water Bar which is a GORGEOUS space (!!!!) and got to connect with some incredible minds in the Arlington, Virginia community. And, last but not least, I got … UPDATED HEAD SHOTS at work!!! All in all, a great time!

Lows:

  • Seasonal allergies are ALWAYS a constant with the Spring months, in all of their glory. When the pollen count is high, many of us struggle with seasonal allergies including myself. Fun times *cough cough*!
  • Burnout was REAL for me during the month of March. As I was running around A TON throughout the month from showcase to class to happy hours to an outreach trip in Raleigh, North Carolina and everything in between, the burnout for sure gets REAL. To top it all off with additional fatigue via seasonal allergies can be tough, too. Needless to say, I am oh so glad that I kicked off April 2024 with a trip where I deleted *none other than* Teams, Outlook, and LinkedIn off of my phone to completely take a pause.
  • In my family life, we have had some stressful times that make me SO grateful for those that I love. While thankfully nobody is sick or hurt, the times have been a bit stressful during the month of March, which makes me SO thankful for my loved ones and that we are all in good health. Remember to tell those you love that you love them <3

ANDDDD onwards to April 2024 and beyond!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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The Life of Katie – February 2024

February 2024 was the official end of the trial month of 2024 aka January 2024. January 2024 was a ROUGH month for me, as I got COVID and was pretty much on the mend the entire month (even having to reschedule an exciting trip to March which I still remain oh so excited for). SO, entering into a month beyond January in 2024 was nothing short of excitement for me. Now that I have been into February 2024, I am oh so grateful to *finally* be feeling like myself again in 2024 in general. I had SOOOO many highs to truly kick off the year 2024, including not one but TWO weekend trips, some fun happy hours with colleagues and fellow Meredith College alumnae, meals and walks and overall time with family, some fun shopping trips, and memories made with friends both locally and in North Carolina and Texas. A few lows occurred too, such as a lengthy recovery via lingering COVID and then pretty much no break into seasonal allergies (which I very much prefer to lingering COVID and am still SOOOO grateful that it is over for me mostly!) and fatigue period. Though February was a pretty great month, I am super blessed and excited moving into March 2024 to what is to come during this new and glorious year!

*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:

  • One of my best friends Liz was soooo sweet enough to gift me Lilly Pulitzer perfume that her Mom found at TJ Maxx in recent times. Liz and I both have Lilly Pulitzer perfumes now which is SOOOO special to me. I shared the perfumes on my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee) during the latter part of January when Liz scored them, but received this incredible gift in early February! Another thing that I found during the month of February was my late Aunt Margaret’s never before opened Elizabeth Arden perfume and lotion set. It was soooo special to uncover AND truly have a piece of my Aunt Margaret whom I love sooo dearly to this very day.
  • Lilly Pulitzer came out with their 65th anniversary print which IS a pink toile print aka my favorite kind of print (!!!!), SO I *of course* cashed in my credit card rewards miles to get some Lilly Pulitzer goodies! I got: the Lilly Loves DC Getaway Packable Tote & 65th Anniversary Print Popover.
  • February was a Target month for sure! In recent times especially in February 2024, I have started to enjoy grocery shopping of ALLLL the things to do at Target at *none other than* … Target. However, alongside a few token grocery items (such as Meyer’s Soap and Liquid IV), I have purchased and LOVE my brand-new Opalhouse online exclusive Pineapple Lamp, Good & Gather Sparkling Water (where a 12-pack costs only $3.75!!!!), & 2 wayyy too many Universal Thread cane handbags (here and here).
  • When I was in Dallas, I consigned not one, but TWO incredible pieces *both* for under $50 (!!!!): authentic Louis Vuitton black leather logo flats AND a Lilly Pulitzer Original patchwork shift dress. My Mom told me to check out the consignment stores in Dallas, since she heard that they are some of THE BEST in the country, and, well, she was RIGHT!
  • ANDDDD, last but NOT least, I bought as a Valentine’s Day gift to myself not one but TWO customized Stanley 40 ounce tumblers (!!!!!). I have found the Stanley tumblers to not only help me stay hydrated, but also stay healthy and *even* lose weight. My Stanley tumblers are spread ALLLL across my apartment to maximize usage and minimize me carrying them from place to place across my apartment – LOL!

Highs:

  • My best friend Liz and I had a super-fun Grammy’s viewing party at my apartment the night of the Grammy’s. The excitement was REAL when Taylor Swift announced her brand-new album AND WON two Grammy’s (!!!!!). It was ALSO fun to watch other incredible artists such as Miley Cyrus get honored, too! I also got to try the ultra-amazing Rob’s Backstage Popcorn for the first-time ever. HOWEVER, the best part of Grammy’s night was Liz was simply being in one another’s company and simply hanging out and catching up together. Liz is such an incredible friend that I am SOOO blessed to have in my life!

  • Early on in February, I took a solo museum date to the National Portrait Gallery & Kogod Courtyard to see the brand-new portrait of Oprah and The Future of Orchids temporary installation with a pit stop at Le Pain Quotidian. While at Le Pain Quotidian, I happened to connect with a group of ultra-sweet ladies from England who were visiting Washington, DC for the first time, whom I have since connected with on socials! I *almost* didn’t make a pit stop for some food and coffee, but I am SOOO glad I did!!!

  • In around September 2022, my best friends Briana and Brittany and I enjoyed a nice lunch at a nearby to us spot known as Brickmaker’s Cafe. Brickmaker’s Cafe is conveniently situated right along the Occoquan River (an offshoot of the Potomac River!) in Lorton, Virginia. Papa has been DYINGGG to check out Brickmaker’s Cafe & we *finally* went together in early February! Papa LOVED Brickmaker’s Cafe, too!! The night before Brickmaker’s Cafe, I had a Galentine’s at The Spot on Mill Street in Occoquan, Virginia! My besties Haley, Briana, Sarah, and Stephanie ALL came out for the night and we enjoyed an incredible dinner (and drinks!) together and time with one another. We had this GREAT wine cellar room to mostly ourselves which was amazing! An incredible fact that I learned about The Spot on Mill Street when talking with the bartenders there who shared a bit about its historical significance as a place where President George Washington bunked during the Revolutionary War era. HOW NEAT!

The Spot on Mill Street:

Brickmaker’s Cafe:

  • Happy hours are starting to pick up for 2024 (after missing them throughout the month of January due to COVID). I arranged a happy hour with my Ignite Young Professionals cohort in between classes AND was SOOOO excited to have such a great turnout at it despite worrying beforehand about turnout. We met up at Open Road’s Rosslyn location, which is a spot my bestie Shivani and I frequent! The next happy hour was after my February Ignite Young Professionals class with my classmates at Courthaus Social. And, my third and final happy hour of the month was hosted by my amazing Alma mater Meredith College’s Washington, DC area Alumnae Chapter in honor of our Giving Day at this ADORABLE and super fun spot in Clarendon called Green Pig Bistro! All in all, each happy hour brought about GREAT conversations, networking, and time to bond with those around me. Blessings ALLL around!!!

  • Professionally, I got my first-ever certification! I feel SOOO lucky to work for an incredible organization that supports their employees in their own professional endeavors AND offers lots of opportunities to get certified within the company of your own coworkers. I found my certification experience and coursework to be super fun, especially surrounded by some incredible coworkers and people within my own company, many of which I had yet to meet before taking the course! HOWEVER, after completion of the certification, I felt as if I had a great group of classmates and colleagues that I got to know better and become friends with, which is SUCH A GIFT, especially working primarily remotely!
  • I have *officially* made hosting a Galentine’s Party an annual tradition (!!!!!). I had my second annual Galentine’s Party a few days after Valentine’s Day with an excellent turnout! On actual Valentine’s Day, Papa got me a beautiful bouquet of daisies, which I was SOOOO excited to put on display on my gorgeous Valentine’s Day tablescape for my Galentine’s party. I am OH SO BLESSED that some of my very best friends were willing and able to come out for such a sweet evening together!

  • Throughout the middle of February, I enjoyed back-to-back Birthday weekend trips to Dallas, Texas to celebrate my fellow influencer bestie Lindsay of @sunshineandstairclimbs on Instagram (here) & Charlotte, North Carolina to celebrate my fellow Meredith College bestie Alanna (here)! SO much time catching up with friends that I LOVE so dearly and meeting new one’s too!!
  • The final weekend of February, Papa and I enjoyed a nice local weekend helping my Mom out with some things around her new house. We ALSO were able to squeeze in a gorgeous walk with Rosie alongside Mason Neck State Park’s Marsh Trail (!!!!!!) which was GORGEOUS *even* in the Winter months where the trees don’t block the scenic views nearly as much as they do in the Summer time!

Lows:

  • Into February, unfortunately, I am *still* fighting looming COVID fatigue. At this rate, I likely have prolonged COVID to some extent, given that I have a lingering cough and fatigue. Lingering COVID can make travel (which I did PLENTY of this month) extremely exhausting more so than it already is. However, I am extremely grateful, thankful, and blessed for my loved ones for simply supporting, listening, and allowing me to rest and meet my needs, given my prolonged COVID. Luckily by the end of February, my COVID fatigue started to fade away and become replaced with *none other than* … seasonal allergies.
  • With some GREAT highs and travels in February 2024 comes some lows on the personal development front. With getting COVID in January of this year, I have gotten WAYYYY too comfortable at home which has taken a toll on me mentally. Now is the time for me to get back out there and enjoy 2024!
  • Seasonal depression DEFINITELY hit me this early 2024. After the holidays departed and I got COVID and had a lengthy recovery, it *truly* sucked for me this Winter 2024 which hit me a bit into February 2024. January 2024 was HARD for me amongst many others that I love in my network. Just remember that none of us are alone.

Here’s to exciting the Winter months and being ONE STEP CLOSER (!!!!!) to Spring and then Summer and then Fall and then Thanksgiving (shoutout to the meme that I saw earlier today on Instagram – LOLLL!).

XOXO – Katie <3

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The Life of Katie – January 2024

Being transparent over here, January 2024 was a month filled with more trials than triumphs. Indeed, I have called January the “trial month of 2024” more often than not *whoops*! January 2024 was the month that I got COVID, after having ended the *very* end of December 2024 via a stressful and rather traumatic event that I needed to process too. As a result of getting COVID and a few looonggg weeks of recovery, I have LITERALLY had to move mountains within my own personal and even work calendar to account for it all. Through it all, I have remained proud of myself for navigating through some tough moments and finding the silver lining amongst it all. Going into February 2024, I feel more than ready to kick off 2024 the fabulous Katie way!!!

*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.*

During the month of January, I revamped my Shop.LTK page after about a year-long hiatus. I am MORE THAN excited (!!!!!) for my Shop.LTK revamp and am excited to share some of my many favorite finds with y’all in 2024 and beyond! That all being said, I am going to each month share 3 of my favorite purchases, whether it be something ordered via carry out (as in the case of January’s), a clothing/home/beauty item, grocery item or travel-related item! In the meantime, you can follow along my Shop.LTK shop here!

A Few of My Favorite Purchases

  • The Tuckernuck Sample Sale went LIVE during the month of January and I am more than pleased to say that my entire Spring/Summer 2024 wardrobe is ready to go. One of my favorite purchases was a restock of my absolute favorite tortoise heart-shaped sunglasses. I share ALL of my sale purchases and favorite picks from the sale here!
  • ALLLLL while I had COVID, I was craving *none other than* … Chipotle! SO, once I was feeling up to it, I got a Chipotle steak and fajita veggie bowl and it has definitely been one of my favorite purchases in January 2024!
  • Across my Instagram feeds, I have been seeing Poppi soda becoming a fan favorite. SO, I *FINALLY* popped open a can of Poppi soda to see what the hype was for myself (!!!!!). And, yes, I completely understand the hype now. I WILL be buying another can again in the future ANNDDD perhaps a pack from Amazon, too!
  • Bonus: I found a 2024 calendar year Lilly Pulitzer agenda at … Home Goods (!!!!) for $15. I snagged that beauty up within SECONDS!

Highs

  • Tradition-wise, I usually spend New Year’s with my Dad. AND, ringing in 2024 was NO different! I rang in 2024 with my Dad and Step Mom and their Yorkie Ginger by spending the first week of January AND New Years with them in their home base of Bethany Beach, Delaware. We had an incredible New Year’s Eve dinner at the gorgeous Restaurant at Lighthouse Sound (here) on the Ocean City, Maryland sound. Dad and I enjoyed MANY evenings after work from home watching movies and drinking champagne out of the circa 1900 Thompson family Christmas china and *of course* Ginger snuggles (!!!!!). And, I got to dine at Ocean View Brewing Company where I had some of THE BEST mahi mahi I’ve ever had and enjoy the vibes and atmosphere at Libation Room, a lounge inside of Rehoboth Beach’s Summer House. All in all, it was SUCH A special time with my family (and quite peaceful, too!!).

  • While in the midst of my recovery from COVID, when I became no longer contagious, I was able to *finally* go see Frozen on tour at The Kennedy Center after two failed attempts (thanks to COVID boo) with my friends Briana and Brittany. We ended up dining at the Roof Terrace Restaurant (onsite at The Kennedy Center on *surprise* the terrace!!!). The vibes and views and company were immaculate AND I got to live out my BESTTTT Frozen life, as Olaf IS my spirit animal (!!!!!). Needless to say, seeing Frozen (and Olaf!!!) was THE BEST way to officially kick off 2024!!!!

  • Papa and I *finally* made it to Restaurant Week thanks to its extension and had an AMAZING time trying Trummer’s Restaurant in Clifton’s Historic District in Northern Virginia. Trummer’s serves up New American cuisine and delicious cocktails, including their signature cocktail (which I tried and LOVED) The Titanic! At the same time, Papa and I LOVED getting to try some of the delicious cuisines that Trummer’s has to offer, including crab dip, Weiner schnitzel, and scallops. HOWEVER, I cannot finish raving about my incredible experience at Trummer’s without mentioning their GORGEOUS atmosphere and vibes both at the bar and in the upstairs dining area (!!!!).

  • My best friend Liz and I had a much-needed outing post-COVID where I *finally* got to check out a much, in-fact, years-along anticipated visit of mine to a local thrift store that I somehow haven’t visited until this month … Unique! Liz and I spent HOURS sifting through the racks and racks and racks of incredible finds. Let’s just say that I did some damage (whoops!). HOWEVER, I am more than excited to say that I have just about everything that I could ever want and need for my Spring/Summer 2024 wardrobe (!!!!). And, I of course LOVED some much-needed time chatting with Liz as we admired ALLLL the merchandise on the floor at Unique. I am SO grateful to have Liz as one of my best friends!

  • As apart of my Ignite Young Professionals program, I have been volunteering with the Museum of Contemporary Art in Arlington (aka the ONLY art museum in Arlington, Virginia AND it is definitely worth visiting and free to do so!!!) with a group of classmates from my cohort. As apart of our groups’ volunteering efforts, we have been helping to stock the Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington’s Amazon HQ2 Innovation Studio storefront that they have for the next year+. It was SUCH A COOL and AMAZING opportunity to watch the ribbon cutting ceremony for the storefront and see some of my network through Ignite Young Professionals at the event. I also got to meet one of the Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington’s artists and his son that will be onsite at the storefront selling artwork and mingling with customers and guests, alike, for the next 6 weeks. It was such a full circle moment for the staff at the museum and my group within my cohort!

Lows

  • ANDDD, it happened …. I got COVID. My first time with COVID came about this January 2024 and it was NOT FUN. I feel thankful to say that somehow I was marked safe from COVID for a whopping 4 years and that I had a pretty mild case (however COVID is COVID and it’s NO fun). At the same time, I am also lucky that I got COVID when the weather was snowing and storming outside, so there really wasn’t anything that I would be missing out on, despite missing my January Ignite Young Professionals class and planning another happy hour afterwards and having to reschedule my friend Bree coming to visit (sigh!). AND, well, I ended up with a lingering cough and a few failed attempts at getting medications to work to relieve the cough, too. As a result, I had to reschedule many events with friends, coworkers, and family, including a much-anticipated Outreach trip to Raleigh, North Carolina at my Alma mater Meredith College (however, I luckily have a new date for this at the end of March AND reservation at a restaurant that I have been so psyched to try!!!). Needless to say, I do not wish COVID on anybody, but I am grateful for COVID truly forcing me to do something I legit never do unless I am literally on vacation: slow down.
  • Rescheduling plans due to COVID and inclement weather seemed to be THE THEME of January 2024. Whelp! It kind of got annoying having to CONSTANTLY reschedule plans again and again and again. HOWEVER, if January 2024 taught me ANYTHING, it is that plans can and will change and we have to adapt from time to time.

Here’s to an INCREDIBLE February 2024 and beyond, given all of the self growth, trials, and triumphs of January 2024!

XOXO – Katie <3

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The Life of Katie – December 2023

December 2023 was one of THE BEST months for me throughout 2023! Personally, my favorite season is the holiday season aka October->December of each year. December has truly been such a month filled with love and gratitude from all different avenues of my life. The Christmas cheer was truly just the icing on top of the cake of an amazing December (!!!!!). 

Highs:

  • I’ve mentioned a few times that I am currently apart of the Ignite Young Professionals Class of 2024 cohort via the Leadership Center for Excellence in Arlington, Virginia. Since starting the program, I have been a social chair for my cohort (!!!!). And, I planned my first happy hour at Ireland’s Four Courts in Arlington’s Courthouse neighborhood with my Ignite Young Professionals cohort (a special thanks to my classmates for recommending this spot, too!!). It was A BLAST to get to enjoy *none other than* fries and wine aka my comfort food and connect with my classmates beyond the classroom. Before happy hour, I got to *finally* visit to see the reclining Lady Liberty at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Arlington (MOCAA) for my site visit via Ignite Young Professionals. I have been wanting to see the iconic reclining Lady Liberty while she is here in Arlington, Virginia and SO GLAD I finally got to! All in all, a GREAT class day via my Ignite Young Professionals program and I look forward to future classes in 2024!

Visit to the Museum of Contemporary Art in Arlington

Happy hour at Ireland’s Four Courts

  • November 2023 started off with a bang (here), as I started and completed the courses portion for my first-ever certification through work. I have REALLY enjoyed this certification that I am working towards and am OH SO appreciative of my managers, teammates, and company for supporting me in working towards it. Early in December, I presented my briefing for my certification (the FINAL step!!!!) in achieving this certificate AND it went REALLY well (!!!!!). Next step: being certified!
  • Christmas fun included: dinner with Papa at Ozzie’s Good Eats with a visit to see the sweetest ladies (and champagne!!!) at Becky’s Boutique in Fairfax Corner, admiring aisles and aisles and aisles of wreaths at Nall’s Produce, seeing The Nutcracker with Stephanie at Capital One Hall in Tysons, Virginia, attending the DAR Holiday Open House and meeting SOOO many DAR women from all across the United States and Santa at the DAR Library, a nighttime stroll at *none other than* the National Christmas Tree and The Willard Intercontinental Hotel to listen to some live Christmas caroling, a stroll through Washington, DC’s City Center with Haley, visiting Aunt Amy and her girlfriend Barbara with Papa while they were staying at the magical Gaylord National Hotel in National Harbor during golden hour, advent dinners at my Mom’s house, a holly jolly stroll with Liz at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens Winter Walk of Lights, dinner and Christmas tree admiring at Cafe Riggs with Briana, Christmas wine shopping at Giant, and a family dinner with my Dad’s side of the family at Ferry + Main at The Logan Inn in New Hope, Pennsylvania. And, AHHHHH the list could go on and on and on (!!!!!!). This Christmas season was SUCH A holly and jolly time and an amazing time to get in the holiday cheer, too! 

Fairfax Corner Outing at Ozzie’s and Becky’s Boutique

Nall’s Produce

The Nutcracker

  

DAR Holiday Open House

The National Christmas Tree

The Willard Intercontinental Hotel

City Center

The Gaylord National Hotel

Advent Dinner at Mom’s House

Meadowlark Botanical Garden’s Winter Walk of Lights

Cafe Riggs

Christmas Wine Shopping

Ferry + Main 

  • Happy mail from Black Friday & Cyber Monday shopping started to trickle (here), early this December. Every year, my company is SO kind to give all of us employees a gift of our choice from a list to commemorate the year and holiday season. This year, I chose a Trina Turk candle, which I am SO excited to use (!!!!). And, I also received a quilted black Scout tote, Sprinkled with Pink custom monogrammed pouches, a shimmery J Crew Factory skirt that I plan to style year-round, and Draper James pajamas and sweatpants (which I have been LIVING in recently!!!). One of my biggest and most frequent purchases this Black Friday/Cyber Monday season has been … pajamas!

  • The joys of Christmas have been SUCH A HIGHLIGHT for me this December 2023. Whether it be eating off of Christmas china that I thrifted in November, enjoying Christmas trees both at home and while out and about, hearing Christmas music everywhere, or sipping drinks in Christmas mugs, the simple joys of Christmas have been such a blessing. I truly LOVE getting to enjoy the magic of Christmas and *even* simply saying to someone “Happy Holidays!” Or “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Hanukah” and vice versa. There is SO MUCH to be thankful for and enjoy, whether at home with the Christmas decorations and Hallmark channel via simply being in the moment to seeing a Christmas tree through somebody’s window. Needless to say, people are SO MUCH KINDER to each other this holiday season and there is SO MUCH joy to be enjoyed this December and beyond (!!!!!).

  • Papa’s first-ever trip to TJ Maxx happened on December 2 (!!!!). Surprisingly to all of us in the family, Papa had NEVER EVER been to TJ Maxx before then. Papa needed a new neck scarf for the projected snowy and cold Winter here in the Washington, DC area, so I decided to take him to TJ Maxx. Luckily, Papa successfully found what he was looking for AND made in impulse buy, too! LOL!!! It was a FUN FUN FUN time (!!!!).

  • Every Christmas Eve Eve, my Papa and Aunt Amy and I dine at Mike’s American Grill. We all enjoyed cocktails and taking, took in ALLLL the Christmas decorations and vibes, and savored the special moments together. I am SO grateful for this tradition of ours and excited to continue it into 2024. 

  • My best friend from college Alanna celebrated her Masters in Education graduation weekend from NC State University in Raleigh, North Carolina. SOOOO many of me and Alanna’s college friends got together to celebrate Alanna (!!!!). I hadn’t seen Alanna and everyone else since 2022 and early/Summer 2023, so it was SOOOO nice and needed to be able to visit and see everyone after quite some time for a GREAT occasion. I ended up staying with my best friend Shivani and her amazing family, where we got lunch with my college roommate Sophie and had a much-needed amazing visit with her, too. I ALSO got to dine at SOOOO many new-to-me or haven’t dined at before places in Raleigh on this trip (here). All in all, my weekend to Raleigh was SOOOO needed and an extraordinary blessing. 

  • Being in good health has been a major blessing for me this December 2023. In December 2022, I went to the doctor’s for my annual check-up and ended up with a major lab mix-up and a whopping 3 blood draws within 10 days. It was nerve wracking and my doctor and family and I even suspected that something major was going on with me, which made for A LOT of stress and anxiety during an already stressful, yet joyful time. HOWEVER, this December 2023, I am happy to be in good health via lab results and my check-up at the doctor’s office. Through it all, I feel extremely blessed to have a great doctor and family to support me and ensure that I am in good health (and a MAJOR shoutout to the lady who works in the lab for always being kind and fun to talk to when getting something as daunting as blood drawn whether in 2022 or 2023!)
  • I hosted my first-ever Christmas Party (!!!!) and several of my friends came to enjoy some holiday cheer with me! At my Christmas party, I popped a *very* much-belated bottle of Veuve Cliquot that I had picked up at Target earlier that week to commemorate my promotion at work in October 2023. My Christmas party was such a special time to get together with SO many of my friends that I LOVE so very much. I also LOVE that many of my friends have become friends and want to hang out since meeting one another at my Friendsgiving (here) from November and my Christmas party! 

Lows:

  • As a result of ALLLL the fun activities in December, I experienced major fatigue throughout the month. Unfortunately, that led me to cancel a few outings (including going to National Harbor a second time with Liz and attending a Holiday Party) during the month of December. Personally, as exciting as the month of December is, sometimes our body experiencing lots of fatigue is a message to us to simply slow down. 
  • I late December, I met up with my amazing influencer bestie Emily of @loveemilydarling on Instagram (GO FOLLOW HER!!!) which was AMAZING. Emily is SOOO sweet in real life and so are her parents. However, the circumstances logistically of us meeting up were super tough on me and those circumstances caused me to shut down emotionally due to stress. We sadly did not get a picture this time around meeting up, however, I do look forward to meeting up with Emily in the future and REALLY appreciate how kind, compassionate, and understanding she is in real life. Moreover, I REALLY look forward to getting to grow in my friendship with Emily in 2024 and beyond!!!!! <3 
  • Grief is HARD for me as we approach December 24 and 25. Year after year, I always struggle with grief during this time of year, as much as I enjoy it and find joy in it. 

December 2023 was truly a month to remember. I feel lucky to have ended 2023 on such a high month and look forward to what 2024 will bring!!!! 

XOXO – Katie <3 

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My Highlights of 2023!

2023 has been such a GREAT year filled with self love, growth, gratitude, and happiness. At the same time, I have been able to grow (and establish new) friendships throughout the entire year and grow professionally.

Coming out of a rough 2022 especially given a health scare in December, Winter 2023 and 2023 as a whole started off and continued with A LOT of self growth and care. I made some MAJOR changes to my diet starting in early 2023. I noticed some signs of improvement both physically and mentally pretty quickly, too. At the same time, I made some big changes in my personal life that allowed me to only grow into a more comfortable, confident, and healthy person going into 2023.

January

  • I oddly enough, I did *quite a bit* of travel and activities in January – LOL! Every new year, I try to spend the holiday with my Dad and Step Mom, which usually is at their current home base of Bethany Beach, Delaware. It was really special to kick off the new year by walking on the beach and reflecting with excitement on what’s to come in 2023 via going over one of my favorite bridges, which connects Dewey Beach to Bethany Beach.
  • In January, I travelled to Raleigh/Chapel Hill in North Carolina (here) to visit my college best friends and visited my best friend Amanda in Pennsylvania and New Jersey (here) as well.
  • As for activities, I dined at Washington, DC Restaurant Week for the first time ever (here), saw Wicked at The Kennedy Center (here), brunched in Old Town Alexandria with my best friend Haley at Virtue Feed & Grain (here), and saw Hairspray at Capital One Hall (here).

February

  • To kick off the month of February, I did a fun fashion challenge of styling *none other than* PINK for the first 14 Days of the month via 14 Days of Pink (here)!
  • I hosted my first-ever Galentine’s Party and had Crumbl Cookies (here), visited the National Air and Space Museum (here), attended a paint and sip class at Muse Paint Bar (here), enjoyed a nice dinner in Ballston in Arlington at our favorite spot Ted’s Bulletin with my best friend Shivani, explored the Mount Vernon Trail with Papa and Rosie, and attended an Alumnae Dinner with my Alma mater Meredith College’s Washington, DC area chapter.
  • A trip to Raleigh, North Carolina was also in the mix, as I visited my best friend Alanna for her Birthday weekend AND got to see my best friends Sophie, Hannah, and Aspen, too.

March

  • I visited my first of two new-to-me states for 2023 with my Mom: Kentucky! Mom and I stayed in Louisville for a few days after her conference there and we had an AMAZING time exploring the foodie scene (here), interacting with the kind locals, strolling the gorgeous neighborhoods, and touring … Churchill Downs (here).
  • On the professional front, I started working on my current contract full-time which I LOVE being apart of and co-hosted a company-wide International Women’s Day panel event and happy hour.
  • Papa celebrated another trip around the sun via a very special family gathering at my Aunt Amy’s house. I enjoyed another day in Old Town Alexandria with a trip to *of course* Lilly Pulitzer.
  • Towards the end of the month, the National Cherry Blossom Festival kicked off which meant for all-things photos around my hometown (!!!!), and I got my hair done for the season. My influencer best friend Lindsay came to visit where we met for the first time and became instant besties (!!!!!), where I got to show her around my hometown during *none other than* cherry blossom season, including a trip to Artechouse (here).
  • To close out the month, Papa and I went on a day trip to visit his sisters in Carlisle, Pennsylvania and enjoyed a dinner with my friends Sarah and Laura at Mike’s American Grill.

April

  • The Barbie AI tool online took A LOT of my free time during the beginning of April, while I also continued to enjoy the cherry blossoms around town.
  • My Papa, Aunt Amy, and I dined at Cheesetique in Shirlington for their cherry blossom experience which was made complete with cotton candy cocktails!
  • I had a beautiful Easter with my family and started to admire more and more and more of the flowers starting to bloom around town. I took a day trip to the Capitol to enjoy the tulips and then dinner with my best friend Shivani at a favorite spot of ours: Open Road.
  • My friends Cassie and Caroline came to visit and we went to City Center in Washington, DC where they got dropped off via Uber at the wrong Tatte location (if you know, you know!!) before heading to Georgetown to admire the gorgeous Spring air and have dinner at Clyde’s and macarons at Olivia Macaron.
  • I enjoyed a happy hour via the Leadership Center for Excellence with my best friend Stephanie and another happy hour via Women in Technology where I wore *none other than* Lilly Pulitzer.
  • I dog sat for the first time for a night, before heading to Barrel Oak Winery (BOW) with Rosie and Stephanie and her dog Teddy and enjoying oysters.
  • I enjoyed another evening in Old Town Alexandria at Daniel O’Connell’s Irish Pub with my friend James and another evening going to Pentagon City to enjoy the cherry blossom themed experience at Commonwealth Joe Coffee Roasters.
  • I volunteered at the annual STEM For Her Elevate Her Gala (2nd time attending!) where I got to run STEM For Her’s social media channels on site, network with colleagues from work and in the women in STEM empowerment community, and meet former NFL player and Bachelorette contestant Jason Foster!
  • To wrap up the month of April, I started enjoying some of my many 24th Birthday festivities including: a trip to the US Botanic Garden to see the Orchids on display, dine at Old Ebbitt Grill with dessert on the house, see Aladdin at The National Theatre (here), and enjoy day 1 of Papa, Rosie, and I’s trip to Edenton, North Carolina.

May

  • Papa and Rosie and I enjoyed a FULLL sightseeing day in Edenton, North Carolina (!!!!) (here), including a historic trolley tour to kick off my 24th trip around the sun. My birthday festivities continued when I got home with dinners in Washington, DC (La Chaumiere with Dad and DD and Farmers Fishers Bakers with Shivani and Joelle and Urban Roast with Briana and Brittany) and Fairfax (Coastal Flats with Papa and Aunt Amy) and Lorton (Hometown Bar and Grill with James) and Clifton (Peterson’s Ice Cream Depot with Wyatt) and many happy memories at the dinner table, too!
  • I attended the Coronation and Kentucky Derby Party at the Scout Bags Flagship store with my friend Laura in Georgetown with brunch at Clyde’s afterwards. And, later that night, I went to my Mom’s friend’s Kentucky Derby party with my Mom!
  • In personal news, I started to feel super burned out in ALLLL aspects of life, so after attending a webinar on burnout through Women in Technology, I started to implement ways to curb burnout in my daily routine.
  • On a whim, I attended MedTech via The Academy for Radiological and Biomedical Imaging Research on Capitol Hill and left feeling nothing short of inspired for the future of healthcare given AI and other technological advances. Afterwards, I strolled around Capitol Hill and enjoyed a phenomenal dinner at Bistro Cacao.
  • I got to attend the Leadership Center for Excellence’s Leadership Summit in Arlington, Virginia with a coworker and got to network A TON as I was then-in the application process for the Ignite Young Professionals Class of 2024 cohort!
  • Haley and Laura and I enjoyed a beautiful afternoon in Georgetown, having brunch and browsing at allll the shops, including Glossier, and I enjoyed another afternoon strolling the aisles and aisles and aisles of flowers at Nall’s Produce with Papa.
  • For Memorial Day Weekend, Papa’s sister Great Aunt Darlene came to town for lunch and we went to Occoquan, Virginia and admired the stunning waterfront views before going for a gorgeous walk with Papa and Rosie on a marsh trail at Mason Neck State Park.
  • To close out the month of May, I attended a networking event at my office and then enjoyed dinner at Maman Joon with my friend Stephanie at Tyson’s Corner Center and admiring ALLLL the art installations around the mall.

June

  • I took a day trip to Barboursville Vineyards (here) where I dined at their onsite restaurant: Palladio! The same day I went to Barboursville Vineyards, I also celebrated my Mom’s Birthday and brought her back a bottle of wine to celebrate!!!
  • I enjoyed a gorgeous afternoon painting pottery with Brittany in Old Town Alexandria before a solo Mexican lunch and Pina Colada on King Street and *of course* some street strolls. I also enjoyed dining at Open Road again with Joelle. And, a few days later, Papa and Aunt Amy and I went back to Old Town Alexandria and enjoyed brunch at Ada’s on the River aka my favorite restaurant (!!!!!).
  • I hosted my first-ever summer party with my friends and it was *of course* Lilly Pulitzer-themed. The next day, Briana and I enjoyed the vibes (not as much the food sadly) at The Bazaar by Jose Andres at Washington, DC’s Waldorf Astoria. And, the next day Papa and I enjoyed an amazing dinner in Clifton, Virginia at Trattoria Villagio during Happy Hour.
  • I went on many walks and enjoyed many evenings on the back or front porch sipping on wine or reading a book, including a gorgeous day trip with LOTS of walking in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia (here).
  • Father’s Day Weekend was spent in Delaware with Dad and DD and my best friend Amanda. We had a BLAST dining at some popular spots, parasailing, going to the beach, Ginger snuggles, and climbing a historic tower used during WW11.
  • I closed off the month of June with a weeklong trip to Isle of Palms, South Carolina (here) with my best friends Hannah, Alanna, and Bree. Isle of Palms is one of THE prettiest places I have ever been to. We did a day trip to Charleston (here and here) and a night in Charlotte beforehand to celebrate Bree’s college graduation.

July

  • I enjoyed some Fourth of July fun, seeing fireworks at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, Virginia with my Mom and Step Dad and Uncle James and Papa, going on a sail boat ride in Annapolis, Maryland with my cousins, and seeing 1776 at The Kennedy Center with myself!
  • Washington, DC area outings were plentiful with seeing The Lion King at The Kennedy Center with my friends Briana and Brittany and *of course* taking in those stunning terrace skyline views before the show. Haley and I went to DuPont Circle’s Art walk on a First Friday evening with a pre-stroll picnic. Papa and I dined at Carlyle in Shirlington to celebrate my admission to Ignite Young Professionals Class of 2024 cohort, and I also attended Volunteer Arlington’s Volunteer Awards event and met some of my future classmates. I *finally* checked out Becky’s Boutique in Fairfax Corner and became friends with the ladies there and dined at Barca on the pier in Old Town Alexandria with Papa and Aunt Amy as well as Vola’s Dockside Grill. My company also had their annual Washington Nationals game night at Nationals Park with pre-game drinks at a nearby outdoor bar.
  • I enjoyed an AMAZING family weekend with my Dad’s side in Bethany Beach, Delaware. We had an amazing beach day at Tower Beach and strolled on the Bethany Beach boardwalk, enjoyed dinner at Grotto Pizza (LOL!), Longboard Cafe, and The Restaurant at Lighthouse Sound, and had several Aperol Spritzes (!!!!).
  • Commemorating the Barbie movie the ONLY way to do so was the anthem of July 2023 (!!!!!). I saw the movie in theaters with my best friend Sarah and talked about it A LOT with my Aunts in Delaware before seeing it.
  • A Lidl grocery store *finally* opened up under 10 minutes from my house, so I went on opening day and my grocery store routine has become a lot easier and spending has happily decreased as a result (!!!!).

August

  • The Barbie hype is STILL in full swing with my trip to Indianapolis (here) and Chicago (here) with my best friend Lindsay. On that trip, I met flamingoes, dined at The Cake Bake Shop (here) and Ralph Lauren Restaurant, AND went to the Malibu Barbie Cafe (more on that VERYYY soon). It was a beautiful Barbie long weekend (!!!!). I also reached a milestone in my career then and was able to successfully manage everything on the busy work front while away.
  • I took a solo day to Old Town Alexandria and dined at The Majestic for brunch with a summer-themed sangria. I also had an amazing dinner and golden hour at The Wharf in Washington, DC with my best friend Shivani a few days later and got gifted some amazing Jo Malone perfume. Papa and I dined at Thompson Italian for their Monday pasta and wine special in Old Town Alexandria and a few days later I did another solo outing to Old Town Alexandria and dined at Virginia’s Darling.
  • Stephanie and I went with our dogs to Blue Valley Vineyard out in Delaplane and enjoyed some GORGEOUS skyline views of the Blue Ridge mountains. And, I took a trip to *none other than* the wine aisle at Wegman’s after lunch with Haley.
  • I put up my Washington, DC gallery wall (thanks to Papa’s help!) and enjoyed many occasions on the porch with wine and water and a good book and *of course* Rosie and Papa! I also got my hair done again!!!

September

  • I spent Labor Day weekend with my Dad and Step Mom and their Yorkie Ginger in Bethany Beach, Delaware. Dad and I took a day to Lewes, Delaware to do some genealogy research and stroll the stunningly charming historic district. I got many Ginger snuggles and also dined at some delicious restaurants, including a new-to-me one that was AMAZING: The Grove!
  • I dog sat Rosie for a weekend and LOVED it! She shopped the Lilly Pulitzer Sunshine Sale with me online, where I went a day before to Old Town Alexandria’s flagship store and shopped there as well. Haley and I went to Reston for an amazing dinner and I also tried Hank’s Oyster Bar for the first time in Old Town North. I also strolled through Occoquan, Virginia and enjoyed brunch at my favorite local spot: The Secret Garden Cafe.
  • I started to meal prep (here) and shopped at Trader Joe’s A TON. I put up a shower curtain in my bathroom which was an amazing refresh. Papa and I enjoyed a pizza and wine night at home and I decorated for Fall. Papa and I also enjoyed several home-cooked meals together, too.
  • *Finally* I took a day trip to see my friend Carlin in Winchester, Virginia (here) and fell in love with this charming Virginia town. Papa and I went to Nall’s Produce and the Fall fun began (!!!!!). I also enjoyed a fall latte at Commonwealth Joe Coffee Roasters in Pentagon City.
  • Amanda and I went to the Jonas Brothers concert with pre-concert drinks at Urban Roast. We met my now-best friend Liz at the concert, too! I had brunch with my friends Haley and Violet with a concert hangover and a Fall-themed Sangria (LOL!).
  • I started to begin my Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) application and attend in-person Chapter meetings and dig into my own family history which has been a blast. The DAR ladies are so sweet, too!

October

  • Fall fun continued with a trip to Burke Nursery with Papa and Rosie, an amazing dinner at Lazy Dog with Papa and Aunt Amy, a Target run (with another Stanley cup purchase), a ton of wine tastings at the Mount Vernon Wine Festival with Stephanie (here), dinner with Liz in Tyson’s, a day trip to the Shenandoah National Park’s Skyline Drive with Papa and Rosie, a Fall walk with Rosie and another with Haley, two strolls to Old Town Alexandria’s Captain’s Row, a morning in Occoquan, Virginia, handing out Halloween candy with Rosie dressed as a pumpkin, and leaf peeping at EVERY turn.
  • I attended a gala at the Army-Navy Country Club via a professional connection and had my first-ever class for my Ignite Young Professionals program and enjoyed STUNNING Arlington, Virginia skyline views. I also networked at another Causes & Cocktails event with Stephanie. I spoke on a panel at the Women in Data Washington, DC: Making Sense of Data conference that had a Barbie booth.
  • Liz and I sobbed at the movie theatre while watching Taylor Swift’s Eras tour on the big screen. We talked the ENTIRE time and really enjoyed one another’s company (!!!!).
  • It was about damn time that I got a replacement for my laptop that I accidentally spilled water on: an iPad (!!!!), which I picked up in Georgetown and had an amazing espresso martini solo at Martin’s Tavern nearby where Jackie Kennedy got engaged (!!!!!!).
  • Dad and I celebrated my promotion at Thompson Italian in Old Town Alexandria and working on my DAR application at the gorgeous DAR library in Washington, DC. We had an incredible first visit there. Mom and I celebrated my promotion with Afghan Bistro and wine from Virginia’s Darling, where I celebrated solo beforehand with a bottle of rose I treated myself to and a dress from The Lucky Knot and pouch from the Lilly Pulitzer flagship store in Old Town Alexandria.

November

  • I *FINALLY* made it out to Boston (here) for a long weekend and stayed with my cousin Sabrina and her girlfriend Nicole. I also met up with my best friends Timmy, Griffin, and Mikayla of @blissandbows on Instagram (GO follow her!!!!) and *even* ran into my friend Joelle. Boston was AMAZING and I am ultra-excited to go back again.
  • Professionally, I spoke at a showcase, enjoyed a super-fun company party, and started courses for my first-ever certification with my amazing cohort.
  • I took an amazing solo day trip to Luckett’s Holiday House at The Old Luckett’s Store in Leesburg, Virginia (here) to get in the holiday cheer. My family and I enjoyed Veteran’s Day together with a tailgate at my Uncle’s house. I put up the Christmas decorations at home and enjoyed many cozy nights in. Papa and Rosie and I enjoyed a rainy night looking at the lights Bull Run Regional Park’s Festival of Lights and McDonald’s afterwards. I also helped Papa decorate his Christmas tree.
  • Shivani and Lindsay came to visit on separate occasions within the same week (here). I hosted Friendsgiving when Lindsay was in town and did ALLL the holiday things downtown, including visits to Old Town Alexandria, The Wharf, Downtown Holiday Market, Morais Vineyards, and an amazing dinner at Old Ebbitt Grill (with the Nutcrackers on display!!!!!).
  • Thanksgiving weekend with filled with LOTS of gratitude and thankfulness and Black Friday shopping. I had a nice stroll in Occoquan, Virginia and dinner with Haley to celebrate our professional achievements. My Mom and I hiked at Mason Neck State Park and saw swans. I also tried Sisters Thai in Old Town Alexandria and am itching to go back (!!!!).

December

  • Papa and I enjoyed an amazing dinner at Ozzie’s in Fairfax Corner and then another amazing dinner at Mike’s American Grill with Aunt Amy. I met Becky at Becky’s Boutique and enjoyed champagne at the store with the ladies there and Papa.
  • I met the ultra-sweet Emily of @loveemilydarling on Instagram (GOOO follow her!!!) for brunch in Princeton, New Jersey. Sadly, no pictures this time around, BUT Emily is such an angel and I cannot wait to see her again very soon!
  • Christmas festivities included: wreath window shopping at Nall’s Produce, seeing The Nutcracker at Capital One Hall with Stephanie, hosting my first-ever Christmas party (and enjoying a bottle of Veuve together), a happy hour with my Ignite Young Professionals cohort that I put together, the DAR Holiday Open House at the DAR library with a trip afterwards to the National Christmas Tree and Willard Intercontinental Hotel to hear Christmas caroling, a visit to City Center in Washington, DC and the Downtown Holiday Market, golden hour at the Gaylord National Hotel with Aunt Amy and her girlfriend Barbara and Papa, a Christmas church service at Pohick Church, dinner at Ferry + Main with Dad’s family in New Hope, Pennsylvania, a night with Liz at the Winter Walk of Lights at the Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, and a girl’s night with Briana at Cafe Riggs.
  • I went to Raleigh, North Carolina to see my best friend Alanna graduate from NC State with her Masters (!!!!) and enjoyed many meals on the town (here). I also saw SOOOO many of my college best friends and left Raleigh with SOOOO much gratitude.

I felt *just as if* I was entering into … The Roaring 2020’s!!! 2023 was one of my BEST years, after COVID-19 in 2020 and adjusting to post-graduate life in 2021 and 2022. In this year, I was able to work on myself in ways that I haven’t in the past, travel to some new-to-me places, and exceed all of my professional goals. I am VERY proud of myself for where I went in 2023 and am excited for where I will go in 2024!

XOXO – Katie <3

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The Life of Katie – November 2023

November 2023 started off with a bang and pretty much ended with a bang. Overall, I felt as if I was in a big ol’ race car ALL month LONG. I started the month off with courses for my first-ever certification through work and my November class for my Ignite Young Professionals Program and a big company party and presenting at a demo alongside a trip to Boston, Massachusetts in the mix of it ALL. The middle of November was filled with balancing burnout while feeling EXTREMELY excited to have not one but TWO visits from two of my besties – Shivani and Lindsay – back-to-back with some sightseeing around the Washington, DC area and a Friendsgiving. And, the end of November was super fun and gratitude-filled with Thanksgiving weekend given the actual day and Black Friday/Cyber Monday shopping fun and a hike to see … SWANS (!!!!!). Well, sadly, there was a bit of drama during the month of November (more on that below!), as I decided that I needed to end a friendship with someone that I had hoped would be a friend for a much longer time. *EVEN* into December 2023, I feel as if I’m still riding on that race car, but the BEST PART?!?! I am enjoying EVERY second of the ride!

Highs:

  • The first weekend of November, I traveled to Boston (here) for the weekend! My cousin Sabrina and her girlfriend Nicole have been living in Boston for YEARS now, YET I hadn’t made the time to visit them both until now. I was lucky enough to be able to stay with Sabrina and Nicole in their guest room, and I LOVED catching up with them both while in Boston. I also got to connect with my blogger friends Griffin, Timmy, and Mikayla AND *even* ran into my friend Joelle in Boston’s Beacon Hill neighborhood on a whim while exploring. The next day, Sabrina and Nicole showed me around their old stomping grounds (courtesy of Boston’s subway system the T!) at Northeastern University and we spent most of the afternoon at the absolutely incredible Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Nevertheless, I truly appreciate Sabrina and Nicole and their sweet kitty Salem opening their home up to me to come and visit them and explore Boston with them.
  • My company had a super fun $1B booking party right before Veterans Day weekend. It was A LOT of fun to see SOOO many of my incredible coworkers in-person and to connect with them beyond the computer screen. A week earlier, my company had a Technology Showcase which I had a BLAST attending and sharing more about the Women in Data Community of Practice (COP) that I lead. I truly love my company, too, and feel oh so blessed to be able to say that!!! I love getting to connect with my coworkers and truly “work the room” as my coworkers say that I do!
  • Early this November 2023, I decked the halls (!!!!!). I LOVE LOVE LOVE Christmas, as it brings me SO MUCH JOY. SO, I always deck the halls around Veterans Day weekend each year. I truly love having a good two months to enjoy the stunning Christmas decorations. There is just something *SO* special and unique about having the Christmas tree lit up and allll decked out as I’m simply enjoying an evening in or just anytime of day for that matter, especially as the evenings are getting darker much much much earlier. I also visited the Lucketts Holiday House (here) over Veterans Day weekend which was a GREAT way to get in the Christmas cheer! More to come in a future blog post!
  • My best friend Shivani visited during the week before Thanksgiving, as she had a few job interviews in the Washington, DC area. It was SO NICE to get some much-needed time with Shivani, too. We did one night on the town at The Wharf where we dined *yet again* at Del Mar (which wasn’t as great the second time around to be honest) and another night on the town at Old Town Alexandria where we had an AMAZING time dining at Ada’s on the River. We also strolled through some of the many shops on King Street, including Lou Lou and The Lucky Knot, and then got ice cream at Kilwins. Shivani and I also spent lots of time enjoying wine, a few home-cooked meals, freshly put up Christmas decorations, and one another’s company. Shivani is truly such a blessing in my life and I am SO glad that I got to spend some time with her!

Old Town Alexandria

The Wharf

  • *JUST* a day after Shivani left for home …. My fellow influencer best friend Lindsay of @sunshineandstairclimbs on Instagram (go follow her!!!) came to town for the weekend. Lindsay and I had an incredible weekend which I wrote about more here. Some of our activities included: hosting Friendsgiving at my apartment, visiting Urban Roast and the Downtown Holiday Market, and dining at Old Ebbitt Grill. Needless to say, it was the PERFECT weekend to kick off the holiday season! And, just like Shivani, I am so thankful for Lindsay’s and I’s friendship and for time with her.
  • To honor the many Navy Veterans in my family, my Mom and Uncle and I hosted family Veterans’ Day tailgate. What was REALLY special about this year’s Veterans’ Day is that it happened to be on a Saturday and the day of the Navy-University of Alabama Birmingham game in Annapolis. SO, we turned on the TV to watch the game, grabbed some beer, wine, and snacks, and enjoyed the game as a family. I really enjoyed getting to catch up with my Aunts, Uncles, and cousins and truly honor the many Veterans in our family.
  • On the *very* last day of November, I got influenced to make a purchase on … LinkedIn! I NEVER thought I would say that I made a purchase thanks to a professional website, but here we are – LOL! Instagram and Shop.LTK is usually where I get the most inspiration for purchases, especially from what others share and things that I may be interested in as a consumer. HOWEVER, I have failed to mention my daily online walk through of the J Crew Factory clearance section, too! At the same time, I am working on cutting back on purchases and dining out to better plan for the future financially and focus more on experiences and time with loved ones. BUT, this LinkedIn purchase was an exciting one, as it’s from an organization selling Women in Data merchandise (!!!!) that supports the career advancement of women in data, which is VERY relevant to my 9-5!
  • My Thanksgiving weekend was definitely a special one! I took Wednesday-Friday off of work the week of Thanksgiving to enjoy much-needed time with family and friends. For Thanksgiving, my family and I enjoyed a cozy and fancy dinner at my Mom’s house. It was super nice to be altogether enjoying a delicious meal and time with each other. That Friday night, my best friend Haley and I strolled briefly around the gorgeous charming town of Occoquan, Virginia which is currently gorgeously decked out for the holidays (!!!!) and then enjoyed a nice early dinner at The Secret Garden Cafe. That Saturday morning, my Mom and Step Dad took the family on a gorgeous hike at Virginia’s Mason Neck State Park where we went to a scenic overlook to see … tundra swans that migrate from Alaska and Canada to Northern Virginia of ALL places during the winter months. We, then, checked out a gorgeous place called The Point in Mason Neck, Virginia which has a gorgeous field and beach. That Sunday evening, I winded down from the weekend’s food and festivities by watching the premiere of A Biltmore Christmas on the Hallmark channel! All in all, a GREAT weekend filled with LOTS of gratitude.

Thanksgiving Dinner

Occoquan

Mason Neck State Park

Lows:

  • Into adulthood, i have *really* despised the seasonal daylight savings time changes. I seriously hate how daylight savings throws off my sleep schedule and leaves me just feeling so so so off, especially when the first week of it I have had a super busy work schedule. The first week of the new daylight savings transition, i have woken up at 7am, 6am, 8am, 9am, and just about every time in between. And, let’s just say that it is a struggle and an adjustment that as I age I realize is a downside of the working world.
  • Speaking of daylight savings time changes, sunsets right after work is THE WORST when working a 9-5 job. It definitely feels sad to end work and not enjoy *any* glimpse of sunshine *sad face!*. However much this is a low of mine for November, I am LOVING turning the lights on my Christmas tree to brighten up the days *just* a bit into the darkness of the outdoors once I end the work day.
  • Most of November has oddly been a busier than usual month on the work front, despite it being a slow season this time of year. While I LOVE being busy and thrive off of the hustle, it definitely has gotten more overwhelming at times alongside the current holiday season that makes things busier than usual. Demands can be tough during the holidays and I think that it’s important that all of us acknowledge that, as it is more challenging to take a step back during this time of year (myself included!).
  • Post-Holiday fatigue started to hit me towards the end of November. After having two of my very best friends over at my apartment back to back over the span of 8 days and then the Thanksgiving holiday right after that, it was easy for me to feel nothing but … TIRED. While I have LOVED the time together with everyone and the joy it all brings me both sightseeing and spending time with loved ones, it can be tiring after awhile. I am glad that the last week of November I pretty much only said yes to visiting with my friend Violet who was in town on a whim one weeknight evening after work.
  • To end November, I ended up bowing out of a friendship. I did not want to end the friendship, however, I knew that this friendship was causing me more distress than joy in the end. Thankfully, with the help of some of my AMAZING friends, I was able to articulate a way to end the friendship and move forward in my life with closure. While a stressful situation for me (and some of my other friends too sadly), I am extremely grateful, thankful, and blessed (in the spirit of Thanksgiving and November!) for the friendships and family that I do have in my life and for their support through this tricky situation.

Still being on the race car ride of what is known as THE holiday season, I am definitely enjoying every minute of it ALL into December 2023! From LOTS of professional development to a great trip to Boston to hosting others both for an evening or for a few days to shopping sales to the debut of the holiday season for 2023 to everything in between, I have truly felt thankful for all that November 2023 has blessed me with and for what I will be blessed with into December 2023 and into 2024 and beyond.

XOXO – Katie <3

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The Life of Katie – October 2023

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

Highs:

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

DAR Library

Old Town Alexandria

Occoquan Historic District

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

Shenandoah National Park

Warrenton

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

Causes & Cocktails

Achieving After-School Celebration

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

Trunk or Treat

Ada’s on the River

Captain’s Row

Lows:

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

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

XOXO – Katie <3

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The Life of Katie – September 2023

September 2023 started off with a bang and ended with the need to get a new laptop (more on that to come!). The month of September is also a very unique one in that it begins with summer and ends with autumn. The changes in seasons, this year for me, was both exciting but also a bit sad as I was super lucky to have had an amazing summer 2023. This September, I decorated for Fall, which has brought me SO MUCH JOY and has since made may say that I am super excited for what is to come this Fall season, too.

As I was writing this blog post, I ran into *none other than* a WordPress bug – UGH! I have to say that I am SO happy that WordPress has worked with me and been great in letting me know about the bug. I am also relieved that I was able to get some guidance on sharing content to avoid this bug moving forward alongside the fact that it wasn’t an error on my end – PHEW! Needless to say, I am frustrated that it took a while for me to publish all of my blog content, but am REALLY excited to be able to finally share some more fun things here *even* if it’s a bit later than usual.

Highs:

  • To kick off the month of September, I spent most of Labor Day Weekend with my Dad, Step Mom, and my “sissy” their Yorkie Ginger at their home base in Bethany Beach, Delaware. Delaware is definitely my happy place, especially during the warmer months. And, I am SO glad I got to spend some quality time with my Dad, Step Mom, and *of course* Ginger. Dad and I took a day to explore and do some family genealogy research in the charming Lewes, Delaware. We, then, went out for dinner near Ocean City, Maryland and of course a night on the Bethany Beach boardwalk. BUT, last but not least, we enjoyed a beach day, too!

Lewis, Delaware

Dinner, Beach Mornings, & Ginger Snuggles

  • The September 2023 Lilly Pulitzer Sunshine Sale was on September 12-14 online! If you know me, then you know that this is one of the few times each year that I simply stock up on *none other than* my favorite fashion brand Lilly Pulitzer (!!!!). I ended up shopping the Lilly Pulitzer Sunshine Sale in-person over the weekend prior to it launching online at the Old Town Alexandria’s King Street location. The ladies at the King Street location are SO KIND and made the shopping process such an enjoying experience. I, then, headed over to Current Boutique – a consignment store also on King Street where the ladies there are ALSO so sweet – where I grabbed another gorgeous Lilly Pulitzer dress before shopping the sale online 3 days later. The online Sunshine Sale was SUCH A JOY to shop – I somehow got into the sale (along with many others in my network) WITHOUT any wait which is a rarity given that there is always a virtual queue to it AND found so many incredible pieces on each day. Needless to say, despite feeling so tired from allergies at the same time, I felt so much bright and happy feels when I shopped the Sunshine Sale!
  • The first weekend of September, Papa went off to Wisconsin for a family reunion, SO me and my dog Rosie had the house ALLL to ourselves for the weekend. I had a REALLY nice time getting to give Rosie ALLL the extra attention and get that special one-on-one time with my sweet dog. That Friday night, my best friend Haley and I went out to dinner at Jackson’s Mighty Fine Food & Lucky Lounge which was magnificent and just what both of us needed. That Saturday, I went to Old Town Alexandria to shop Lilly Pulitzer’s Sunshine Sale and then spritz at Hanks Oyster Bar to wait out the storms. And then, that Sunday, I went to the gorgeous Occoquan, Virginia’s Historic District where I had a delicious (AND CHEAP!!!) brunch at The Secret Garden Cafe. To end the weekend, I went to *none other than* Trader Joe’s for groceries and then meal prepped (here). Rosie and I LOVED our time together, even though I went out quite a bit locally.

Restaurant/Cafe Visits!

Visit to Occoquan, Virginia

  • Over the summer, I got accepted into the Leadership Center for Excellence’s Ignite Young Professionals Class of 2024 cohort (here). As apart of the Ignite Young Professionals Program, I will get to network with peers all across different industries in the Northern Virginia region, learn and grow as a leader, and engage with a local Arlington, Virginia-based nonprofit. Towards the end of the month, the Leadership Center for Excellence hosted a Homecoming 2023 reception where new members of their incoming Classes of 2024 and alumna could connect and network with one another. There, I got to meet 3 other members of my cohort, which was REALLY exciting to me (!!!). I am SO excited to be able to be apart of the incredible network of people who all have a passion to lead with purpose via the Leadership Center for Excellence.
  • WELL, *just in case* you didn’t hear, Barbie the movie is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video (!!!!). I saw Barbie in theatres with my best friend Sarah at the end of July and was SO excited when I saw that it was streaming so so so soon. SO, in typical Katie fashion, I bought Barbie on Prime Video and have been watching it on REPEAT ever since!
  • My friends from high school, Haley and Violet, and I got brunch together at a popular local-to-us brunch spot called Chloez Cafe. Violet is currently living in Philadelphia and doesn’t come home as often as she used to, so Haley and I LOVED the opportunity to catch up with her! Over coffee and Apple Cider Mimosas, Haley, Violet, and I enjoyed catching up and connecting. Such a perfect way to spend a rainy Sunday!
  • One of Papa’s and I’s FAVORITE pumpkin patches/garden centers is Nall’s Produce. A Northern Virginia staple for decades, Nall’s Produce sells everything from locally-sourced plants to gardening things to produce to seasonal goods which *of course* includes pumpkins (!!!!). There are also chickens and a resident pig named Penny. Another cute staple that Nall’s Produce has is a community library. Every Fall, Nall’s Produce has a gorgeous and *very* Instagrammable pumpkin wall and a pumpkin hill (which opened a week after Papa and I went!). I got my annual photos in front of Nall’s Produce’s pumpkin wall AND I plan to come back for the pumpkin hill, too! Papa regularly goes to Nall’s Produce to get produce and gardening things and I LOVE tagging along on occasion, as it’s a fun (and always Instagrammable!) outing. Later on in the month of September, we stopped by Burke Nursery & Garden Centre where I grabbed my favorite Fall treat: Apple Cider Donuts!
  • Earlier on a September Sunday, I had a major major major gut feeling telling me to go to Trader Joe’s to get groceries. As tired as I felt in the moment, I got in the car and hopped on over to Trader Joe’s. And, well, I am SO SO SO glad that I went! I felt SOOO much joy when I shopped in-person at Trader Joe’s and admired ALLLL the goodies laid out in front of me. On that first run, I grabbed what I needed for the week alongside a few candles and some wine and spent a bit under my weekly grocery budget (win, win!) and then headed home to meal prep. I made a salmon salad the first week and the second I made *yet another* salmon salad and then some baked ziti. My Trader Joe’s weekly runs have brought me SO MUCH JOY and have allowed me to add structure, stay within budget, and practice mindfulness. I share more about my meal prep journey here!
  • I took a day trip to Winchester, Virginia to visit my college friend Carlin who happens to be getting her Masters at Shenandoah University. Carlin gave me a tour of her gorgeous campus and then we headed to downtown Winchester to enjoy some lunch, shopping, and simply catching up. I had never been to Winchester before yet have ALWAYS wanted to go and am glad I *finally* got the chance to! More on my time in Winchester to come in a future blog post!
  • My best friend Amanda came to visit me towards the end of the month to go see *none other than* the Jonas Brothers at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. Currently, Amanda is student teaching near her hometown in New Jersey, and I am SO SO SO proud of her and all of her hard work. I LOVED getting to catch up with Amanda and see one of our favorite boy bands (!!!!). Before the concert, we went to one of my favorite pop-up bars – Urban Roast – for Fall vibes pre-concert. And, then, off to the concert where we heard some of our favorite songs and relived our childhood dreams. After the concert while searching for the nearest Metro station, we ended up connecting with the super sweet Elizabeth and posed with her Joe Jonas pop-up which was SO fun. I hope to meet up with Elizabeth again soon, too! And, on Metro, we ended up running into some of my high school classmates who are a few years older than me, which was so fun as well! I had such a GREAT weekend spending time with Amanda and catching up with others.
  • In the midst of all of my laptop troubles, I took a debrief and visited one of my favorite local Washington, DC area cafes: Commonwealth Joe Coffee Roasters. Commonwealth Joe does an INCREDIBLE job with their curated coffees (both seasonal and regular menu staples!) and their atmosphere which changes with the seasons. I went back in April for their cherry blossom-themed decorations for Spring (here) and plan to share more on it in my Fall 2023 DC Dining blog post.
  • September 2023 was *none other than* a fun-filled professional development month! Right after Labor Day Weekend, I attended an in-person Generative AI workshop at my company’s headquarters in September (which BLEW ME AWAY!!!!) where I left on such a high. And, about 10 days later, I tuned into Women in Data Science International’s (WIDS) virtual summit which was AMAZING to listen into and take notes on while working from home. Lastly, I listened to a webinar by the National Institute for Statistical Sciences on professionals societies. All in all, professional development truly fills my cup and allows me to ignite passions into my own work on a daily basis.

Lows:

  • For a good chunk of the month, I felt *extremely* tired. My extreme fatigue was bothering me SOOOOO MUCH that I thought and feared that it could be, perhaps, something more. Yet, to my surprise, it ended up that since I switched to pumpkin-flavored K-Cups because ITS FALL Y’ALL (!!!!!), I ended up drinking my usual larger size of coffee which had A LOT less caffeine in it. And, thus, I was super tired as a result of LESS-than-usual caffeine in my system. Kind of funny in the scheme of things and such a relief. PHEW!
  • While shaving my legs, I accidentally cut myself REALLY BAD. This is a rarity for me, yet the side effects have been awful and extremely painful. However, it made me realize the importance of taking it easy from time to time.
  • Unfortunately, my anxiety has been high during the month of September. I have definitely become *more than* a bit of a homebody during the pandemic and it hasn’t worn off on me ever since. And, with the start of the Back to School season and the essentially corresponding Back to Work season filled with networking and happy hours, I have definitely felt more anxious getting back into the swing of things. Although I am SO excited for the upcoming events in work and in my personal life, I am also more anxious about getting out more.
  • Earlier in September, I felt REALLY sad that Summer was coming to an end. Summer 2023, as I’ve mentioned before on this platform, was one of THE BEST Summers in a few years for me. So many blessings came to fruition this Summer, including: reaching a big milestone at work, visiting a new-to-me state, attending many happy hours, going to the Delaware beaches not one not two but 3 times, and going on a weeklong trip to South Carolina with my best college friends. As September hit and I saw several Fall-related posts on my social media feeds, I felt nothing but sad. It took me a few weeks to get into the groove and feel rather excited as opposed to sad at the change of seasons.
  • The *very* last day of the month, I spilled water on my personal laptop. I had a fun day planned, but had to postpone to scramble to try and get a diagnostic report for my laptop as to whether or not I need a replacement. Sadly, the best I could do is get an appointment next week, given my schedule. I was REALLY bummed as I had to postpone some fun Fall things, including dinner in Old Town Alexandria. But, good things come to those who wait!

Here’s to an exciting Fall season to come beyond September 2023!

XOXO – Katie <3

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The Life of Katie – August 2023

August truly sipped away like a bottle of wine *cues Taylor Swift*. It may be September as I write this, YET August by Taylor Swift is still playing on repeat! This year was the year that I think I realized how special of a gem of a month August is. I used to resent summer months and think that August was the rather “boring” month of them all, given the fact that there’s no Federal Holiday. However, as an adult with no going back to school anymore for the time being, I am savoring ALL of the special and slower August months. August truly is a gem and has since become one of my favorite months of the year.

August 2023 taught me to appreciate the smaller and simpler things in life (as a cheesy as it may sound!). I regularly get caught up in the more elaborate moments in life, but there is always something so great about true simplicity and simply being in the moment. I think getting sick a few times throughout the month helped me to really wind down, too (a blessing in disguise). One of my biggest goals established in August is to be more present and in the moment and strive to be more mindful, which I thank an EXCELLENT talk at my company for helping with this. Practicing mindfulness has allowed me to achieve this goal of living in the moment, as opposed to running to what is next – something that is SO easy for us all to get caught up in. Overall, August has brought me so much joy and I’m already ready for August 2024.

Highs:

  • To kick off the first weekend of August, I went for an afternoon to one of my favorite places in the Washington, DC area: Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. I checked out some shops on King Street, including Penny Post, Lilly Pulitzer, Current Boutique, and Shop Made in VA. Being a local stationary business, Penny Post had a celebration the day I went for National Stationary Day, SO I was happily able to snag a The Rifle Paper Company 2024 wall calendar: something that I use daily! I also enjoyed a nice solo brunch at The Majestic – a restaurant with a *magical and retro* interior on King Street that I’ve been wanting to try for awhile now. I tried their seasonal sangria, which happened to be made with strawberry and mint and was delicious, along with a fennel sausage and spinach and feta omelette and a side of potatoes which were all AMAZING. I, then, came back to Old Town Alexandria a few weeks later for drinks and pasta at the gorgeous Virginia’s Darling on Washington Street (here) and managed to take a mini stroll around town. I would’ve walked around Old Town Alexandria a bit more, but it had been SO HOT out this August, so it’ll have to wait until next time!
  • My best friend Shivani came to visit early on in the month and we met up on a Tuesday evening for dinner and drinks at The Wharf. I rarely visit The Wharf in Washington, DC let alone in the summer time, BUT I will be back! We went for dinner at Del Mar – an upscale Spanish restaurant right on the waterfront. Since we were celebrating Shivani graduating her Masters and my professional development achievements, the restaurant staff was SO SWEET and treated us to a starter, champagne, dessert, and a dessert wine. I also ordered my go-to summer drink – a Aperol spritz – and some octopus for dinner. Not to mention, the atmosphere within Del Mar is so beautifully done! Shivani and I will most definitely be back. And, after our glorious celebratory meal, we hung out a bit during what happened to be golden hour at The Wharf alongside the marinas and waterfront. It was STUNNING to say the least. I WILL be back to The Wharf *very soon*!
  • August is the month that I am *FINALLY* watching Sweet Magnolia’s Season 3, finishing up Sex and the City‘s reboot And Just Like That Season 2, and starting to watch my late grandmother’s favorite show Ugly Betty. July was definitely a the month where I re-watched A TON of Grey’s Anatomy and started Suits and August was a new season month for me! I have really enjoyed And Just Like That, as it gives me ALLL the feels (if you know, you know!). I have LOVED watching the characters from Sex and the City grow and develop into who they are meant to be. As someone who really wants to become a Mom someday, a highlight for me is watching Charlotte and Harry raise their two children into their teenage years. Needless to say, I am MOST DEFINITELY a Charlotte (!!!!) and proud of it. As a matter of fact, my Mom said that I am the most Charlotte-like human she knows – such a compliment if you ask me! On the same token, I have also LOVED watching Ugly Betty, as it is such a cute show. It’s fun to watch America Ferrara play Betty ~18 years before she takes the stage as Gloria in Barbie. Through it all, August has been such a fun binge-watching month!
  • It’s *officially* Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL) season (!!!!). Starbucks released their PSL’s for the Fall 2023 season on August 24, and, I got up bright and early and headed to Starbucks to commemorate the day. I am SO SO SO excited for this upcoming Fall season, as it is getting closer and closer and closer to beginning to Fall like it, too. As I headed off to Starbucks for my PSL, the weather felt crisp and a bit like Fall aka LITERAL PERFECTION.
  • I attended my *first-ever* book club meeting to kick off the month of August. My friend Marielle who I met through my best friend Bree set up the book club (which Bree is apart of, too!) and it has been SUCH A BLAST. We have virtual meetings, even though most of us are Washington, DC area-based and it has been really fun to bond with everyone beyond our meetings as well (which some of us hope to do in-person, too!). Going into September, I am enjoying reading Summer Darlings by Brooke Lea Foster for Book Club, which takes place in gorgeous Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. I have ALWAYS wanted to visit Martha’s Vineyard and am hoping to next year! In the meantime, I look forward to further connecting with my fellow Book Club members.
  • The second weekend of August, I visited my influencer best friend Lindsay in Indianapolis and a night in Chicago. On this trip, I crossed off a brand-new state off of my bucket list: Indiana (I’d LOVE to visit all 50 states in my lifetime). In Indianapolis, Lindsay showed me around her town, including The Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers in Carmel (here), Broad Ripple Village, downtown Indianapolis, and the Indianapolis Zoo. While in Chicago, Lindsay and I went to the Malibu Barbie Pop-Up Cafe, walked around the downtown river walk at night time, dined at The Hampton Social and the Ralph Lauren RL Restaurant, and visited the Starbucks Reserve Roastery aka the world’s largest Starbucks. I LOVED Indianapolis and Chicago. Both cities were incredible and I always love time with Lindsay, as I am SO blessed to call her one of my best friends.
  • The weekend after I got back from visiting Lindsay in Indianapolis and Chicago was a special one. On Saturday, I met up with my best friend Stephanie and her Mom and adorable toy poodle Teddy with Papa and my dog Rosie at the gorgeous Blue Valley Vineyard and Winery in Delaplane, Virginia. We enjoyed wine flights, charcuterie, and time together. Stephanie and her Mom recently went on some fun summer trips both near and far, so it was fun to hear about their adventures! Blue Valley Vineyard and Winery is a Greek family-owned winery that has been awarded several Virginia-based awards over the years and also is a wedding venue. With its location on the top of a mountain practically, an array of STUNNING mountain views and skylines circle all guests at every turn. It was truly a treat to visit Blue Valley Vineyard and Winery! And, as for Sunday of that weekend, my high school best friend Haley and I got lunch at Uncle Julio’s in Woodbridge, Virginia’s adorable Stonebridge Potomac Town Center. It was SO nice to catch up with Haley who had also gone to the Midwest recently after both of our trips there. Afterwards, I went to the adjacent Wegman’s for some grocery shopping for the week (which to me is ALWAYS a treat!).
  • My Big Sis from college and best friend Stephanie and I checked out a new-to-us Italian restaurant called Bellissimo located in Old Town Fairfax, Virginia for Washington, DC Restaurant Week which took place the last week of August. The interior of Bellissimo is tiny yet spacious and elegant. Paintings of different notable Italian cities – Venice and Florence of the likes – lined the restaurant walls. The food was delicious, too! Bellissimo’s Restaurant Week menu included 3 courses (starter, entree, and dessert) with a glass of wine add-on for $10 which we both *of course* did via a limited-edition menu. The food was DELICIOUS and the staff and owner were super kind and excited to have all their guests there. I was really proud of myself for navigating the drive and tight parking there (as city-like driving such as in Old Town Fairfax) is not my preference at ALL and is rather very nerve-wracking for me. And, when Stephanie and I left Bellissimo, we were presented with a gorgeous sunset as the *perfect* way to wrap up a *perfect* night.
  • I closed out August by getting a brand-new hair do via some much-needed pampering at the hair salon! Hair appointments are EXPENSIVE especially when you color your hair too, y’all. However, I see it as such a great treat yourself moment for myself and to simply take part of an afternoon off for me and to get away from work for a bit. I am not someone who regularly gets her nails done or goes to the spa or gets facials (however, I do want to get massages on a semi-regular basis at some point in the near-term future!), so I am willing to spend a bit more on my hair about 3-4 times a year as an investment in myself. I cut off INCHES of my hair this time around and am feeling much more confident going into September and this upcoming Fall season. Afterwards, I got *none other than* Starbucks’s new Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte for the road and headed off to my Dad’s house in Bethany Beach, Delaware to commemorate the final weekend of summer where I experienced a beautiful sunset and gorgeous full moon on the way there.

Lows:

  • In early August, we had inclement weather via some severe storms. I initially took off the first Monday of the month to enjoy the day in Washington, DC as my best friend Shivani was coming to visit. However, due to the incoming storms, Shivani’s flight got extremely delayed and we had to cancel our Monday plans. Since I live on a 30 minute+ Metro ride into downtown Washington, DC, I decided to not go into the city and, thus, I made the decision to clock in some hours at work instead. Although disappointing, I am glad I was able to catch up on some work and and stay safe (and see her the next day after work!).
  • Our next door neighbors that Papa and I became close with moved to Ohio in early August. A highlight of the warmer months this Spring/Summer season was enjoying bonfires and cookouts with them in the afternoons/evenings after work. Argh – I miss talking to them on a regular basis while typing this! Our neighbor Angela became super close and LOVED Rosie, too. Papa and I miss Angela and her husband SO MUCH and we know that we are excited to visit them sometime soon!
  • I unfortunately got a sinus infection right after my trip to Indianapolis and Chicago. It left me under the weather for a few days after the trip and into the next week. It left me only able to go out of the house for a few hours each day before feeling the major need to crash and put on my pajamas. NOT FUN! Sadly, I had to miss seeing Moulin Rouge at The Kennedy Center due to this infection, miss a work desserts social with my team, and reschedule a weekend with my bestie Lorena – sad sad sad 🙁

Summer 2023 was a GREAT one! I have made so many specials memories across 9 different states, celebrated so many monumental occasions for myself and others, spent time with loved one’s both friends and family and pets, and came home with one too many sunburns to commemorate the great times had. August 2023 was the cherry on top of the whipped cream of an ice cream sundae of an AMAZING Summer. After COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021 and a super exhausting yet fun and travel-filled 2022, Summer 2023 was the most refreshing and perfect Summer needed to follow. I will miss Summer 2023, yet I look forward to the up and coming Fall 2023 season and the holidays that follow (!!!).

XOXO – Katie <3

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The Life of Katie – July 2023

July 2023 was a super fun-filled and special month for me. While filled with many high’s, there were also a few low’s. I have achieved some major goals of mine professionally (more to share in a future blog post!), spent LOTS of time with those I love both near and far, and *of course* made tons of memories along the way. As always, I LOVE providing y’all with a snapshot of my month-to-month life in the Washington, DC area and beyond.

Enjoy!!

Highs:

  • To kick off the month of July, my family and I enjoyed fireworks at the nearby Lorton Workhouse Arts Center. We enjoyed a picnic dinner courtesy of Papa and KFC, some wine, and simply chatting with one another. I was also able to network with some of my Mom’s family friends and see my good friends Wyatt and Laurie. Needless to say, I LOVED getting to catch up with some family and friends of mine who happen to be local to me while enjoying a gorgeous fireworks show!
  • The day after the Lorton fireworks show, I went on a super fun half a day trip to gorgeous Annapolis, Maryland (about a hour away from my home base yet still in the Washington, DC area) to visit with my Uncle John, Aunt Frances, and cousins Jack and Laura. We got lunch together and then went out on my Uncle John’s sail boat via a tour along the gorgeous Annapolis Harbor. I learned A LOT about some of the many homes alongside the harbor and the downtown, including the Naval Academy (where my cousin Hugh is currently a Plebe on their sailing team *just* a hundred years later when my Great-Grandfather was a Plebe there in 1923 along with my Grandpa Bub and Great Uncle Charlie to follow as students there, too a few decades after 1923) and a home that was designed based off of George Mason’s Gunston Hall, which I share about my visit there here. My cousin Laura also showed me some super neat video footage of her tour to the top of the scaffolding of the Maryland State Capitol which she got to do as a perk of her job! At the same time, I enjoyed some GREAT family bonding time and learned a lot about sailing, including the races that my Uncle John and other family members/family friends occasionally do on Friday nights. I had such a special time with some of my Annapolis area-based family members, especially with ALL of the excitement leading up to July 4th!
  • The second weekend in July, I spent an evening with my best friend Haley exploring a bit of the gorgeous Washington, DC Dupont Circle neighborhood. I had visited Dupont Circle back in July 2022 as a plus-one for my best friend Bree’s happy hour when she was interning up in the Washington, DC area last summer. Back in July 2022, I LOVED how gorgeous the Dupont Circle neighborhood and *just knew* that I wanted to make a visit back there. We started our evening in Dupont Circle by sitting at the iconic fountain in the center of the actual Dupont Circle to enjoy our picnic dinners and people-watch. Haley and I went as apart of Dupont Circle’s First Friday’s art gallery walk program, where the local businesses open their doors up to the public to view their art galleries. However, we mainly went to the Dupont Circle Hotel to see the gorgeous paintings of the monuments which I saw ALLL over Instagram in my feed! We, then, strolled through the gorgeous neighborhood streets and checked out a few shops. Needless to say, I definitely want to come back to this stunning Washington, DC neighborhood *very soon*.
  • WE GOT THE TICKETS!!!! My friend Lorena and I booked floor tickets to … Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in none other than the fabulous city of Edinburgh, Scotland. I CANNOT wait to watch my favorite singer perform for the second time (first time on the 1989 tour in 2015) in one of my favorite cities that I visited while I studied abroad in college in London (!!!). Lorena and I have been monitoring StubHub like crazy (which I have been doing practically allll month long!) for tickets and then decided to take the plunge and GO! The concert is not until June 2024, so we got plenty of time to plan and brainstorm and save. BUT, I cannot help but get excited and start to read the Rick Steves’ Guidebook on Great Britain in the meantime.
  • I saw not one, but … TWO shows at The Kennedy Center in a whopping 6 DAYS!!! The first show I saw was The Lion King via Disney on Broadway on Tour with my friends, Brianna, Brittany, and their Mom. I, then, saw 1776 on Tour solo the following week. Needless to say, I had an amazing time at both shows (and *of course* wore Lilly Pulitzer dresses to both shows aka my #SummerInLilly moment!!!) and write more in detail about my fun times going to The Kennedy Center (I have another show to see in mid-August solo!) this Summer 2023.
  • Papa, Aunt Amy, and I went to Barca Pier and Wine Bar – a Spanish tapas and wine spot literally on a pier on the Old Town Alexandria waterfront. We had such a special time celebrating Aunt Amy’s Birthday and talking about our upcoming/already done summer travels, too. We have recently really enjoyed dining out in Old Town Alexandria, as it is super gorgeous alongside the waterfront and boasts lots of historic charm. And, two weeks later, I came back to Old Town Alexandria to dine at Vola’s Dockside Grill to network with someone in my professional cohort. I took my content creator and fellow queen of pink bestie Lindsay of @sunshineandstairclimbs on Instagram to Vola’s Dockside Grill when she came to visit me back in March .. we were blown away by the food and service, just as I was in late July! After my networking dinner, I enjoyed walking around and taking in the gorgeous evening atmosphere of Old Town Alexandria’s main street – King Street. I browsed shops, grabbed a strawberry lemonade at Lily’s Chocolate & Coffee, and took in the gorgeous views at Alexandria City Hall.
  • My best friend Sarah and I saw *none other than* the Barbie movie at our local Regal. We both wore our Barbie shirts, got dressed in the cutest Lilly Pulitzer pink Barbie outfits, grabbed some popcorn and water, and we were in for an incredible TREAT. I LOVED every minute of the movie, especially America Ferrera’s character Gloria’s well-known speech and watching Margot Robbie crush it as “stereotypical Barbie”. The best part besides the movie?! Seeing everyone get all dressed up for the Barbie movie!
  • I attended 2 super fun networking events this July – Arlington Cares which was a celebration of volunteerism hosted by the Leadership Center for Excellence within the Arlington, Virginia community and a Nationals game via my company’s employee connect program. Arlington Cares was nothing short of inspiring, as I got to learn about some of the amazing work that people within my local community are doing to serve others and *of course* connect with others regarding volunteer opportunities. I left feeling nothing short of inspired and excited to pay it forward! The Nationals game was such a GREAT way to connect with others within my company, network, and just enjoy the vibes of the ballpark. My company’s Early Career Professionals group connected ahead of the game at The Bullpen in Washington, DC’s Navy Yard for live music and drinks before heading over together to the ballpark. Both before, during, and after the Nats game, I feel so much gratitude for both the people, the culture, and the work that I do within my organization.
  • At the end of the month, I got together with my good friends Anna, Haley, and Sarah for dinner at Maggiano’s. Sarah brought her boyfriend of a few months Louis to dinner, too! It was my first time meeting Louis and I am SO happy that I *finally* got to meet Sarah’s lucky man in-person. Just like Sarah, Louis is extremely kind, caring, and compassionate. At the same time, I really enjoyed getting to catch up with Haley and Anna who are both incredible friends of mine as well. We had a GREAT dinner, chats, and memories made.
  • My high school best guy friend Wyatt and I enjoyed a hang out together in Fairfax, Virginia’s popular and super fun Fairfax Corner. We started by browsing around the shops, including REI, The Nest Egg, and Arhaus along with its super fun murals and outdoor recreational areas for all. We, then, spent a good hour where I felt like royalty shopping at Becky’s Boutique – a woman-owned boutique – where I grabbed some goodies for work and play! The ladies at Becky’s Boutique are beyond kind, caring, and inclusive. They ensure that everyone that walks through their doors has an optimal shopping experience – something I admire. And, last but not least, Wyatt and I had dinner at PF Chang’s before heading back to my place for wine. I’m so grateful that I had some quality time with Wyatt!
  • Lidl finally opened near me in Lorton, Virginia! Lidl is an ultra-affordable grocery store selling quality items at bargain prices. While I don’t shop for groceries in-store as often anymore (I prefer to shop via Instacart!), I did enjoy shopping in-person at Lidl and stocking up on some grocery items. The Lorton Lidl is super nice, welcoming, and well-laid out. For my grocery shopping, I LOVED bringing my Scout Bags Baguette Market tote (my bag’s print is not in stock anymore) with me!
  • And, last but not least, I enjoyed an incredible long family weekend with my Dad’s side of the family in Bethany Beach, Delaware. We went to the beach aka my favorite Tower Beach (where I felt VERY in my Coastal Grandma Era!!), dined out multiple times every time with a spritz in-hand, all snuggled with my sister aka Dad’s Yorkie Ginger, and took a stroll along the Bethany Beach boardwalk. This July weekend was such a highlight for me – it was filled with TONS of laughter, fun, and many memories made. Stay tuned for a Delaware Beaches dining guide!

Lows:

  • With some exciting professional development things on the horizon comes lingering feelings of high stress. Overwhelming is the name of the game. With getting asked to transition into a task lead role coincidentally during one of the busier times of the year (yes, summer is the busy time of the year for my line of work!!!), it has been nothing short of stress. However, I have been practicing self care continuously all month long and have been prioritizing slowly but surely what feels like a laundry list of things to learn and accomplish. Needless to say, through all of the stress, I actually prefer when things are busier and thrive off of it, despite feeling more slammed than usual.
  • Earlier this month, I had to take a half day off of work thanks to none other than a good olde stomach bug taking me out via a frozen pizza. I ended up napping all afternoon… ugh. My friend Lorena called me as I was TAKEN OUT thanks to this stomach bug which is purely to showcase that the struggle is sometimes very very very real and that none of us are EVER alone.
  • I have felt LOTS of stress and other things this past month, due to different things going on that I haven’t shared and plan to keep private. Even with lots of stress, I have enjoyed the hustle and it has kept me going. The main reason I am sharing this is to highlight the importance of self care and the fact that nothing is as perfect as it may seem on the outside. ALL of us have highs and lows in life.

XOXO – Katie <3

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