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The Life of Katie – June 2023

June 2023 was a whirlwind month that started with being super busy and productive to winding down with none other than a spontaneous week-long vacation to the Carolina’s after a long weekend away for Father’s Day with my Dad, Step Mom, and childhood best friend Amanda (who came to visit from New Jersey!) in Bethany Beach, Delaware. Lots of excitement has been happening both on a personal and professional front. On a personal level, I traveled to 5 different states this past month along with a day trip to Barboursville Vineyards (here) in Orange County, Virginia: North Carolina, South Carolina, Delaware, West Virginia, and Washington, DC. Meanwhile, on a professional level, I have been learning A TON within my career discipline and my passion for my work has only increased over this past month. Nonetheless, through it all, June 2023 was a pretty GREAT month!

Due to my rather spontaneous for me end of June 2023 trip, I have been *just a bit* behind on blog posts. Early each month, I post a round-up of ALL the Washington, DC area places that I dine at that previous month (DC Dining) and a monthly Life of Katie round-up as opposed to every week. I also have some travel content from my recent travels (including a Charleston, South Carolina shopping guide!!!!). At the same time, having some time away from writing content on the blog and not posting for much of the past week has allowed me to reset and *even* think more creatively about future content that I want to share (!!!).

The following summer months aka July and August have nothing but summer adventures to come both near and far! Some of my near summer adventures include seeing fireworks locally in the Washington, DC area, time with family and friends, more Washington, DC area dining outings, and a few trips to the theater (whether it be The Kennedy Center OR the local movie theater). My adventures far away include a long weekend away back to Bethany Beach, Delaware to visit my Dad and Step Mom along with my Aunts and cousins who are coming to town for a mini family reunion weekend, a lake weekend in Lake James, North Carolina with Hannah and some of my other college best friends to reunite, and a long weekend flying into Indianapolis, Indiana to visit my fellow influencer bestie Lindsay of @sunshineandstairclimbs who visited me back in March for the Cherry Blossoms and then driving up to Chicago, Illinois for the second leg of our long weekend. I have never been to Indiana and I am SUPER excited to add another state to my list (!!!), as I want to venture out to visit all 50 states (and Puerto Rico!) at some point in my life. As for Chicago, I went there once back in the death of winter and peak of the city’s nickname “the Windy City” and wasn’t able to fully enjoy this incredible city, SO I am really excited to visit again and see it in the light of summer!

Highs:

A weeklong vacation to the Carolina’s! I flew into Raleigh, North Carolina on a Friday morning where I visited with my friends Alanna and Shivani before heading down to Charlotte, North Carolina with Alanna for our friend Bree’s belated Birthday and Graduation Party where we got to meet ALL of Bree’s (and our friend Hannah’s) high school friends as well as a few of Bree’s college friends, too, which was SO MUCH FUN! There, I did my first-ever display of jell-o shots along with a lineup of alcohol. Bree’s high school friends are such incredible people that I am glad I got to meet during my quick 24 hours in Charlotte this time around (I would LOVE to come back to Charlotte for a weekend in the future to explore and catch up with friends there!!). Afterwards, me, Bree, Alanna, and Hannah all headed down to Isle of Palms, South Carolina for some incredible hospitality courtesy of Hannah and her Mom at their home down there. While in Isle of Palms, we stayed at the Wild Dunes community and explored the area A LOT along with a day trip into nearby Charleston and Mount Pleasant (more to come in a future blog post on my incredible time down in South Carolina!). Needless to say, I am uber-grateful for the kindness, hospitality, bonds, and charm of the final week of June 2023.

The CUTEST wine shop – Taylor’s Wine Shop – in Raleigh, North Carolina

Bree’s Grad Party in Charlotte, North Carolina

Flight reads brought to your by Bethany Beach Books

Dining within the Washington, DC area is ALWAYS a high for me each month to month. This June 2023, I dined at some pretty incredible places, including Ada’s On The River in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia; Trattoria Villagio in Clifton, Virginia; and The Bazaar by Jose Andres in Washington, DC. At the same time, I enjoyed many meals (and wine!) at home with my Papa and our neighbors. Many memories were made with both friends and family via my Washington, DC area dining outings as always, too (more to come in a future blog post on DC Dining – June 2023)!

My weekend in Bethany Beach, Delaware was SO special. My childhood best friend Amanda drove to stay with us for the weekend which was SO SO SO nice. Amanda is practically like a sister to me and she truly fits in with my family, which was super sweet, as my Dad and Step Mom and even their Yorkie (my “Sissy”) Ginger joined us for practically everything. Our activities included: beach mornings/afternoons (where we *even* overheard the college-aged male lifeguards in the stand right by us talking about their girlfriends – my Dad called it “lifeguard love stories” – LOL!), dinners and drinks at some incredible Bethany Beach-area restaurants (I plan to write a dining guide soon-ish, too!), parasailing which was AMAZING for the first-time ever with Amanda, shopping on the boardwalk where I bought one wayyyy too many books at Bethany Beach Books and *of course* fudge at the local chain Candy Kitchen, mini golf, ice cream, and climbing a former World War 11 tower that is now free and open to the public and has amazing views, too. We all had such a special weekend together, too, as so so so many memories were made that will last a lifetime.

To kick off summer, just the day before I left for the Carolina’s, Papa and Rosie and I went for a day trip to Harpers Ferry, West Virginia (read more about my experience last summer here). We ended up picking a day to go that was rather rainy and foggy which meant for gorgeous views of the fog amongst the Appalachian Mountains and the rivers that intersect there. I saw an exhibit on Louis and Clark’s expedition that partially took places in Harpers Ferry, grabbed a cup of coffee for $2.50 (aka a steal for living in the Washington, DC area and being addicted to Starbucks to some extent), and took in ALL the views within Harpers Ferry National Park and the town which only has a population of ~250 people. It was a STUNNING and literally perfect day – MORE to come in a future blog post!
I hosted my first-ever summer dinner party!!!! I decked out my deck in *none other than* a flamingo summer theme and had pizza, salad, and charcuterie for 3 of my good friends and dog Rosie who were able to show up and celebrate the kick off of summer with me. We had a BLAST catching up with one another and talking about our summer plans. Each of my friends that showed up had either went to my high school or college, which makes me feel SO beyond lucky that we are able to still remain friends to this very day. ALSO, I LOVE that each of my friends has become friends in a way with some of my other friends – it truly is special!

Work has become nothing short of exciting this past June 2023. Firstly, my work OOTD’s have become a highlight of my day-to-day 9-5 life. In summary, I used to feel a huge lift in my spirits when I wore a cute outfit to school in my high school days and am glad I reinstated wearing cute outfits while working from home and sharing them on my Instagram stories (follow me @_thepinkchickadee) on the daily. Second, my passion for healthcare policy has only grown this past month so much that others on my team have noticed and are wanting to pull my into more policy work. My excitement has grown for my 9-5 world in many different ways, so much so that when I signed off for my out of office week at the end of the month I knew that I would have something to look forward to in July (along with my word OOTD’s which will continue!).
One of my fellow Lilly Pulitzer lover friends Lorena and I met up at Barboursville Vineyards (here) in Barboursville, Virginia near downtown Orange, Virginia. I took a day trip to meet up with Lorena and explore this gorgeous well-known to the area vineyard (it was about 2 hours away from me!) and the drive was GORGEOUS *just* as if I was transported into a STUNNING painting of the rolling hills of Virginia’s countryside. Lorena and I kicked off our day with a 3-course lunch at their delicious on-site restaurant Palladio before exploring the nearby Barboursville Ruins and taking in ALL of the scenic views along the meadow-filled trail there. Last but not least, we went into the winery where I bought some wine bottles as gifts for my parents. Later that night, I made the trek back home to Northern Virginia and enjoyed family time via a cookout with ice cream cake for my Mom’s Birthday. All in all, a GREAT day with many loved one’s all around!
Early June 2023, I got to experience *even more* adventure in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia aka one of my FAVORITE spots in all of the Washington, DC area. This time around, my friend Brittany and I went to paint pottery at a local shop called Paint This (where I painted a cupcake) before parting ways where I got Mexican food and a cocktail and then walked around the streets and explored some of the many shops there. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Old Town Alexandria, Virginia and its beauty SO MUCH that I hope to live near there in the next few years.

Lows:

While in Charlotte, North Carolina, my friends and I sadly ran into some … car issues. Sometimes, I like to joke that it seems that *every single time* I drive down to the Carolina’s, my friends and I run into some car issues. It sucks A LOT especially when it comes to traveling which can be so exciting and fun when there aren’t any. However, on the bright side, everything worked out and we were all safe and healthy through it all.
I had a rough mental week a few weeks back. While I won’t get into the details of what all was occurring during that week, I will say that it involved LOTS of sleeping and couch resting to the Food Network in the background. Needless to say, it is SO important that we all take care of ourselves and listen to our bodies both on a physical and mental level.
When there wasn’t any car issues, there was it felt like LOTS of traffic on the highway. Personally, ever since my car accident back in February, I have had LOTS of anxiety when it comes to driving. And, well, traffic is NOT my favorite thing to drive in, but whose is it?! The traffic on the way to both Delaware (a holiday weekend) and Charlotte (a car wreck which closed down a portion of I-85) took a major toll on me mentally. However, through it all, I am very proud of myself for simply plowing through the stress of all of the summer traffic despite my driving fears.

June 2023 was such a bittersweet month, filled with ever-growing bonds, great hospitality, lots of generosity, and several memories made along the way. Here’s to an even MORE special July 2023!

XOXO – Katie <3

July 6, 2023December 29, 2025

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The Life of Katie – May 2023

From celebrating my Birthday via the kick off of the month in the gorgeous little of town of Edenton, North Carolina to SOOOOO many fun celebratory dinner/brunch and social outings across Washington, DC and Northern Virginia to SOOO many exciting professional development opportunities, May 2023 has been nothing but filled with excitement and surprises. As with any month, there are many highs but of course a few lows, too. May 2023 has been nothing short of a blessing to me. It has historically been a celebratory month for me as May 1 is my Birthday and college/high school graduations along with others Birthday’s are to be, too. I feel beyond blessed to have a GREAT month of May this 2023 year and am looking towards the future for an exciting *and* ultra-busy June-August 2023 (which I have been in the process of planning!!!).

Gratitude has been the BIG word for May 2023. I am beyond blessed to have such incredible friends and family members that I get to spend time with, celebrate with, and go through both the highs and lows with. My friends and family truly are my rocks. I am truly grateful for them, their love, and their support through it all. Thank you all <3

Highs:

I got invited to a private VIP Coronation Party at the Scout Bags Flagship store in Washington, DC’s neighborhood of Georgetown. This was my first time-ever attending an event as an influencer like this. I got to shop for my Mom for Mother’s Day and pick out some cute summer staples for myself for my upcoming travels and adventures, too. At the same time, I met some of the incredible and ultra-sweet staff at Scout Bags, including their social media manager Sarah and the fashion brand’s iconic founder Deb! At the same time, this event gave me *another* opportunity to wear my fascinator which I wore when touring Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky back in March. This event was such a BLAST!!! I brought my best friend Laura with me as my plus one and the store was literal heaven on Earth for her as it is for me, too. Laura and I also got a swag bag and to decorate a custom flower bouquet from Washington, DC’s premier pop-up flower truck – Lily’s Flower Truck! Laura and I went to Clyde’s on M Street in Georgetown nearby afterwards and it was such a great morning/early afternoon out.

Birthday and celebratory dinners/brunches with friends and family. So so so so many memories were made, too. Restaurants include La Chaumiere, Farmers Fishers Bakers, Hometown Grill and Bar, Urban Roast, and Coastal Flats. Over Memorial Day Weekend, I also went to my cousin Benjamin’s college graduation and goodbye party as he moves to Michigan in the next few weeks for his new job. I am beyond proud of Benjamin and all of his accomplishments and REALLY enjoyed getting to catch up with him along with many of my fellow family members there too. Be on the lookout for a DC Dining – May 2023 blog post *very very very* soon!!
Enjoying the magic of Washington, DC in the summer months. Although it is technically still Spring here in the Washington, DC area and according to the calendar, it definitely feels like summer here in the Washington, DC area given the huge increase in humidity here and people out and about including the influx of tourists. Needless to say, I LOVE the magic of Washington, DC coming alive!!!! One of my favorite outings was taking my best friends Haley and Laura to the Glossier storefront in the neighborhood of Georgetown. In the Winter months, I find myself and I know others feel the same the sheer need to hibernate and just stay indoors. BUT, when the weather gets nice out, I want to be in the city and enjoy it, too. That energy from myself and others truly radiates throughout the entire city.

Professional development events, which includes my first-ever two conferences: the Leadership Summit via The Leadership Center for Excellence in Ballston, Arlington, Virginia and Med Tech via The Academy for Radiological & Biomedical Imaging Research in Washington, DC’s Capitol Hill, which I showcase some fun behind it all here. Both conferences taught me SOOOO much and and inspired me on many levels. I felt so much hope for the future and inspiration for where my career can take me. I feel *extremely* grateful to have an incredible employer that supports me in my endeavors, too.
At the end of May, I went into the office for a work Happy Hour that one of my teammates helped put together. The Happy Hour featured a guest that’s one of our company clients and it was SO inspiring to hear from this client of ours. Afterwards, I met my best friend and college “Big Sis” Stephanie for dinner at the nearby Tyson’s Corner Center (mall). We tried the brand-new Persian restaurant MamanJoon (will share more in my May 2023 DC Dining blog post coming soon!!) and the staff were SO sweet and the food was amazing. The Tyson’s Corner Center has a super fun exhibit of artworks done by artists at the Lorton Workhouse Arts Center along with LOTS of fun graffiti demos, modern art displays, and murals both in and outside of the mall. Needless to say, the atmosphere was super great to close out the month of May.

I had a light week towards the end of May, so Papa and I took an evening outing to Nall’s Produce – a local garden and produce center in Alexandria, Virginia. We both bought some locally sourced produce and spent quality time together. One of my favorite parts was simply wondering the aisles and aisles and aisles of the garden center section at Nall’s Produce. Gardens centers are GORGEOUS, y’all!!! Needless to say, Papa and I had an amazing time together there and then went to Chili’s nearby for dinner and beers.

To kick off Memorial Day weekend, Papa and I went out to lunch with his sister and her husband aka my Great Aunt Darlene and Uncle Mike. We checked out a restaurant on the waterfront along the Occoquan River in Occoquan, Virginia. We had a super nice time catching up with Aunt Darlene and Uncle Mike and learned more about their upcoming exciting summer adventures to Europe. I am super blessed to have incredible family members such as Aunt Darlene and Uncle Mike in my life. Afterwards, Papa and I took Rosie on a gorgeous walk at Mason Neck State Park in Virginia that led to a stunning marsh on an inlet of the Potomac River. I unplugged the entire walk with the exception of taking some photos at the marsh on Papa’s phone and it was SO needed!

Lunch with Great Aunt Darlene and Uncle Mike – Occoquan, Virginia

Walk with Papa along Mason Neck State Park – Lorton, Virginia

Papa and I went for a long weekend to Edenton, North Carolina – an ultra-charming North Carolina town – for my 24th Birthday celebration. We brought Rosie our dog with us and had an amazing time. In Edenton, we took Rosie on several walks alongside the Edenton Waterfront Park, rode on the historic Trolley Tour to learn more about Edenton’s history, and dined at spots that local “Edentonians” frequent and love. Read more about my time with Papa and Rosie in Edenton here: https://pinkchickadee.com/2023/05/17/48-hours-in-edenton-north-carolina/
Many evenings in the yard with a glass of wine and sunshine! Rosie hangs out in the front yard for HOURS on HOURS on end in the sunshine during these warm, summer-like months. When I am done with work, I LOVE getting to sit outside, enjoy some sunshine and a glass of wine, and hang out with Rosie and Papa too. Sometimes I’ll go for a walk and bring Rosie, too. There are so many bonding moments that are special for me and Papa and Rosie.

Alongside attending the VIP Coronation party at the Scout Flagship Store, I also attended a Kentucky Derby Party at my Mom’s friend’s house. *Yes*, this Kentucky Derby Party gave me *yet another* opportunity to wear my fascinator which has been a blast (!!!) ever since I toured Churchill Downs. At the Kentucky Derby Party, I got to make my own Mint Julep which I LOVED trying when I was in Louisville, Kentucky and mingle with others in my Mom’s friend’s community. The Washington, DC area is very populated but also very small at the same time. Needless to say, it is always fun to get to know more people in my city while also seeing some familiar faces (and placing bets on which horse will win the 2023 Kentucky Derby!).

Lows:

Burnout, burnout, burnout! The name of the game this May 2023 has been burnout and the physical affects of it. I attended a webinar through Women in Technology coincidentally this May 2023 and I learned how to best identify when burnout starts and how it affects us via the cycle of burnout. That all being said, I realized from that webinar that burnout is one thing that I struggle with and sometimes I simply need to take it easy. One weekend this May 2023, I literally just did nothing except take Rosie for walks and one dinner with a friend. It was super nice just to simply rest and recharge and just sleep. And, sometimes, that is what we truly need.
Two words: awful allergies. My allergies have SUCKED throughout the month of May! Now that it is much nicer out and my dog Rosie wants to hang out outside for the majority of the now-sunny days, I find myself having *none other than* an allergic reaction all day everyday to the grass that Rosie sunbathes on. I have found myself dealing with fatigue and horrible allergy symptoms all month long. However, the memories that I have made with Rosie and will continue to make make it ALL that worth it.
Grocery planning changes have been happening on my front. In the past, I would use Instacart to preorder groceries and simply pick them up curbside or have them be delivered. To many people’s surprise, using Instacart has been much cheaper for me than getting groceries in-store. However, I have realized in recent times that the grocery planning process has been taking a mental toll on me via obsession over the planning process with my cart. Needless to say, I am switching to in-person grocery shopping 1-2 times a week based on what I need rather than through Instacart for the time being.

Looking forward to the future, I have some very exciting plans for June and July 2023! Ranging from beach weekends to summer activities to graduation parties to everything in between, Summer is usually the time that is a BIG travel season for me and many others, too. I have a total of 5 weekends away in the next 8 weeks with opportunities to rest in between it all. I am very excited for what is to come but hoping to protect my soul and self from too much burnout as well. Here’s to an exciting and busy and *of course* fun next 2 months!!

XOXO – Katie <3

June 1, 2023December 29, 2025

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The Life of Katie!

Long time, NO life of Katie! It, indeed, feels like centuries (well, January 25 to be exact) since I last wrote a life of Katie blog post! A lot has happened in my life since January 25, 2023 which is ALMOST 3 months ago both personally and professionally, including: experiencing an evening hit and run by a bus after a dinner with a friend and grocery shopping, taking trips to Raleigh, North Carolina and Carlisle, Pennsylvania and Louisville, Kentucky, having two visits from friends visit me for my second-ever National Cherry Blossom Festival as a Washington, DC area professional, commemorating first-time and 100th+ time reunions with several friends and family members, chopping off my hair into a lob, helping to coordinate an International Women’s Day panel event at my company with others in my company, starting to work in the health market full-time at my company (as opposed to defense and health markets), and continuing to work on myself and grow personally in a multitude of different ways. Needless to say, the life of Katie has been a whirlwind of both highs and lows, yet, through it all, I have become stronger and more self-aware.

***Photos on a day trip to City Center, Washington DC

As always, I view life as an everlasting cycle of one working on themselves. I didn’t view life this way up until within the past year, and I see this newly developed perspective of mine as such a gift. And *of course* as promised, here are some updates into the Life of Katie:

Thrifting – In the past 3 months, I have gone thrifting more than I ever have in the past! While in April I am thrifting less than I did in both February and March and well shopping in general beyond things I need, I did have a blast finding some extraordinary name-brand items that I would have paid hundreds for otherwise. Most items I get at the thrift store I get for under $15! The name brand items I have found since January 25 include a Coach logo handbag, Gretchen Scott dress, Vineyard Vines shorts, Maeve dress, Kate Spade crossbody handbag, Vera Bradley scarf, Lilly Pulitzer mug, Tory Burch blouse, North Carolina (my college state!) hand-painted tin plate, Jack Rogers sandals, Lilly Pulitzer scarf, and Talbots cardigan. I have bought wayyyy too much (hence why I am cutting back on shopping a bit!), but I am really happy with what I have scored and am enjoying what I have now.
Overcoming Trauma – Last Spring and Summer, I had a few *very* strange interactions that made me super uncomfortable from those that it should not have come from. It took me a LONG time to process these interactions as they made me feel scared, traumatized, and overly anxious. I didn’t even want to do things locally as a result of fear of more of these interactions. But, as I worked a lot more on myself, the more I realized that these people who were the source of these interactions were 1/1,000,000+ people in my area and even the world and that there is SO MUCH good around me. I’ve started to focus on the good more and learn more and grow as a person. That self-growth allowed me to both process and overcome this trauma that I had from those uncomfortable interactions and be able to better set limits for myself moving forward.
Old Lady Spring/Summer – I am truly striving to enjoy the sunshine more so this year! On my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!), I shared a bit about how this year Hot Girl Spring/Summer is now Old Lady Spring/Summer!! With Old Lady Spring/Summer, I am home by 8pm every night, enjoying my wine on the back porch, staying at home and binge watching my favorite shows, and breaking out allll the florals and chunky knit cardigans (heat permitting!). My friend a few weeks back asked me if I was wanting to couple up or enjoy Hot Girl Summer, and, well, she inspired me to respond with the fact that I am parttaking in Old Lady Spring/Summer!!
Travel – Since January 25, I have traveled to North Carolina, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and done a few day trips close to home in Virginia and Washington, DC. Needless to say, all this travel both near and far has been such a highlight for me!!! It has been so special to spend time with friends who come to visit me and I come to visit them and to hang with those who live close to me too and aren’t a 4 hour+ car ride or plane ride away. Travel has always been a special thing for me and having those I love be apart of it and the cultural learning and awareness that has come too makes it even more special. I have a few maybe a lot of trips planned for this Summer and even Fall and some in 2024 and I couldn’t be happier to do them with those that I love. I feel extremely blessed to be able to have such incredible friends and family members who hype me up and vice versa. It truly is a gift.
Healthy Lifestyle – Recently, I have started eating healthier. It has been a whirlwind of fear and emotions that have gone into my decision to start diving into a healthier lifestyle, but it has been worth it in the end. Before I made the choice of healthy living, I was always tired and it was making me feel sick and negatively affecting my mental health. I cut out sugar from all of my drinks (including coffee), refuse to eat much sugar, strive to use painkillers a lot less and choose more natural pain relievers, and avoid fried foods more often than not. Needless to say, I feel A LOT better physically and mentally. Feeling better helps us to be our best selves!!

Life has been a whirlwind since my last life of Katie blog post, but everything since then has helped shape me into who I’m meant to become.

XOXO – Katie <3

April 18, 2023December 29, 2025

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How I Spice Up My Weekly Routine

A few months ago, one of my good friends asked me how to make a weekly routine that can be so mundane *just* a little more exciting. To be frankly honest, it took me a while to nail down a weekly routine as it can get pretty boring with the 9-5 work days every Monday-Friday. Ever since I graduated from college, I wanted to find fun things to do with my time when I was not on the job. SO, today, I am going to share a few ways that I spice up my weekly routine!

Post-graduation life can be a tough adjustment. Going into adulthood after living in a college dorm/apartment with all of my best friends just doors/an easy walk away was a challenge for me. I felt spoiled having made plans with those in my social circles all the time to having practically no plans at my fingertips. Even though work can take up a bit of my time during the week even after the typical hours of 9-5 from time to time via happy hours, networking events, and professional development, I think it is vital for every person to have a strong work-life balance. The “life” part of the work-life balance can be pretty tricky to navigate, too, especially during a big life transition from the college world.

At the same time, I don’t have a huge interest in night life like many of my fellow peers and, yes, I am 23 as I write this. I have learned that there is MUCH MORE to life than going to the bar every night (DC area bar life culture is big on this) and repeating after the work day or on the weekends. I do go out a bit on occasion, but I prefer to check out the booming Washington, DC foodie scene than anything. However, on the same token, if bars are your thing, then that is GREAT and you SHOULD go enjoy them when and while you can! Read more on my *lack* of excitement on the subject of nightlife here: https://pinkchickadee.com/2022/10/25/im-23-and-have-no-interest-in-night-life/

The following items are ways that I spice up my weekly routine:

Try a new-to-me local restaurant – As previously mentioned, the Washington, DC area’s foodie scene is growing faster than ever before. There are SO many new-to-me restaurants and cafes galore that I want to try! Sometimes, it’s nice to get out of dining at my usual restaurants/cafes and trying some place that is new to me. Trying a new restaurant ALSO makes for some great content on this platform 🙂
Take a walk – Whether or not I take my dog with me or go somewhere in the neighborhood or farther away, a nice walk is a GREAT way to clear my head after a long day. Especially as it gets warmer outside, I am excited to check out some new trails and visit some local spots that I rarely take the chance to stop by.
Get some coffee – I usually try to go get some coffee at my nearby Starbucks 1-3 times/week. I LOVE the community of baristas at my local Starbucks, as they always put a smile on my face. These Starbucks runs of mine make for excellent work breaks or pick-me-ups after errands.
Shop at a different-than-usual grocery store – Sometimes, all it takes is a visit to a different grocery store. Nearby, I have Safeway, Giant, Food Lion, Wegman’s, Aldi, Lidl, Walmart, Target, Amazon Fresh, and Whole Foods. I LOVE getting to stop by a different grocery store, as I usually place an Instacart order at my local Food Lion (I save A LOT of $$ this way!). At the same time, I always find something so so so magical about wondering the aisles of a grocery store. Even if I have the majority of my grcoeries at home already, it still is fun to check out one of the many grcoery shops near me!
Pick up my prescriptions and check out TJ Maxx/Home Goods – I get my prescriptions at my local Safeway near *none other than* TJ Maxx and Home Goods! SO, I always make sure to check out the TJ Maxx and Home Goods right by that Safeway and make such a mundane outing a lot more fun.
Watch Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy while cooking a new-to-me recipe – Every so often during the week, I listen into Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy. While I tune into some of my favorite weeknight shows, I usually dedicate some time to cooking a recipe that I have yet to try! That way, I can eat well and enjoy shows that I LOVE.
Go thrifting – One of my newest favorite hobbies is …. thrifting! There are A LOT of great thrift stores within a 30 minute drive of my house with several items retailing for under $10 and $15 at the very most. Thrifting is like a treasure hunt, and I find it to be such a blast. More to come on some of my favorite super cheap scores Northern Virginia thrift stores!!!

During the week, it can feel so so so boring once we sign off of work. While it is necessary and healthy and needed to simply have days where we literally do nothing and nothing only, it is also important to find some joy in the mundane. Spicing things up in our ordinary lives simply makes the ordinary … extraordinary!

XOXO – Katie <3

April 2, 2023December 29, 2025

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The Life of Katie!

The remainder of January has been a fun one! On my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!!), I’ve been sharing ALL of my January adventures. And, well, let me say this: 2023 is truly starting off with a BANG!

DC Restaurant Week: This past weekend, I checked out two restaurants as apart of DC Restaurant Week – The Capital Grille and Earls. It was my second-ever DC Restaurant Week as I went to an unlimited brunch buffet at Farmers Fishers Bakers in Georgetown back in January 2022. My memories at DC Restaurant Week this past weekend were such a blessing to me, as I got to enjoy great company, service, and food. I have always been a sucker for aa nice meal out, as it’s time with loved ones and a great meal in utter ambience. Currently, it is Alexandria Restaurant Week until January 29. Papa and I will be checking out a local favorite of ours: Hometown Bar and Grill in Lorton, Virginia.
3 Trips Over 3 Weekends: The first 3 weekends of my 2023 started off with waking up in a different city. The first weekend, I was in Bethany Beach, Delaware for New Years Eve to visit my Dad and Step Mom at their full-time home. Dad and I took a day trip to the drop dead gorgeous Dutch-inspired town of Lewes, Delaware which is known as the “first town in the first state”! The second weekend, I went to the Philadelphia area to visit my best friend Amanda who lives there. We spent a day out in the Pennsylvania countryside in the Bucks County town of New Hope. We also explored her hometown of Haddonfield, New Jersey the next day. And, last but not least, I went to North Carolina the third weekend. I stayed with my best friend Alanna in her new town of residence: Chapel Hill. Alanna and I strolled throughout Chapel Hill and *even* checked out the iconic Carolina Inn! The next day, we ventured off to Raleigh, North Carolina to enjoy a nice lunch with some of our best friends at the Cape Fear Seafood Company (a place I have ALWAYS wanted to try!!) and celebrate my 3 years as a blogger. Overall, I am SO grateful to have been able to travel for the first 3 weekends of 2023, however, I am super exhausted from it all and happy to stay put and close to home for the next month.
Focusing on ME: This 2023, I am striving to focus on ME and only ME. It is sometimes hard when those around me, whether it be close friends or family are in loving relationships and you want that, too. Trust me, one day I do aspire and hope to be in a loving relationship. But, at the same time, I do not want to let my relationship status (or lack thereof) define me today or tomorrow or even next year. I have some very exciting trips, outings around the Washington, DC area, work opportunities, and memories with friends and family to be made this year to focus on. I want to be happy as myself before I ever let someone else into my life. Currently, I am working on learning to LOVE being single (and don’t you, too, my fellow single folks?!) and wrote about it on the blog earlier this month. Read it here: https://pinkchickadee.com/2023/01/11/how-im-learning-to-love-being-single/#/
Spring 2023 Trend Report: When Amanda and I were in New Hope, Pennsylvania at a boutique, the lady working there came up to me after noticing my ALL pink outfit that Barbie pink AND Kelly green are the it colors for Spring 2023! As someone who is a major Lilly Pulitzer lover and a sucker for pink and Kelly green, her remarks made my year. I am SO excited to be able to rock pink and Kelly green this Spring and Summer with it being super trendy (although I am not a big follower of all trends and would rather get behind wearing clothing that I love and not what is considered “in” or “out”) and embracing it!
Two Musicals in 48 Hours: Yes, you heard that right – I saw two musicals in 48 hours this past weekend!!! I feel SO lucky to live in a city like Washington, DC where so many musicals that I LOVE come every so often on tour. A fun fact about me is that I was fortunate enough to study abroad in London, England where just about every night I saw a different show in the city’s iconic West End (aka London’s equivalent of New York City’s Broadway!). Wicked was the first show I saw at The Kennedy Center where many shows come on tour to Washington, DC each year. I saw Wicked *pretty close* to the front row in London and just knew I had to see it on tour in Washington, DC! Wicked was SO well-done just like Hairspray on tour – the second show I saw in 48 hours – at Capital One Hall with my best friends Brianna, Brittany, and their super sweet Mom. Read more about my experience at Wicked here: https://pinkchickadee.com/2023/01/24/i-saw-wicked-at-the-kennedy-center/#/

Here’s to continuing to enjoying February 2023 and beyond!!

XOXO – Katie <3

January 25, 2023December 29, 2025

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The Life of Katie!

New year, same ‘The Life of Katie” blog posts coming your way – LOL! Well, it’s my first blog post of 2023! My new year kicked off with a bang, as my Papa and I went to visit my Dad, Step Mom, brother Will, and their Yorkie Ginger at their home in Bethany Beach, Delaware. We all had a nice dinner (with champagne!) at the gorgeous Shorebreak Lodge in nearby Rehoboth Beach, Delaware and then went to sleep and, well, woke up and it was 2023. I hope y’all had an AMAZING jump into the new year as I’m feeling that it’ll be a good one for me. And, as always, here are some updates into *none other than* the life of Katie!!

My new favorite cocktail – The other day, Papa and I went on our *final* Christmas-y outing of the 2022 season: to National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland. National Harbor is located right across the Woodrow Wilson bridge (the bridge separating Virginia and Maryland via the Potomac River – I think) on the Maryland side with many fun shops, restaurants, the gorgeous and iconic Gaylord Hotel, waterfront views, and the also iconic Capital Wheel aka a ferris wheel. Well, while we were at National Harbor this time around, we went to one of Papa’s favorites: McCormick & Schmidt’s where I got to enjoy an espresso martini! And, let me just say that it has recently become my new favorite cocktail!!! I even ordered one while in Delaware the next day. Here’s to MANY more espresso martinis in 2023!

A day trip to Lewes, Delaware – While on our New Year’s trip to Delaware, Dad and I took a day trip to Lewes, Delaware: the first town in the first state. Lewes is a very gorgeous Dutch-inspired town alongside the Delaware coast. Dad and I walked around the main downtown streets, admired the Dutch-inspiration within the building’s architecture, checked out some shops, and enjoyed a nice lunch at the Hotel Rodney. One of the town’s shops has an old, replica flag of the 13 colonies of the United States – HOW neat is that?! It was super nice to be able to get some quality time with my Dad, and I hope to explore some of the museums that Lewes has to offer on a future Delaware visit.

My first thrifting haul of 2023 – 2023 kicked off with a thrift haul where I *just* practically purchased some new pieces for my Spring 2023 wardrobe. I went to Bee Thrifty, located off of 123/Ox Road in Woodbridge, Virginia – the SAME thrift store that my fellow Instagram bestie Stephanie of @slythestlylist loves, too (we plan to shop here together, too sometime!!). I got some great finds too – pieces came from J Crew, Talbots, Banana Republic, Trina Turk, and Vera Bradley – AND a discount. I also got some home decorations, too. I am striving to shop less in 2023, but have set aside a budget for the Lilly Pulitzer Sunshine Sale (which is *hopefully* very very soon!!) and took it from that.
Taking Rosie to the beach – To end our Delaware New Year’s trip, we went to the Bethany Beach boardwalk. While there, Papa and I just happened to walk in on a New Year’s Day 5K. It was fun, yet chaotic to see, but we made it to the beach after crossing through the 5K finish line *of ALLL things* and survived in one piece. Rosie had A BLAST on the beach, and many memories were made amongst me and Papa and Rosie, too!

Upcoming January 2023 travels and beyond – I have so many exciting travel plans for 2023! As of right now, I am going on two weekend trips in January: one to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Haddonfield, New Jersey to visit my best friend Amanda and another to Raleigh, North Carolina and Chapel Hill, North Carolina to see some of my best college friends. Beyond January, I am planning to see family in New Jersey/Pennsylvania, visit Kentucky with my Mom, and a few other exciting places that I have yet to announce! Stay tuned!!!

Here’s to a GREAT 2023 for us all. May this year be filled with joy and happiness for each and every one of us. 2020, 2021, and 2022 weren’t my favorite years, so I’m hoping and pretty optimistic that 2023 may just be my year. I know that 2023 will not be the year for everyone, but I hope that each of us remembers to see the good in it all. Here’s to making many new memories with loved ones. Happy New Year!!

XOXO – Katie <3

January 3, 2023December 29, 2025

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My Highlights of 2022!

Winter (January-February):

My 2022 started off with a BANG and a HUGE snow storm. I remember waking up bright and early on the first Monday of 2023 to the Lilly Pulitzer Sunshine Sale online and a bunch of snow. Needless to say, I was psyched! Then, just a week later, we celebrated my dog Rosie’s 1 year Gotcha Day with balloons and lots of doggy toys and treats. Rosie was pissed that she had to pose for the camera on a chair – LOL! I celebrated 2 years as a blogger at a gorgeous vineyard (Potomac Point Winery) down in nearby Stafford, Virginia, which I’d love to visit again sometime in the warmer months. As January progressed, I spent much time indoors due to the chilly weather and the still then-prevalent Omicron COVID-19 variant. However, my social life started to excitedly kick in when I met up with my good friends Brittany and Brianna for brunch at Farmers Fishers Bakers at the Georgetown Waterfront in Washington, DC for DC Restaurant Week. And, our friendships began to bloom!!

February was a month ALL about self love. It was PERFECT for Valentine’s Day! Having recently celebrated 6 months in the workforce, I had been able to finally meet up with a friend who I had connected with through my company and we had a blast. My best friend Bree also came to visit for a long weekend and we went to see Louis Tomlinson in concert at The Wharf’s The Anthem, which Bree was in heaven the entire time for! We, then, explored Bree’s old neighborhood in Herndon, Virginia and the gorgeous Reston Town Center in Reston, Virginia. And, we ended the weekend with a day in Washington, DC (mainly the National Mall, though, with food truck hot dogs and ALL!) without a plan. The following weekend, I got to visit Hannah and Alanna down in Raleigh, North Carolina to celebrate Alanna’s 25th Birthday – Lilly Pulitzer-themed!! I got to see our friends Caroline and Jasmine, too. However, the end of February was tough as my brother got into an accident that totaled his car, leaving me to give him the family car that I drove so he could get to school (I work from home), and, thus, putting me on the market for a brand-new car.

Spring (March-May):

My March kicked off with all-things car shopping and the stress that comes with it all. After a stressful few weeks, I found my now-car Daisy on a whim and it was THE BEST decision that I ever made – she is a little white car with safety features aka the only standards I had for my first car! During that time, I went on a fun outing with my friend Brittany to Foggy Bottom in Washington, DC and Pentagon Row in Pentagon City, Virginia and we had a great much-needed time. A week after getting Daisy, we went on our first ever road trip to Charlottesville, Virginia where I got to attend a work conference at the University of Virginia and visit with my Aunt Lisa, Uncle John, cousin Mary, cousin Joey, and cousin Matthew for some special family time. Also, I got to visit the iconic #IfThenSheCan exhibit – honoring Women in STEM at the National Mall twice – once with my best friend Shivani and the other time with my coworkers (Shivani tagged along on that outing too LOL!). The iconic Cherry Blossom Festival also kicked off and Shivani and I spent LOTS of time enjoying ALL that Washington, DC has to offer, including the monuments, Tidal Basin, and the Opening Ceremony at Warner Theatre.

Late Spring 2022 was a fun one! The Cherry Blossom Festival continued, Papa and I visited a local yet new-to-us historic mansion aka Gunston Hall, and I got to see The Bachelor Live at Warner Theatre with a coworker. My best friend Wyatt and I visited the iconic National Gallery of Art during their Spring-themed After Hours Party that’s FREE at the museum on a Thursday evening. My Birthday festivities started soon after a lovely Easter with family, including Georgetown Cupcake, lemon drop martini’s, seeing family friend Amy Wright at Bitty’s & Beau’s on Opening Day in Georgetown, getting flocked (thanks Mom!!!), and lunch with Dad in the gorgeous historic town of Occoquan, Virginia. Soon after the Birthday festivities ended, I road tripped with Daisy down to Raleigh, North Carolina to celebrate my best friend Hannah’s graduation from Meredith College. It was a blast yet bittersweet getting to visit my sweet alma mater one year post-graduation. Afterwards, we had a huge potluck with Hannah’s family and friends AND a pool party. Many more friendships bloomed which led to us all taking a super fun trip to Asheville, North Carolina that August. While late Spring was a tough month on me mentally despite all the excitement, there were so many blessings as mentioned above!

Summer (June-August):

Summer 2022 was a fun one! My best friend Bree started her internship in Ballston, Arlington, Virginia in June and moved to her old neighborhood of Herndon, Virginia for the summer. Bree and I had A TON of summer adventures in the Washington, DC area, including: a rained out Halsey concert, a visit to Washington, DC’s Georgetown neighborhood, a stroll through the National Mall at night on a rainy and foggy Friday, a day trip to Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, and a walk through Old Town Alexandria. We had A BLAST!!! My best friend Amanda also came to visit me from New Jersey and we tried a mega bucket list restaurant item for me – The Hamilton – and it was GREAT. I took Bree and Amanda both to The Winery at Bull Run aka my favorite vineyard. Bree and I also visited my Dad and Step Mom at their home in Bethany Beach, Delaware and it was an epic adventure. On the same token, we also went to Charlotte, North Carolina to visit our best friends Allison, Alanna, Hannah, Sarah, and Drew for a Big Time Rush concert. As we were heading back, we sadly got stranded for 5 hours at a North Carolina gas station due to an accident which I had sadly gotten in a few days before heading to work via being rear-ended just minutes away from my office. At the same time, I got to attend a super-fun work function at a Washington Nationals game and meet many other coworkers that I hadn’t been able to meet due to the virtual work environment. I also got to meet some of Bree’s coworkers as her Plus One to a work happy hour event in the gorgeous Washington, DC Dupont Circle neighborhood. So much whirlwind of adventures – haha!

In August, I got to take my first-ever week off from my 9-5 job to hit the road with my Papa and dog Rosie for Maine. We had the BEST time!!! We stopped in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, saw the Portland Head Light, visited my family reunion favorite stop of East Grand Lake, took a day trip to Canada, and drove up the top of Cadillac Mountain at Acadia National Park. My vacation was much-needed and a few days later I set off for North Carolina to celebrate my best friend Kearra’s Birthday. Me, Aspen, Hannah, Alanna, Rachel, and Kearra and I all had an amazing time together as we saw The Biltmore, made candles, enjoyed gorgeous mountain views, and explored The Biltmore Village. Asheville has been on my bucket list for YEARS, too!! However, as we were driving home from Asheville, I got the call that my grandad who I called Deedat had passed. I was super sad and ended up taking off from North Carolina early to be with family and grief.

Fall (September-October):

September was a tough month at the start. It started off with me and Papa having to cancel our then-planned road trip to Iowa and South Dakota due to Deedat’s passing. I, then, ventured off to Delaware to be with my Dad and my Step Mom for Labor Day weekend at the beach and Deedat’s funeral to follow. While a rough time and sad for us all, it was great to be able to spend time with my Dad’s family and relish on memories with Deedat’s loved ones. My friends Brianna and Brittany and I met up recently after the funeral, too, and we were all going through rough times. It was nice to meet and know that NONE of us were and are ever alone. But, at the same time, the Lilly Pulitzer Sunshine Sale and shopping in-person at The Pink Crab in Annapolis gave me a lot of much-needed sunshine. I remember talking to my boss and we both agreed that we were ready for a brand-new season, so, bring on Fall!!!

Fall 2022 was a fun one!! It started off with a trip to see my best friend Bree at her college East Carolina University and meet up with our besties Hannah and Alanna for the East Carolina University VS Naval Academy game. I loved getting to see Bree’s campus and meet some of her college friends that she’s talked A TON about. Papa and I visited two pumpkin patches along with our annual visit to Shenandoah National Park’s Skyline Drive to see the iconic Fall Foliage. I got to see Hamilton live on a solo date at the iconic Kennedy Center. My best friend Haley and I also visited our bestie Violet who is a Nursing student at Philadelphia’s Drexel University. Philadelphia is one of my all-time favorite cities, so it was GREAT to be back! I also got to meet up with my bestie Amanda who lives in the nearby New Jersey suburbs for dinner in the city. I ended Fall with a trip to my alma mater Meredith College’s iconic Cornhuskin’ Homecoming tradition to experience it all as an Alumnae with Papa and Rosie. I saw SO many great friends from my college years and it was such a special time!

Holiday’s (November-December):

Once Papa, Rosie, and I got back from Cornhuskin’, we started to get into the Christmas spirit! Brianna, Brittany, and I visited this adorable cafe/bar called Virginia’s Darling in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. The following weekend, my best friend Hannah came to visit for her conference in Washington, DC and we did ALL the things, such as: the Downtown Holiday Market, Old Town Alexandria’s King Street, Old Ebbitt Grill, the White House (with a preview of The National Christmas Tree), The Willard Intercontinental Hotel, and *of course* Shake Shack. It was a great way to kick off the holiday season before Thanksgiving, which included great family time, seeing Frozen Live by the National Symphony Orchestra with Brianna and Brittany, and a trip to Leesburg, Virginia to see the Lucketts Store Holiday House. I, then, had a bit of a health scare during early-mid December as I got really tired and had to miss out on some work networking events along with Hannah’s Birthday weekend in Raleigh. While disappointing, everything worked out health-wise and I am thankfully OKAY. Luckily, I got to spend some time with my Dad and meet their newly adopted rescue Yorkie Ginger and snuggle with her as I processed it all. The same goes for time with Papa, too. However, when I got the GREAT health-related news, I went out on the town to the Library of Congress’s Late Night Live at the Library for a fun time with Brianna and Brittany. The year closed with some quality family time, including an outing to the US Botanic Garden’s Season’s Greenings Display with my Mom, dinner with my Papa at National Harbor with espresso martini’s, and visiting Enchant with my bestie Stephanie.

One of my other holiday season highlights was getting to help plan and be the social media point of contact for STEM For Her’s first-ever STEM For Her Day! STEM For Her is a nonprofit organization focused on facilitating interest in STEM and teaching girls about career paths in STEM. They focus on empowering the next generation of women in STEM with an emphasis on underserved communities. Needless to say, at STEM For Her Day, I got to meet some incredible people, like: WUSA 9’s Kaitlyn McGrath, PillowTalk Derm’s founder, two IF/THEN ambassadors, and Toni Townes Whitley. It was A BLAST and such a needed day. STEM For Her Day also ignited my passion for empowering the next generation of women in STEM!!

Highlights!

Ringing in the new year with Starbucks in-hand.

Here’s to MANY more adventures in 2023! Happy New Year!

XOXO – Katie <3

December 30, 2022December 29, 2025

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The Life of Katie!

To be frankly honest, while I LOVE this time of year, it has also not been filled with 1000% Christmas cheer for me this year. I have had some health things going on (we will save that for another day) atop of other things. Due to health-related things, I have not been able to attend some holiday parties through work and friends this year. While a disappointment, I know it has been best for me at this time. But, at the same time, there have been some high’s these past few weeks, too, I have had some super fun collaborations and opportunities volunteer-wise.

*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.*

Before I get into some of the past few weeks’ highs, I want to mention that these past few weeks have been a bit of a rollercoaster, if I’m being honest. This past year hasn’t been my favorite, either. One of my friends Brianna (who with her sister Brittany I am SO grateful for!) and I talk about how we’re SO ready for 2023 as 2022 has not been the best for either of us. It’s nice to have a friend who agrees with me, too. Social media makes it SO easy to only share the positive things in our lives – something that I have done, too – so I haven’t shared much of the negatives in my life and I think many of y’all reading this can agree with me. December is the month that my Grandma’s health started to decline, only leading to her passing in early January 2017. December is a tough month, throughout the course of the month filled with holiday cheer, parties, festivities, and more, it’s hard to see that it can and is a hard month for so many including myself. So, above all else, just know that if December can be a hard month for you, you are NOT alone.

Now for some updates:

A trip to Delaware – If you follow me on Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!), then you likely know that my Dad lives in Bethany Beach, Delaware. I LOVE getting to go to visit him in Delaware as he lives right by the beach! This past weekend, I went to go visit him in Delaware and meet his newly rescued Yorkie Ginger. Ginger is a three-legged Yorkie that they rescued from a local Delaware shelter. Needless to say, I got SOOO many snuggles with Ginger, whether it be watching Shark Tank or Frozen on the couch or taking her shopping and to the pier at nearby Ocean City, Maryland. While in Delaware, my Dad, Step Mom, and I went to the Tanger Outlets at Rehoboth Beach (Delaware has tax-free shopping!!!), to the Delaware beaches’ notable Christmas village Schellville, to the Thompson Island restauarant for some in-house beer, and to the Ocean City, Maryland pier. Through it all, it was such a blessing to be able to get that quality time with my Dad. For my summer trip to Delaware, read more here: https://pinkchickadee.com/2022/07/05/3-days-at-the-delaware-beaches/#/

Keurig Advent Calendar – One of my highlights of December was getting to open a brand-new k-cup each day throughout the month of December. I purchased a 24 Cups of Cheer Advent Calendar made by Keurig AND every day up until Christmas I get to enjoy a different k-cup, from brands such as McDonald’s, Green Mountain, and Cinnabon. So far, it has been such a highlight of my month of December, too. Shop it here: https://www.shopltk.com/explore/thepinkchickadee_/posts/0e18c734-75ae-11ed-ad6e-0242ac110004
Meeting up with my new influencer bestie Michelle! – A few weeks back, I met up with my brand-new Washington, DC-based influencer bestie Michelle of @annyongmichelle on Instagram (go follow her!!!) for the National Christmas Tree Lighting 2022 before it rained and we decided to leave early. Michelle and I have been connected through the wonderful world of Instagram for the past few months, and I am extremely lucky that we did. Both Michelle and I are BIG on exploring the Washington, DC area and I look forward to connecting with her more!

Holiday Outfits with Shapermint! – I have been SO lucky to have been able to partner up with Shapermint – a shapewear company focused on empowerment and offers amazing deals on it all – and was able to showcase 4 holiday looks featuring 4 different Shapermint products. Shapermint’s products are such high quality at a fraction of the price of its competitors. Shapermint also carries products in ALL sizes allowing for every body to feel like the beautiful body that it is! Use my discount code KATIECREW20 for 20% off and shop Shapermint products here: https://glnk.io/6ylk/katie6

Happy Holidays!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

December 15, 2022December 29, 2025

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The Life of Katie + Early Black Friday Deals!

The other day, my best friend Hannah whose visiting from North Carolina for a conference and I went to Old Town Alexandria to discover its Christmas tree already lit up, despite seeing tree lighting posts for it happening just a day later. Needless to say, we both felt as if we had hit the lottery. Currently, it’s beginning to *officially* look a lot like CHRISTMAS!!! If you follow me on Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!), then you probably have seen ALL the Christmas content on my page. I am a BIG Christmas fanatic and am so so so excited for the holiday season and that it has already begun!

Shop VitaCup’s Black Friday Sale! – As we ALL know, Black Friday is the BEST time to get the BEST deals on everything and anything. Case in point: VitaCup’s Black Friday sale includes the brand’s steepest discounts of the ENTIRE YEAR! VitaCup is a farm to cup beverage brand that uses the highest quality ingredients to make every sip energizing and empowering. Their products help you stay awake AND still achieve your health goals – two of my FAVORITE THINGS! Use discount code 35FORYOU at checkout to get 35% off your purchase during their Black Friday sale when you shop here: https://www.vitacup.com/

***A special thanks to VitaCup for treating me to some high-quality beverages this to stay awake holiday season!

Life recently has been a bit crazy over here. With the holidays in full swing, it has gotten even crazier but I couldn’t be MORE happy that they are here to stay! Unfortunately, my family and I have had some loss during Fall 2022, injuries, surgeries, and I even experienced a flat tire the other day. With that all being said, the holiday season is a GREAT refresher from all of the crazy things going on during Fall 2022 and a time to be with family, friends, and other loved ones. The holiday season is ALL about giving to those that we love and spreading some Christmas cheer and singing it loud for all to hear *cues the notable quote from Elf*. Now, for some updates into the life of Katie!

My best friend Hannah coming to visit! – This past week, my best friend from college, Hannah, came to visit me as she was attending a conference up here in Washington, DC. I have LOVED getting to play hostess again as I haven’t had guests over for the night since the summer. It was also pretty nice to be able to enjoy Hannah’s company and have someone to hang with in my apartment in the evenings as it’s usually just me, Rosie, and the TV – LOL! Hannah and I also explored the Downtown Holiday Market in Washington, DC’s Penn Quarter and the well-known King Street in Old Town Alexandria (where we spotted the lit Christmas tree!). Needless to say, I have LOVED every minute of having Hannah here with me AND have found it to be such a great way to kick off the holly jolly holiday season.

Cancelling two December trips – Trust me when I say this, but I am RELIEVED to have cancelled the two trips that I had initially planned to New York City and Philadelphia this December. Instead, I will be visiting my Dad in Delaware for one of the weekends and the other weekend I will be enjoying the local Washington, DC area Christmas things potentially with one of my best friends who may be in town then. The conflicts that came up were due to scheduling things which became more important in the end. And, while a bit upsetting, I am happy it all worked out and relieved to be able to save a bit of money this holiday season that I’d instead have to spend on travel. My best friend Amanda and I are going to reschedule our planned Philadelphia trip for her birthday which I’m psyched for. I ALSO got a full refund on all tickets (thanks to ticket insurance!) to use to visit Amanda in the new year. While a hard decision, I am happy with the changes in plans and excited for what is to come then and in 2023!
Celebrating Shivani’s Birthday! – My best friend from college, Shivani, celebrated her birthday earlier this month. I was REALLY excited when she invited me to come out to celebrate with her and some of her graduate school friends at a local bar in Washington, DC’s neighborhood of Georgetown. It was great to get to know some of her friends from her Master’s program that she’s talked so highly of and *finally* put a face to a name. While I am definitely not a bar-goer by any means, I really enjoyed getting to celebrate Shivani and had a GREAT time! You can read more about my early 20-something lack of interest in night life here: https://pinkchickadee.com/2022/10/25/im-23-and-have-no-interest-in-night-life/#/
My first flat tire – The other day, I had my first-ever flat tire while picking up Hannah from my local Metro station. I ended up hitting a sharp edge on a sewer alongside a curb and had to get a new tire (YAY for #adulting I guess!). Luckily, I was able to pull over at a nearby high school parking lot which was well-lit, find my spare tire in the trunk, and call my Mom and Step-Dad who both graciously came over to replace my tire without hesitation. Neither my Mom nor I have ANY experience with tires or replacing them; I also struggle with certain mechanical things due to having low muscle tone in my hands/fingers. Friday, my car Daisy got a new tire via Papa’s local tire place (which he graciously took care of for me without me even asking!). But, through it all, I am EXTREMELY grateful, thankful, and blessed for my family who came to help me and the fact that it wasn’t raining or super windy when it all happened and the fact that I remained calm and collect the entire time.
Visiting my FAVORITE exhibit! – My favorite exhibit over the years has been the First Ladies exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. The first time I went to see this exhibit was when I was 11 with my Mom and brother. I was in AWE when I went and it has been my favorite ever since! Needless to say, I’ve taken friends over the years whenever they’ve come to visit, including Alanna and Hannah back in 2021 and Shivani earlier this week. The First Ladies exhibit was founded by former First Lady Helen Taft (who ALSO helped establish the National Cherry Blossom Festival – a major symbol of the United States’ and Japan’s relationship – and plant cherry blossom trees across the Tidal Basin) and features the First Lady’s Inaugural gowns and china and much more AND is worth a visit when in Washington, DC if you love fashion!!

Treat your loved one’s or yourself to The Inspiration Co’s gorgeous bracelets! – I am a HUGE fan of The Inspiration Co! I worked with them back in August and I still wear my bracelet from them just about every day. The brand designs unique bracelets with empowering slogans engraved on them. Their bracelets serve as empowering reminders that I think we all need on a day-to-day basis. They make for excellent gifts for those in your life! Use my discount code KATIE30 for 30% off your purchase when you shop here: https://glnk.io/nrnxj/thepinkchickadee

***A special thanks to The Inspiration Co for treating me to a gorgeous bracelet to sport this holiday season with a much-needed reminder!

Happy Thanksgiving Week, everyone!

XOXO – Katie <3

November 23, 2022December 29, 2025

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The Life of Katie!

It’s been a while since I’ve shared a Life of Katie! On my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!), I shared that I am scaling back a bit on this platform for the time being to focus on my career (more on that down below!). Anyhow, life has been a bit of a rollercoaster these past few weeks – a trip to Greenville, North Carolina, tight deadlines at work, a cancelled girl’s weekend up in Washington, DC, dogsitting Rosie on my own, and an upcoming trip to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. SO, needless to say, it has been *just a little* crazy in my life!

Scaling back on this platform – With my decision to scale back here on the blog, I have been able to focus more on my career and other passions beyond the blog. I am volunteering with a local organization that promotes young girls and women in pursuing their own STEM careers along with co-leading a community of practice focused on women in data science within my company. While, at the same time, getting to enjoy nights to read a magazine with a glass of wine in bed, cook more, and spend some more quality time with family and friends. On the same token, I have noticed that the world of fashion blogging is VERY focused on consumption! Consumption when it comes to fashion can be fun on the surface, yet extremely expensive and even harmful. Realistically speaking, not everyone can afford to buy clothing items ALL THE TIME and neither should anyone feel that they have to. I plan to post less here on the blog, given my schedule, too. That all being said, I want to focus more on lifestyle and travel with bits and pieces of fashion sprinkled in and still grow my platform to the best of my ability!
Dog Sitting Rosie – ALL week long, I am babysitting my shepherd-chihuahua mix Rosie. In case you didn’t know, I currently live my Papa and Rosie in Northern Virginia’s Washington, DC suburbs. And, Papa is currently on a hunting trip in coastal Virginia. SO, it’s just me and Rosie. Rosie is a bit of a handful at times, but, overall, I LOVE LOVE LOVE getting to have her all to myself. We luckily have a dog walker who walks her each afternoon, while I am working and in meetings, which I am SO grateful for!! I miss Papa, too, but am trying to savor the moments with just me and Rosie along with our enjoyable crisp Fall morning walks (something I want to continue doing when Papa who usually walks her at 5am is back!).
The Fall Weather! – Currently, it’s feeling like it’s FALL Y’ALL here in the Washington, DC area!!!! Fall is my FAVORITE season, especially for fashion, the activities, and so much more. So far, Papa and I have gone to a pumpkin patch local to us called Nall’s Produce, I have purchased ALL the Fall-themed groceries, made slow cooker soup, and *of course* embraced the Fall fashion. I have LOVED going for walks with Rosie, too, in this crisp Fall weather. My favorite way to style my wardrobe for Fall is to add a bright flair to some more chunky, neutral pieces. It’s been SO fun to layer up after a long and humid and hot summer season!
Cancelled Girl’s Weekend – This past weekend, my best friends Alanna and Hannah were supposed to come up to visit me in the Washington, DC area. However, due to Hurricane Ian and the weather that came with its remnants, we decided to cancel our weekend trip. We will be planning a fun girl’s weekend with potentially more of our friends in the new year, though, as Alanna and Hannah fortunately got flight credits. I was pretty disappointed that the weekend was cancelled, as I was looking forward to visiting with my friends in my favorite home city. However, I made the best of it. Papa and I visited the Workhouse Arts Center – a nearby arts center in Lorton, Virginia where artists have and sell in-house studios. Beautiful artwork all around!!
Career-wise – Currently, in the world of my own career, I am transitioning into taking on different roles within my company that are more of what I am interested in. I didn’t make this decision lightly and luckily my boss and Project Managers have been super supportive of it, too. I am still on the same current projects, yet I’ll take on different roles over time. It has been a busy busy busy season, along with being a part of a planning committee within my company. Needless to say, I am extremely blessed to be able to work for such an amazing and supportive company!

Now, here’s to a great Fall y’all!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

October 4, 2022December 29, 2025

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