Finally Feeling Fall

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

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

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

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

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

XOXO – Katie <3

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Why You Should Attend Events Solo

Last week, I attended an event solo that was a bit out of my comfort zone. Although I have solo traveled all across the Washington, DC area and even all the way to Ireland (here, here, and here), I still got a bit nervous about attending this event in-person, since it was a newer experience for me. I had always wanted to attend a DC Fashion Week event (an Insider’s Preview Party!), and despite being nervous to do so, I decided to attend this event solo and ended up having a GREAT time (and made some new connections, too!).

I am ALL about a good solo date. My best friend Shivani introduced me to the idea and I’ve been hooked ever since. I have seen several people in my network that I LOVE through my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee) and my close friends start doing dates on their own, too. I LOVE a good solo date and recommend them to EVERYONE, regardless of if you’re single, taken, and/or have kids/pets. However, events can be a bit more daunting to attend solo, especially in a new-to-you environment.

Being transparent over here, I ended up not going to a National Gallery of Art event solo because I was 1- tired, and 2 – a bit nervous to attend a bigger event solo. Yes, you heard me right, I was terrified to attend an event solo, despite having traveled all the way to Ireland and back just 4 weeks prior. Events can be daunting to attend solo, especially when it involves socializing and networking with others in a different setting than you’re used to and with tons of different faces around. As opposed to travel and solo dates where you pass by several people in groups and solo alike, events promote social interaction more so and can be much more nerve-wracking than walking to a restaurant and getting a table and opening up a book/your phone as you dine or strolling through a museum or even navigating the streets of a city. Events require socializing more so than solo travel and solo dates.

At the DC Fashion Week Insider’s Preview Party, I got to network with fellow fashion enthusiasts and influencers, alike. I got to make some great connections whom I’ve since connected with on social media. To top it all off, I got to see a fashion show showcasing Washington, DC area-based designers’ designs to preview for the upcoming Spring 2025 season. The designs were BEAUTIFUL (!!!!), and, spoiler that purple, emerald, and royal blue will be the big colors moving forward in the upcoming year. Needless to say, I am SO glad that I went to this event, despite my nerves convincing me to stay home.

When we get out of our comfort zones, that is when we grow! None of us will grow when we get REALLY comfortable in our current surroundings and environment and never jump out there and get *a bit* uncomfortable. Usually, it feels great to get out of our comfort zones once we do and it’s extremely rewarding in the end. The bottom line: attend that event that you’ve always wanted to attend, *even* if you’re going solo. In fact, going solo is a GREAT motivating factor in going, getting out of your comfort zone, growing, and having a great time.

XOXO – Katie <3

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Happy Hydrangea Season

Since last year, Summer has become my FAVORITE season. From longer days filled with sunshine to all occasions outside to beach and pool days, Summer is just nothing short of a fun season. Seasonally, one of the highlights of my backyard is the 2 beautiful hydrangea bushes that bloom every summer! And, if you know me in real life, THEN you know that hydrangeas are my favorite flower!!!

Summer helps me be more mindful, overall. I mean the added days of sunshine via the mere statistical frequency of more sunny days over rainy days during these fun months adds more opportunities to explore nature Hollywood hike style (if you know, you know!!!) and truly be more mindful. The outdoors helps me to be more mindful. And, to be transparent over here, I have THE WORST time wanting to go outside when it is raining/windy/snowing. I LOVE being mindful via a strong sauna moment outdoors! And, this Summer season kickoff, the hydrangeas in my backyard have made me feel much more mindful.

Recently, I was gifted a camera from my family and have *finally* gotten to use it. My favorite things to photograph are of my travels, home, fashion, and *of course* backyard flowers!!! I have found myself with nothing short of even just my phone standing into …. Mulch to get some photos of hydrangeas when on the go – LOLLLL!!! Needless to say, hydrangeas and many flowers in general bring me SO MUCH JOY.

One of my Summer 2024 and beyond goals is to be more mindful and by doing so also enjoy what’s LITERALLY right in my own backyard! Whether it be a hydrangea or azalea or holly bush or Fall foliage, there is SO MUCH to enjoy and love without even having to take a step beyond my own home. I hope this Summer that YOU strive to be more mindful, too! Remember that mindfulness looks different for every person, as we are all unique individuals.

XOXO – Katie <3

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My 2024 Word of the Year

I haven’t done a word of the year as far back as I can remember, however, I have been inspired by SO many fellow influencers who have been picking a word of the year on an annual basis. I have found it to be SO inspiring to see others share a word of the year, surrounding their experiences and life journey at that moment. And, I am more than excited to start doing the same for myself, too.

SO, with that all being said, my word of the year is …

Joy

Recently, I have been choosing to do things that bring ME and ME only joy. Does that mean that when I went to see Frozen on Broadway a few days ago that I bought *yet another* plush Olaf because it brings me joy on a regular basis and when watching the live performance?! YES! Does this mean that I am eating off the fancy china, wearing the expensive perfume, and burning ALLL the candles on a regular basis to find joy in the ordinary?! YES! Does that mean that I ALSO booked a trip to Ireland in April since I have been DYING to go and I know this trip will bring me many memories and joy both in April and in the future?! YES! The list could go ON and ON and ON.

One of my most recent self care practices is thinking about what I want and what will bring ME joy versus doing things solely out of obligation or because I think I need to. When I am considering ordering takeout or making a purchase (within reason), I always ask myself: will this bring me joy? The SAME ask goes for when I decide whether or not to go to events that may be more draining than enjoyable for me (however, this does not exclude events and things that are necessary, such as family, friend, or professional obligations, but rather those things I can be apart of from afar without having to fully commit to). My fellow influencer bestie Lindsay of @sunshineandstairclimbs (yes, I mention her on here ALL THE TIME and, yes, you should go follow her if you haven’t yet!!!!) continuously shares contents and is a living role model for me in truly finding the joy and doing what brings YOU joy. Lindsay is such an inspiration to me, too, and doing things that bring me joy will solely help me prioritize where I put my time, energy, money, etc. moving forward into 2024 and beyond.

Making joy my word of 2024 also means that I am focusing on finding the joy in every situation. Not going to lie here, but 2024 started off a bit rocky for me (which I know others have experienced, too), as I had a traumatic experience in late late December that I had to process alongside getting COVID for the first time and still recovering from a looming terrible cough as a result. Yet, through it all, joy means finding the silver lining in EVERY scenario. Yes, that means even when COVID hits and being isolated from others beyond my household takes a toll, there IS joy in truly having time to slow down and reset before fully jumping into ALL that 2024 has to offer. The same goes for that traumatic experience that I had in very late December, as I was burnt out as a result of the holidays and in MAJOR need of a break. When in doubt, joy is something that can ALWAYS be found if we just take the time to see it.

Joy is also allowing myself to take things for what they are and to learn and grow from it all. The world is an ever-evolving place. Professionally speaking, I have found myself to be someone who has learned to LOVE and embrace feedback. Perhaps, I have *even* found the joy in feedback, whether good or constructive, as something that allows me to know where to hone in skill-wise. The same goes for feedback within my personal life, too. Moving and evolving the way I am meant to in 2024 and beyond will allow me to find the joy in ALL the moments that are meant to be.

At the end of the day, joy is choosing me through my own self development, priorities, and outlook. For 2024 and many more years to come, I choose JOY.

XOXO – Katie <3

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4 Years a Blogger!

Today, I am *officially* celebrating FOUR YEARS as a blogger (!!!!). I started my blog just 6 weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic pretty much shutdown everything in March 2020 and began even questioning, then, if I wanted to remain a blogger and even took a few months hiatus. However, as lockdown persisted wayyy longer than many of us anticipated, I returned to blogging as a joyful creative outlet to pass the time and have been loving the community I have built here ever since. Overall, I am SO blessed with the blogging community I have built since January 15, 2020 and am proud of myself for continuing to build my personal brand and make this platform into a side hustle that I LOVE (alongside my 9-5 job that I LOVE).

On January 15, 2020 around 6pm, I had a BUNCH of college friends in my apartment alongside my amazing roommate and best friend Sophie setting up my apartment with me for my blog launch party (here). I remember taking a moment to change into my dress while others were graciously putting up a banner before folks arrived. It was then that I realized that my site went LIVE a few hours before I had anticipated (WHOOPS!!!!), however, a big LOL moment now that brings me so much joy to this very day. Once the knocks started coming at my apartment door, the celebrations began. We had homemade queso and chips and I forget what else – LOL – but I do remember that there were wayyyy more people in my apartment than allowed via safety limits listed by my apartment. Looking back, I am OH SO blessed for the many many many people that showed up with SO MUCH LOVE to my blog launch party which was just the beginning of this journey of mine that’s still going strong 4 years later! Moreover, I am eternally grateful for my friends who showed up to support me on January 15, 2020 and for those that have showed up and continue to show up today on January 15, 2024 and beyond. I love you ALL <3

Flashback to 2019: It is the beginning of a brand-new college semester and year. I am eager to get started in the classroom, as I begin to dig into some major committee roles (my school was a sorority in its own right and I was VERRYYY involved in it alll!), serve as a Student Advisor throughout orientation for Freshmen, get my class ring and participate in ALLL the exciting events leading up to it, get my Little’s and participate in all of those exciting Big/Little events, and dig into some more advanced classes for my Math degree. BUT, all of this excitement and eagerness for this year of college was not why I began this platform. Rather, I started The Pink Chickadee after a heartbreak in my Junior year of college that took a HUGE toll on me. At the time, lots of my college classmates getting into serious, committed relationships (some of whom they have since married and started families with) and it made me sad that I wasn’t on the same life path and timeline as them. And, while I am happy for my college classmates on that timeline that I then-hoped for myself, I am very happy in my own life path and timeline at this moment in 2024. However, at the same time back in 2019, I REALLY wanted something that was mine and mine only. SO, that’s how The Pink Chickadee was born.

Since starting this incredible platform, I have made some amazing memories with many of y’all in this community, worked with some brands that I LOVE, and developed some incredible friendships. At the same time, my coworkers at my 9-5 have LOVED hearing about my blog and want to hear more about it, too. Every single like, share, view, comment, etc. from each of YOU means THE WORLD to me. Truly, my community here via The Pink Chickadee has been nothing short of special and that’s all thanks to YOU!

My FAVORITE blog posts to write include:

Some of my MOST favorite memories include:

Becoming IRL besties with fellow influencer Lindsay of @sunshineandstairclimbs (go follow her on Instagram!!!) and visiting her in Indianapolis, Indiana and having her visit me twice!
Being interviewed and featured on Shapermint’s (a brand I LOVE and regularly collaborate with) blog site!
My content got shared (with my permission) on Starbucks (!!!!!) social media pages, reaching millions of people.
Jack Rogers (my favorite sandal brand) shared a happy summer memory of mine on their social media page. They have also shared photos of my dog Rosie in the past, too!
Writing a fun and well-received my readers blog post on my favorite restaurant: Old Ebbitt Grill!
Attending a Coronation Party at the Scout Flagship Store in Washington, DC with my best friend Laura!
Speaking at the Women in Data: Making Sense of Data Conference in Washington, DC
Meeting my fellow influencer bestie in real life Mikayla of @blissandbows on Instagram (GO FOLLOW HER!!!)
Several hangouts and photo sessions during my college years thanks to my OG photographer and bestie Hannah!

 

Announcing my move back to the Washington, DC area
My launch party FOUR years ago!!!!
My FIRST-EVER blogger photo shoot with Papa at the Gaylord National Hotel!

Having my blog has been such a high for me! The biggest high of starting this platform has been connecting with incredible folks like YOU. If it wasn’t for YOUR support, I truly wouldn’t be where I am today – FOUR WHOLE YEARS LATER (!!!!).

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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Are You Influenced by Consumerism?

The other day in a group chat, someone sent photos of a targeted ad based on a product that we had talked about just hours beforehand on a call. I think ALL OF US have seen advertisements on out social media feed that feel *just as if* they came out of the blue. Many of us have received these advertisements that feel like our phones are reading our minds. Admittedly so, I am a consumer (within reason and my own means, though!) and I find joy in purchasing things that will bring me joy over time. Many of the things that I purchase have been influenced by *surprise* … social media. Yes, social media influences me to shop, whether via a targeted advertisement, fellow influencer’s posting, or typing in “J Crew Factory” via my iPhone’s Safari. I may be the first person to say just that, but I personally think that consumerism has become super normalized that we forget to enjoy what we have right in front of us.

Recently on my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee), I shared a bit about a recent purchase of mine influenced by … LinkedIn! Yep, you heard me right: I did NOT get influenced by Instagram or Facebook or even Pinterest to buy something, but *none other than* LinkedIn. While I HAVE BEEN admittedly influenced to buy something on practically every single social media site that I am on to make a purchase, I NEVER EVER thought that I would have been influenced by a professional networking app like LinkedIn (which is ALSO social media in its own right by the way!) to shop and even open my wallet. I will note that the purchase I made via LinkedIn is relevant to my 9-5 career as a proud leadership and women in data enthusiast that I am SO excited to have purchased. I also feel A LOT of joy from making this purchase and supporting an organization that empowers women in data and the next generation of women in data by doing so. However, on the same token, if I am getting influenced to make a purchase via a professional networking app, then consumerism has definitely gone to a whole other level than ever seen before.

Currently, I have been doing a ton of reflections on my own privilege in this world and striving to understand those around me in different financial situations from my own. I feel extremely lucky to have chosen a career field that brings me joy and fulfillment and allows me to be a consumer and travel within my own means and save for the future. At the same time, I have been reading up on the impacts that others have faced due to inflation (and myself, too!) in order to gain a better understanding into our ever-evolving world. My biggest concerns nowadays is the huge upwards trend in consumerism and sneaky ways for businesses of all kinds to bring consumers to spend, despite them truly not having the means to do just that.

I recently saw my fellow Instagram friend Stephanie of @slythestylist (go follow her if you haven’t already!!!) share something on her stories that truly resonated with me which was an Instagram reel that begs the question: when did consumerism become something that we praised? Consumerism, while potentially bringing about economic growth and prosperity (what do I know though?!) and truly allowing others to support businesses of all kinds, when brought to a standard of praise for shopping over saving, it can really harm others. Inflation is a real thing in the 2023 economy. At the same time, there are several people in my life that I know and know of that have student loans, towering bills (whether raising rent, groceries, car payments, health insurance, etc.), and other financial hardships that make it tough nowadays. The side effects of inflation are affecting many people in this world today, essentially making being a regular consumer beyond the grocery store and without going into any credit card debt (which is pretty common nowadays) a privilege that many others do not have. SO, in a society where we are praising others for shopping more and more and more when most folks do not have the means to truly do so, we need to make consumerism less about ourselves and more about prioritizing what we want within our own means.

While I will ALWAYS LOVE a good purchase like many of us do, especially those that bring me a ton of joy, I am striving personally to be more conscious about what I spend my money on. I have my own financial goals that I am striving to pursue into 2024 and beyond. I also want to focus more on experiences, whether it be traveling or time with friends and family both close to home or a quick train ride/flight/drive away or even across an ocean. Consumerism is sadly SO easy to get sucked into. BUT, at the end of the day, I want to enjoy and be thankful for what I have right now and continue to be thankful for what I have moving forward. And, also at the end of the day, no matter what we have, it’s who we have to spend our time with. I want to prioritize my loved ones and making memories, whatever I may pick out of my closet to wear with them!

And, in the meantime, I hope that consumerism starts to slow down a little, too. With the greater awareness towards climate change and sustainability, people are slowly beginning to realize the benefits of shopping your own closet and enjoying what you have. More often than not, there is great benefit to wearing the same thing again or lending it/borrowing from a friend to wear instead of heading online to buy something new only to wear it once. It only costs $0 to enjoy what we already have. I’m hoping that this greater awareness against consumerism begins to slow down ALLLL the advertisements for shopping nowadays, especially in a time where people are stretched for cash more often than not.

Overall, I LOVE social media and getting inspired by others’ styles to catapult my own style as it continues to evolve. BUT, on the same token, consumerism via social media especially targets many people’s vulnerabilities when it comes to spending in ways that it shouldn’t. As much as I am a proud consumer and LOVE to shop just as much as the next person, I also see the normalization and praising of consumerism as a major disadvantage in the long term to our society as a while, specifically given inflation and the current economic environment (e.g. student loans, high healthcare costs, high cost of living). I feel lucky to be doing OKAY in today’s world, yet I know many people are not. Moving forward, I am striving to share LESS links for commission and MORE of what others can replicate within their own closets/homes to create a joyful outfit/experience for themselves (thankfully, my hometown of the Washington, DC area has several affordable things to do too!). I hope that given today’s world others will consider to move away from consumerism and towards enjoying the moment what with we already have within our own means.

XOXO – Katie <3

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6 Hard Truths I Have Learned this Fall

Life is a rollercoaster of up’s and down’s. However, through it all, life is a big adventure and ever-evolving experience where we get to learn and grow and continue to do so every single day. HOW great is that?! In April of this year, I got a bit deep via sharing 10 hard truths that I wished I knew sooner (here). Surprisingly enough, that blog post was a favorite of mine to write! SO, as I continue to learn and grow over these past 7 months via the change of the seasons, I am bringing some MORE hard truths (6 to be exact!) that I have learned since.

Remember that the lessons that we learn only help to serve us moving forward. There are SO many blessings to what we learn in life, *even* those lessons that may be harder truths to swallow. YOU have the power to live your best life on a daily basis. And, for me, swallowing those painful harder truths have helped me to grow AND live it up!

6 Hard Truths that I Have Learned this Fall:

1 – It doesn’t have to make sense to others. Things I do may look strange to others and things others do may look strange to me. HOWEVER, how someone chooses to live their life is up to them and only them. The same concept goes for us, too. Looking at my own life, there are times where I may be thinking I am rather behind or not in line with others’ lives or timelines, however, I am completely content and enjoying my life. SO, why does it matter?! It surely doesn’t matter that I have chosen to focus on different things (whether it be prioritizing travel over buying a home soon, etc.) than the next person as long as it brings me joy, then I am good. So should YOU be good, too, with HOWEVER you choose to live your life.

2 – Re-align your thoughts is so important to seeing the bigger picture. People will do/say things that may make us upset, when they really didn’t intend to or were focusing on something else altogether such as the bigger picture or were even trying to help us but just missed the mark. Sometimes, I have found it tough when I say something in hopes of getting advice and someone responds in a way that doesn’t resonate. Whether or not someone else’s advice resonates with me, if they are trying to help me in the moment, then it is key to see the bigger picture than simply their non-resonating response. Many times, people want to help us and make an effort to do so, yet it doesn’t quite hit the mark that we’d hoped it would. In this scenario, it is key to see the bigger picture and re-align our thoughts. For example, this person was trying to help us given their own life experiences and perspectives, but it didn’t quite resonate as I’d hoped it would. The same concept goes for someone picking somebody else over you for a promotion at work, for example, as the other person may have had more work experience and skills aligned with the qualifications for a specific promotion to help them get there than ourselves. While it may be painful in the moment, knowing that there is a bigger picture and outlook on things via re-aligning my thoughts has helped me in ALL aspects of life.

3 – Identify your own personal triggers. Yes, you heard me right! And yes, we ALL have our own personal triggers, whether it be something as simple as a wasp flying near you as you sit on a bench or something a little bit deeper. Being transparent over here, growing up, I feared rejection and it is one of my biggest triggers. Rejection is something that I have identified as a personal trigger of mine. I also struggle with imposter syndrome *confessions* and feel great being in like-company to many that I know around me with this one. BUT, knowing that rejection is one of my own personal triggers, I have been able to quickly re-align my nervous thoughts when I do fear rejection via identifying that it is a personal trigger and fear of mine. I ALSO have a fear of wasps when near me, too, so in lighter news, I can know this when they do get around me when I am in the great outdoors (or simply my backyard!). Through it all, knowing my personal triggers has even helped me to re-align my thoughts (via Hard Truth Number 2 up above!) and better serve myself and my own mental health overall.

4 – It’s OKAY to cut back. Whether it be in your personal life, professional life, or everything in between, sometimes, what is best for ourselves is to cut back on things. It is HARD to simply give and give and give and if we don’t take a break, then it will be HARD to keep going. Our mental health is extremely tied to our physical health, whether or not we realize it. Burnout is a real thing and, personally, burnout can make me literally feel sick. Recently, I have been cutting back on things that I have either been involved in in the past or future commitments in hopes of reducing burnout and keeping my mental health in a good place. I have also been setting boundaries when it comes to days I have “off” of activities, whether professional or personal, and travel (including resting in between the time I get home and go back to work). I always hated the phrase, growing up, that you cannot do it all. However, as I have gotten older and cut back more on commitments, I have LOVED and rather EMBRACE this phrase. Our mental health IS our health, so we may as well cut back to keep ourselves afloat and in good health overall.

5 – Don’t settle. The right person is worth waiting for. In recent times, I have seen SOOO many Instagram Reels and TikToks and YouTube compilations along the lines of dating. One of the BIGGEST themes that I have noticed, from ALL kinds of dating content, is that we are better off dating people who treat us the way WE want to be treated and focusing on ourselves and our own goals in the meantime. We want to choose ourselves first before someone else chooses us and willingly pursues us. From watching content on the cheater (cringe!) to the aftermath of ghosting (another cringe!) to ignoring red flags in our partners (yet another cringe!), I have found that so many people settle for less than what they deserve. I have definitely been guilty of settling for others in the past, too, or feeling like being single versus in a relationship is life or death (spoiler: it’s NOT; always do you and put you first). Yet, the experiences I have had and seen others go through have shaped me into someone who doesn’t want to waste time settling for less than what I deserve. I also want to note that there is benefit to dating multiple people over different timespans and learning and growing from it to serve us in the long run. The older I get, the less I want to settle for less than what I deserve. I think you deserve the same, too.

6 – People will judge you, always be you. Whether or not we like it, people WILL judge us. And, we will judge others, too (I find myself guilty of this at times, but am grateful to be aware of this). All of us are human, which means that we will judge others, including ourselves. At the end of the day, the only person’s opinion who matters is YOURS. Remember to try not to make a decision based on what others think, but rather who YOU think. If something brings you joy, then DO IT. On the same token, things may make NO sense to someone else, but if it does to you, then that’s all that counts. Not everything has to make sense to us OR to others (going back to Hard Truth Number 1). ALL that matters at the end of the day is what YOU think.

Remember to continue learning, growing, and being YOU!

XOXO – Katie <3

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101 in 1,001 – Year 1 Update!

Whew! It has been a year since I first shared my 101 in 1,001 days bucket list (here). For those who don’t know, the 101 in 1,001 days bucket list is essentially a list of 101 items to complete in 1,001 days. A LOT has happened in the past year, since I first shared my 101 in 1,001 bucket list. And, to be transparent, I have BARELY looked at this list since I did my 6 month update (here). HOWVER, it was SO MUCH FUN to look back and see how far I’ve come in the past 6 months-year when I started this bucket list.

Start Date: September 22, 2022 (aka the FIRST Day of Fall and a year post-my undergraduate college years!)

End Date: June 19, 2025 (I’ll be 26 and 4 years post-my undergraduate college years)

Career:

  1. Attend a leadership seminar
  2. Be making a certain salary
  3. Attend an in-person healthcare-related conference
  4. Reach a certain level of leadership within my projects
  5. Join a healthcare-related professional society
  6. Attend a Women in Technology Leadership Awards Gala
  7. Volunteer at STEM For Her Day/other STEM For Her events in relation to promoting company exposure – Ongoing
  8. Host a meet and greet or event with my company and my alma mater, Meredith College
  9. Continue to network within my company and beyond – Ongoing
  10. Attend the Women in Data Science at the University of Virginia conference again
  11. Continue to maintain and create connections with both my coworkers and clients – Ongoing

Education:

  1. Start the part-time MBA application process
  2. Complete a technical writing-related certification
  3. At least plan out when I want to obtain my PMP (Project Management Professional) certification
  4. Complete my company’s Human Centered Design certification – approved to start in October 2023

Personal:

  1. Start attending church more, whether it be Wednesday night activities, Sunday services, or special events
  2. Work on reorganization within my apartment
  3. Vote in-person in an election
  4. Donate blood
  5. Finish watching Gilmore Girls
  6. Paint my dresser hot pink
  7. Decorate a statement book shelf
  8. Buy a new laptop
  9. Adopt a rescue Yorkie
  10. Participate in a local charity walk
  11. Watch a play at my local high school
  12. Watch The Crown on Netflix
  13. Paint my family’s antique lamps
  14. Decorate my apartment with family antique pieces
  15. Start scrapbooking
  16. Start investing and continue to do so
  17. Open a Poshmark shop
  18. Make more intentional purchases when shopping
  19. Read a devotional
  20. Buy and read Reese Witherspoon’s Whiskey in a Teacup
  21. Try Korean BBQ

Relationships:

  1. Visit a vineyard with family
  2. Host a dinner party
  3. Have a fondue night with Papa
  4. Host a Christmas Holiday Tea
  5. Treat my Papa to dinner at The Capital Grille
  6. Host a White Elephant gift exchange
  7. Attend a Meredith College Cornhuskin’ as an Alumnae
  8. Go to a happy hour at a nearby restaurant with friends/coworkers (not planned by my company)
  9. Host a girl’s weekend for 4+ of my friends at my apartment
  10. Host a s’mores bonfire
  11. Plan a family crab feast in Annapolis
  12. Go see a Taylor Swift concert with some of my best friends
  13. Meet up in real life with my fellow influencer/small business owner friends Holly and Lindsay – 1/2 complete, as Lindsay and I have met up not once but twice!
  14. Join the DAR
  15. Attend a DC Bloggers Event/Meetup
  16. Meet up with DC-area-based influencer friends of mine in real life
  17. Meet up with my cousins Jack and Laura
  18. Reunite with my family and friends that I spent childhood summers up in Maine with
  19. Visit my coworker’s nail salon
  20. Tour the Library of Congress with my Dad
  21. Go to The National Christmas Tree with Papa and Aunt Amy
  22. Decorate Christmas cookies with my friend Sarah
  23. Have a DIY fancy picnic with friends

Travel:

  1. Visit two new-to-me countries
  2. Visit two new-to-me states – visited Kentucky (March 2023) and Indiana (August 2023)
  3. Visit a new-to-me Canadian Province
  4. Plan a girl’s birthday weekend away for my birthday
  5. Visit Charleston again
  6. Explore Uptown Charlotte
  7. Go back to New York City at Christmas time
  8. Attend another one of Papa’s family’s reunions
  9. Visit Papa’s family in Carlisle, Pennsylvania
  10. Visit The Biltmore at Christmas time
  11. Plan a weekend away from our respective hometown’s with my bestie Amanda
  12. Drive myself to visit family and friends in New Jersey/Pennsylvania
  13. Visit my cousin Sabrina in Boston – planning in November!
  14. Visit Natural Bridge State Park, Virginia
  15. Go to New York City for the day with my Aunt Sherri
  16. Take a trip with my bestie Shivani
  17. Visit New Bern, North Carolina
  18. Visit my friend Cassie in her hometown of Winston Salem, North Carolina
  19. Explore my friend Alanna’s hometown of Chapel Hill, North Carolina
  20. Visit St. Michael’s Island, Maryland

Washington, DC:

  1. Attend Capital Pride with my company
  2. Go to a Library of Congress Happy Hour
  3. Visit Georgetown at Christmas time
  4. Explore 3 new-to-me Washington, DC neighborhoods
  5. Picnic at The National Mall
  6. Go on a Potomac River Cocktail Cruise
  7. Go to a National Gallery of Art’s After Hours Event again
  8. Tour the Old Postal Office
  9. Enjoy a High Tea
  10. Tour the White House
  11. Visit the DAR Headquarters/Museum
  12. Visit City Center
  13. Tour Mount Vernon again with my Dad
  14. Eat at Old Ebbitt Grill
  15. Visit MGM National Harbor
  16. Eat at Tupelo Honey
  17. Visit the SCOUT Bags Flagship store on a weekday
  18. Eat at Primrose DC
  19. Go on a Georgetown Canal Cruise
  20. Visit another Embassy (I went to the Jamaican Embassy as a kid!)
  21. Explore Dupont Circle again
  22. Experience the Tidal Basin Cherry Blossoms at sunrise

Total Complete/Ongoing: 28

Total Partially Completed: 1

XOXO – Katie <3

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My Fall 2023 Tablescape + My New Favorite Piece of Advice

September is SUCH A FUN MONTH (!!!!) – it is essentially the gateway to Fall y’all. From kicking off soup season to regularly drinking pumpkin spice lattes to the fashion to visits to the pumpkin patch to the leaves changing, Fall is such an exciting change of pace. The change of seasons and in climate is such a freeing feeling for me (just like the Winter -> Spring transition!). The change in seasons allows me to refresh my mindset for what’s to come. Not to mention, who DOESN’T love the ‘ber months (if you know, you know!!!)?!

One of my favorite parts of Fall (alongside all of those things previously mentioned!) is decorating for Fall in my own pad. And, more specifically speaking, I have recently gotten into doing seasonal tablescapes which I have done for Spring/Summer as well. One of my fellow Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee) friends @meganeuliss.art has been generous enough to gift me a set of her hand-painted mini pumpkin trios for Fall (she also sent me some goodies for Easter, too, some of which I keep up year-round!). Megan is a North Carolina-based Mom who hand-paints all of her merchandise with so much love. Megan customized my mini pumpkin trio to be pink, aqua, gold, white, and navy aka my favorite colors within my apartment! And, I LOVED getting to put Megan’s hand-painted pumpkin trio within my Fall 2023 tablescape, which I paired them with my Lilly Pulitzer-inspired hand-painted vase that I *surprise* thrifted at my local Goodwill for $3 in the Spring, mini straw pumpkins from *none other than* Target’s Dollar Spot aka the best place to find affordable and trendy seasonal decorations, and my Papa’s antique tiled tray that gives ALLL the Grand Millennial vibes. I LOVE how my Fall tablescape gives me such bright, bubbly, and very Katie vibes and my mini pumpkin trio made with love by Megan perfectly ties it all together!

With the changes in the seasons comes changes in thoughts when it comes to reflection and intentionally dating. Now, a DISCLAIMER is that I am very content currently as a single and FABULOUS woman. BUT, at the same time, I have chosen to reflect on what I do want in a partner (which feels *as if* it is an ever-evolving process) whenever I do decide to date somebody wherever we may meet. But, the other night, I was reading an article brought to you by Oprah Magazine (here) on love types. And, while reading this article and taking the interactive quiz, I found my new favorite piece of advice: think of the traits that you see in yourself as traits that YOU want in your future partner. For example, are you driven and goal-oriented in your corporate career? You may want to find someone who is also driven and goal-oriented in their own career. Similarly speaking with goals, does your date also want children, adventurous travel goals, or pets? The same goes for how they treat others, including people who work in customer service, their family, and their friends. And, do your values line up with your date’s? A mismatch in values can lead to relationship issues over time. Whatever the case may be, Oprah’s advice about looking within ourselves and our own desires will help us to better narrow our mindsets into whom we may want to date and eventually marry.

Personally, I have been thinking a lot about the type of partner I need in a long-term relationship, as opposed to the partner that I may want. As I’m writing this blog post, I am also listening to the Girls Gotta Eat podcast which I LOVE having on in the background while I am being productive, and, one of the things that was coincidentally just stated was that someone may look perfect on paper as to what we want, BUT be nothing close to what we need in a partner. Sometimes, what we need in a partner is anything BUT what we want in a partner. Personally, I can get very focused on little things and characteristics that I want in somebody and then miss the mark of what I need in a future long-term partner. Going back to Oprah’s advice, looking into myself and the traits and values that I want in life and see in myself on a regular basis is such a great way to find someone who has what I need in a partner.

Anyhow, this Fall 2023, I am focusing on falling in love more and more and more with myself and my Fall tablescape courtesy of Megan Euliss Art! The best part?! You can use my discount code KATIE10 for 10% off any set of mini pumpkin trios on Megan Euliss Art’s Etsy Shop (!!!): https://www.etsy.com/shop/MEulissArt

XOXO – Katie <3

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