The Life of Katie – November 2023

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

Highs:

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

Old Town Alexandria

The Wharf

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

Thanksgiving Dinner

Occoquan

Mason Neck State Park

Lows:

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

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

XOXO – Katie <3

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The Life of Katie – October 2023

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

Highs:

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

DAR Library

Old Town Alexandria

Occoquan Historic District

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

Shenandoah National Park

Warrenton

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

Causes & Cocktails

Achieving After-School Celebration

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

Trunk or Treat

Ada’s on the River

Captain’s Row

Lows:

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

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

XOXO – Katie <3

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Do You Meal Prep?

Do you meal prep? Up until recently, I didn’t meal prep! However, as I got busier and busier in my week-to-week life, meal prep has been the way for me to go. Yet, since the pandemic winded down, it took me time (and lots of money spent on takeout – whoops!) to realize that meal prep was what worked for me (and my wallet!).

Throwing it back to my middle and high school years, I spent many nights out both during the week and on the weekends dining out. My Dad specifically would take me to his favorite restaurants in the adorable Arlington neighborhood of Shirlington as well as alongside Alexandria’s historic King Street in Northern Virginia and found cooking to be something that wasn’t a desire within his regular routine. My Mom would take me to places in the same neighborhoods alongside local restaurants nearby us in Lorton and Fairfax Station. We also enjoyed takeout A LOT (Chinese, Taco Bell, Chipotle, the likes). I learned that I enjoy the experience of eating out – the environment, the not having to cook, the interaction with my family members outside of the house while enjoying a good meal, and the many many many memories made. Dining out held and still holds a special place in my heart.

As I got into my post-graduate world, I learned that I will “all of a sudden” crave Taco Bell, McDonald’s, Chinese food, or Chipotle. AND, I would cave into those cravings on a regular basis, whether or not I bought groceries to make a home-cooked meal that night. I spent wayyyy too much money on food and my body started to feel the affects of eating out more than I should. I started to feel tired, stressed, and rundown way more often than not. The week after my 24th Birthday, I was eating out every meal. My friends and family were generous enough to treat me to Birthday dinners all throughout the week which I am SO SO SO grateful for. I also spent my 24th Birthday in the gorgeous town of Edenton, North Carolina (here) with Papa and my dog Rosie, so I went from a weekend filled with dining out to a week filled with dinners and lunches out on the town to bring in 24. That week was such a special week for me in 2023, and I am so blessed to have enjoyed that with those that I love. However, at the same time, I was SO SO SO tired and knew I needed to make a change with how I cooked and planned my meals.

The Sunday after my Birthday week, I got in the kitchen and I meal prepped my first-ever meal in a LOONGGG while. It felt AMAZING to be in the kitchen again. I finally *confessions* cleaned all the dishes from the week prior that I had been too tired to take on and enjoyed the experience of cooking a nice meal. I had a second to simply get off my phone, laptop, and the hustle and bustle of the world and enjoy the moment. And, at the end of the cooking process, I had a nice and delicious meal to enjoy. At the same time, I felt SO MUCH MORE awake and better when I’d gotten the chance to appreciate what was right in front of me. In that moment, moving forward, I just knew that I needed to meal prep a part of my regular routine more often than not. Realistically speaking, summer travel and, well, travel in general can make meal prep a bit tricky. I learned this fact when it came to Summer travel. On the same token, I noticed that meal prep made summer travel easier and more affordable. I found that I felt better, more awake, and healthier when I meal prepped (whether home or not). My wallet has been really grateful with meal prep, as well, as I am able to focus on some new-to-me savings goals, budget accordingly for upcoming travel, and place a greater emphasis on travel and activities both near and far on my bucket list.

I used to simply DREADDD cooking in general and felt as if it was something that I HAD to do every night. My work weeks and weeks in general are busy busy busy. 2-3+ nights a week after work, I have something going on outside of my house – whether it be networking, a happy hour, or dinner with a friend/family member, or a even a special interest group meetup. With starting events for the Ignite Young Professionals Program cohort that I am excitedly apart of (here) this month, my Fall 2023 season and seasons moving forward will likely be busy busy busy on both the weekends and weeknights, which can get STRESSFUL. While I am excited for the upcoming busy professional (and personal!) seasons, I also need to stay well-fueled and eat well. When I went to Isle of Palms, South Carolina for a week in June and stayed with my best friend Hannah alongside some of our best friends and her Mom alongside some of her best friends, I learned the value of healthy eating and was SO inspired by Hannah, her Mom, and her friends. Needless to say, the amazing women (Hannah included!!!) I vacationed with at Isle of Palms were such a pivot for me in starting my own healthy eating journey which for me involved MORE meal prep and LESS eating out.

My new ritual is to go grocery shopping on a late Sunday afternoon or early in the week (depending on travel), buy what I need, and then spend the evening cooking for the upcoming week while sipping on a glass of wine. I can ALSO practice mindfulness while grocery shopping and meal prepping, too! I have also gotten into smoothies during the week, which helps me to feel fueled during my usual afternoon slump. I went to Trader Joe’s on a recent early September Sunday and found myself enjoying being inside the grocery store and the shopping experience while only focusing on what I needed for the week rather than intensively planning in my head what I want for that week and then wasting food within the long run. Not to mention the sole fact that I can enjoy and see and get inspired what what’s in-season when I shop at the grocery store in-person as opposed to using Instacart.

In the past, I used to meal plan using Hello Fresh, however, in recent times, I have found it to not be useful for me. I found myself *surprise* wasting more and more food and money (woof!). BUT, while I am not a Hello Fresh customer anymore, one thing I LOVE about Hello Fresh, is their brilliant marketing strategy to aim to transform the perspective of home-cooked meals to be as good as takeout. Hello Fresh meals are super good despite being a bit pricey and not the best move for me AND tastes just as good as (if not better) than takeout. I have found Hello Fresh’s marketing strategy to be what I use when meal prepping – I want my food to taste just as good BUT better than takeout. And, well, I have found this to be true and a fun part of putting my meal prep into (what feels like) takeout cartons for the week.

Moreover, meal prep has allowed me to enjoy the moment and be more mindful while appreciating and healthier lifestyle for both my body and wallet. I am more than excited to be continuing my new habit of meal prep and continue my goal to practice mindfulness more regularly. At the end of the day, I want to feel good both physically and mentally, which meal prep allows me to do. Do you meal prep? I have learned to LOVE it and hope you will if it works for you, too!

XOXO – Katie <3

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The Life of Katie – August 2023

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

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

Highs:

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

Lows:

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

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

XOXO – Katie <3

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The Life of Katie – 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

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What I Wish I Knew About Self Love Sooner

I went to an all-women’s college in North Carolina for my undergraduate years. While it was one the BEST decisions that I ever made in my life, it also brought up a lot of struggles of mine that were to come. One of the biggest struggles that I faced in college was watching many of my classmates date and get engaged and eventually married and start families of their own while in college. I remained single for most of my college years and yearned for a college love story of my own. I dreaded the idea of dating after college and even started to resent those of mine from college who happened to find somebody great for them during their college years. I had dreamed of going off to college, meeting my special someone, and then starting our lives together after we graduated. That is what 18 year old Katie wanted so so so bad. However, that is FAR from what 23 year old Katie got 2 years post-college graduation. However, 23 year old Katie today has learned A LOT about self love when it comes to dating that I truly wish I had learned and listened to others saying to me sooner.

Currently, I am single AND fabulous!!! I am *almost* 24 years old and praying that I do not end up in a quarter century life crisis LOL and striving to be a good friend, coworker, family member, Dog Mom, and much more. That is my ultimate goal at this moment is to better myself for myself and myself only. Now, that does not mean that one day I won’t date or end up married. In fact, I would LOVE to ultimately get married to the love of my life someday, but it is something that I feel takes time and is not something I am rushing or searching for. At the end of the day, I am content on my own and can support myself through thick and thin, whether or not I am in a relationship.

I live in a big metropolitan area – *just* outside of Washington, DC to be exact – and, well, every time I close my front door and head towards the city, I overhear a group of girls my age discussing some sort of dating issue in their lives. Every time. I used to be that girl, too. I wanted a relationship so so so bad. I tried the dating apps, dating friends, and dating classmates from college. However, none of them worked out in me meeting the love of my life. A quest to find love for myself usually ended up in LOTS of heartbreak and sadness in what I had hoped I would have. And I remember getting REALLY irritated during those times of heartbreak when those around me who love me would simply say “focus on yourself”. As annoyed as I was then, focusing on yourself is one of the most important things that you can do for you in the long run.

Seemingly happy couples getting married and having kids and embarking on homeownership and celebrating huge milestones on our social media feeds pretty often, the constant bombarding of ads for dating apps including success stories of couples who met on the app and the apps trying to get you to make an account, dating shows showcasing unconventional ways to date/get married (yes, I am *even* alluding to my favorite The Bachelor in this category), and family and friends getting engaged and married before us makes it SO easy to just want a relationship. The desire for a relationship 10000% makes us lose sight of pretty great things in life, including ourselves and what we want. In recent times, I have been working a lot on myself and trying to work through some things that cause me pain to only make me into a better person. I am also becoming more and more content with who I am as a person. I am falling head over heels in love with myself. And, the more I am loving myself, the less I am worried about dating and relationships.

There are also some people in my life that I know would make great life partners for someone else or have even been interested in me. In the past, I used to want to pursue someone for the sole purpose of them wanting to pursue me. Because, *surprise* I really wanted a relationship. Now, as I work on myself and love myself, the more I want someone else who checks all of the boxes off on my mental list of what I want in a partner. And, when I refer to a mental list of things that I want in a partner, I am NOT talking about stupid things that are nit picky, but rather big things and aspirations in my life that I hope my future spouse is on the same page with, too. And, the more I work on myself, the more I realize that while I may be attracted to someone and vice versa, that does not mean that they are the right person for me in the long term. As one of my coworkers says “the less forced a relationship feels, the more right it will be”. Indeed, that is true the more I work on myself and realize that wanting a relationship REALLY bad with fear of being alone or not being content with yourself or able to be on your own and content with it is a red flag from anybody. It’s one thing to want a relationship but know you can live without it, but it is another to feel like you have to have it and cannot be single and alone. Enjoy time with yourself and be content with yourself. Never lower your standards for someone else either!

The more I work on myself and focus on my own needs and desires, the more I am aligning myself with meeting the right person for me, even if ultimately that person is me. The fear of being alone is a real and scary fear that I have felt, but is the most liberating fear to overcome. Along with working on loving myself and striving to manifest the right person for me eventually, I am also manifesting my own incredible tribe of friends who are also my soulmates in their own unique ways. Dating isn’t everything at the end of the day. Our friends and family will always have our backs in our quests to find love within ourselves and those around us. It’s a gift that I treasure being that relationships take all sorts of beautiful forms.

XOXO – Katie <3

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Kicking off My First-ever 101 in 1001 Bucket List!

I am a big sucker for bucket lists!!! On my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!), I am ALWAYS visiting new places, whether near or far. I have many many many bucket lists. The other day, I got inspired by my fellow blogger friend Annaliese of Southern Belle in Training who just completed her first-ever 101 in 1001 bucket list. SO, as someone who LOVES reaching for the stars in her own magical and confetti-filled way, I knew that I had to jump on this bucket list idea and start it TODAY!

The 101 in 1001 bucket list is a bucket list for people to complete, which allows them to complete 101 of their own goals in different categories within 1,001 days (or a little less than 3 years). Being out of college for a year now with a stronger mindset of what I want to with my life post-college graduation, I feel as if I am in a place where I can work to achieve both my career goals and personal goals. Personally, I hope to remain in the Washington, DC area and grow my career here, too. At the same time, I have professional goals within my current company that I would like to achieve which additionally involves getting a graduate degree. I also plan to provide periodical updates on the goals that I’ve achieved over time. NOW, let’s get into it!!!

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
  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
  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

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

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
  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
  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
  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

Now, to get going on my bucket list!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Lifestyle

Through it all, the day-to-day life is what keeps me going!

The Life of Katie – November 2025

From two weekends away in North Carolina, two day trips in Virginia, and several moments spent with loved ones, November 2025 was probably my favorite month so far this year! 2025 has been a tough year for me, like it has been sadly for so many of y’all too. However, I feel extremely grateful, thankful,…

The Life of Katie – October 2025

Whether it be leaf peeping strolls or drives, quality time with loved ones, a handful of day trips, one too many cocktails, or alll of the spooky vibes in between, October 2025 truly had sooooo many special memories! Over on my Instagram (let’s be friends @_thepinkchickadee), I shared a recap of my October fun and…

The Life of Katie – September 2025

Time goes by when you’re having fun!!! Full transparency over here, I have been sooo busy since my last Life of Katie post which I wrote before my end of August week in Rome that we are at the end of September AND I haven’t written another. This past month has been a whirlwind and…

90+ Ways to Practice Self Care For Women

As women, it’s hard sometimes to prioritize ourselves. I know for a fact that at times that I have a tough time putting myself first. On a personal note, last year, I found myself starting to severely burnout from all of my personal and professional commitments (as I’ve outlined a bit here). Nevertheless, thanks to…

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The Life of Katie!

Long time, no life of Katie. Life has been crazy since my last Life of Katie blog post. Unfortunately, my mental health has been struggling since I turned 23. Surprisingly enough, May has always been a good month for me besides it being my Birthday month (my Birthday is May 1) – I graduated from college, watched my best friends graduate from college, celebrated several accomplishments of mine and others’, moved to Washington, DC, and even got my first-ever designer Kate Spade bag (something I had DREAMED of for years before) during the month of May. But, this month has proven to be different than past years. It hasn’t been easy this month, but this month has taught me a lot, too. On the flip side, there have been some blessings this month as well.

  • Cancelled trip to Boston turned into shopping spree – So, I shared on my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!), that I recently cancelled my trip to Boston. I was planning to visit my cousin which is something I’ve wanted to do for YEARS now. The reasoning behind my trip cancellation was due to the high COVID-19 rates in the Boston area, as I live with my grandfather whom I call Papa. However, despite cancelling my trip to Boston and the disappoint that it caused me, it worked out for the better. I am planning to go back to Boston with my best friend Hannah (whose going to also visit her family up there, too!) and go when it is safer COVID-19 wise, too. We will also see our mutual Meredith College friend Miranda who is at Optometry school in Boston, too, and happened to be out of town when I was planning to be there. At the same time, I decided to treat myself over the weekend with a mini shopping spree to Home Goods, Target, 2nd Avenue thrift store, Marshall’s, The Christmas Tree Shops, Kendra Scott, and Jack Rogers. Well, maybe not a mini shopping spree – haha! Some of my finds include – Sam Edelman dress, Lilly Pulitzer cooler, Flamingo tiered basket, Flamingo basket, Washington, DC framed print, “DC is my Happy Place” decorative block, Nanette Nanette Lepore business casual dresses, J McLaughlin flats, Flamingo Tumbler, Pineapple Sprinkler (courtesy of the Target Dollar Spot!), and a floppy straw beach hat. Needless to say, it was such GREAT therapy 🙂
  • Planning 2022 road trips – For the time being, I am going to stick to road trips. In just a few weeks, my best friend from New Jersey – Amanda – is coming to visit me down in Washington, DC. Next month, my Papa and best friend Bree and I are all going to the Delaware beaches where our best friend Alanna will ALSO happen to be that same exact long weekend. Papa and I are planning a road trip to Maine and Canada this summer. This will be my first time abroad since Summer 2019 when I went to Belize, and I am SUPER excited to explore some parts of Canada that I’ve always wanted to see. As for this Fall, I have a trip to Charleston, South Carolina; Okoboji, Iowa; Greenville, North Carolina; and Raleigh, North Carolina all on the horizon (well, as of right now!). And, there will be a road trip to Charlotte, North Carolina; Annapolis, Maryland; Asheville, North Carolina; Raleigh, North Carolina; and even New Jersey in between it all!
  • Redecoration for summer – With my vacation turned shopping spree behind me, I, then, went over to do some redecoration in areas of my apartment that I had *surprise* yet decorated. My dining area needed some much needed renovations via my bar cart and dresser in the dining room. It was nice to be able to deck my place ALL out. That area of my apartment used to be CLUTTER CENTRAL & it felt SO SO SO good to be able to add some extra pizzaz to it all!
  • Loving Starbucks’ new Chocolate Cream Cold Brew – So, if you know me, then you know that I LOVE Starbucks. I mean, I spend quite a bit of money there – sorry not sorry!!! So, when Starbucks released their brand-new Chocolate Cream Cold Brew, I knew that I HAD TO try it. Turns out that I am obsessed with this drink. I have ordered it at least 4 times since it was released and I hope to even more in the coming weeks. I *even* ordered it and purchased one of Starbucks’s new oh so adorable $3 tumblers.
  • Recent thrift store haul with designer gems – Last week during my cancelled trip turned not-so-mini shopping spree, I kicked off the shopping spree with a trip to my local 2nd Avenue thrift store. In case you didn’t know, 2nd Avenue thrift store is a super thrift store chain that plays homage to several thrift stores along at least the Mid-Atlantic East Coast of the United States (there are 2 locations within about a 20 minute drive from my house in opposite directions). I haven’t been to my local 2nd Avenue since January of this year, so I was definitely due for another trip, especially with the time off! Well, I found A BUNCH of good stuff while shopping at BARGAIN prices. These great bargains include: a Lilly Pulitzer romper, Jack Rogers jelly sandals, Lilly Pulitzer vintage pants, Rabbit Rabbit Rabbit Designs chiffon midi gown, and Vera Bradley printed mug, Tommy Hilfiger business casual dress – ALLL for under $80. Needless to say, I am ECSTATIC about my scores!
  • Old Bay Goldfish obsession – Ever since I was a little girl, I have been obsessed with both gold fish (fun fact: wheat gold fish are my FAVORITE!) and Old Bay seasoning. SO, when I found out that Goldfish was launching a limited-edition Old Bay-flavored gold fish flavor, I couldn’t resist trying them! They were AMAZING!!! I even *yes even* found a recipe through my friend from college too.
Hannah’s Graduation Party with her crew!
Dinner with Shivani at Rustico in Ballston, Arlington
Pre-Graduation dinner with Bryn, Alanna, and Hannah for Hannah’s Graduation
Celebrating Hannah’s Graduation from Meredith College
Brunch with Dad in Occoquan, Virginia
My DREAM shoes!!!

With May being full of wayyyy too many hauls, including getting my DREAM Badgley Mischka heels, my FabFitFun Summer 2022 box, using my Lilly Pulitzer Birthday discount to get my Gift With Purchase pouch, and my Boston cancelled trip-turned-shopping spree, and two great weekends with my best friends Alanna and Hannah both here in Washington, DC and in Raleigh, I have felt so blessed to be able to make some great memories and enjoy the little moments in between it all. However, I am MORE than ready for June aka next week – filled with vacations, my best friend Bree moving up to Washington, DC for the summer starting June 1, my best friend Amanda visiting me, my brother Will graduating from high school, Pride in Washington, DC aka Capital Pride, and much more. Bring it ALLL on!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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The $10 Pool Float that You Need this Summer

When in doubt, kiss a flamingo! If you know me, then you know I LOVE flamingos. On my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!), I shared A BUNCH of photos from my trip to Raleigh, North Carolina to celebrate my best friend Hannah’s Graduation from Meredith College. Hannah and her family hosted a Graduation Party at her gorgeous townhome in nearby-to-Raleigh Cary, North Carolina and invited a bunch of our mutual friends from college. And, after celebrating with cake, prosecco, and wayyyyy too much food, we all headed for Hannah’s gorgeous neighborhood pool for some fun in the sun! The weekend before I headed off to celebrate down in North Carolina, I went to Target where I found THE pool float that I think everyone needs this summer!!

*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.*

Over the years, I have ALWAYS wanted to purchase a flamingo pool float. Bloggers such as Kate from Lonestar Southern and her super fun photos over the years at the pool only inspired my desires for one. However, y’all – flamingo pool floats are NOT cheap and I rarely go to the pool, so there wasn’t a purpose for me to make the investment on one if it wouldn’t get its use in during the summer months. So, when I went to Target, I was pleasantly surprised to see a HUGE array of pool floats for $10 and under, including a flamingo float.

My $10 flamingo float was the PERFECT way to celebrate Hannah with all of our friends. Hannah was kind enough to blow up my $10 flamingo float for me and we all got plenty of use out of it, too. It was the PERFECT addition to make memories in, whether it be for photos, floating around in the pool, or for Hannah’s Dad to strike a pose in as he walked back to her townhome when we all made the trek aka walk back to her house. Overall, it was the PERFECT way to enjoy a pool day with great friends!

I have linked my flamingo float and MORE adorable floats each for $15 and under from Target to kick start your own Summer fun in the sun!

XOXO – Katie <3

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