A Lilly Pulitzer Holy Grail Moment

Ever since Bryn and I were planning on visiting our friend Maxwell in Hawaii, I had a dream photo shoot at the iconic “pink palace” aka the Royal Hawaiian Hotel located in downtown Waikiki. The Royal Hawaiian Hotel is seriously iconic in all its pink glory. And, what better way to style this photoshoot of my dreams than in a Lilly Pulitzer holy grail printed shift?!?!

*Just* in case you didn’t know, Lilly Pulitzer has a few select popular prints over the years that are considered “holy grail”. Many of these holy grail prints are archived and not sold/continued to be sold by Lilly Pulitzer. Some of these prints are upwards of 10+ years old, too. I found this amazing holy grail print guide by Ayana Lage here. When people think of Lilly Pulitzer prints, they may very well picture one (or more!) of Lilly Pulitzer’s iconic prints. Holy grail prints also sell for hundreds of dollars on secondhand sites such as eBay and Poshmark. Some of my favorites include “Let’s Cha Cha” (which I’m wearing for this photoshoot!) and “First Impressions” which I have hanging in a mini skirt form on my Lilly Pulitzer wall in my cloffice (here) alongside another “Let’s Cha Cha” shift. When I started to fall in love with the Lilly Pulitzer brand and styles, I immediately fell in love with many of the well-known holy grail prints, too!

For my photoshoot at THE Royal Hawaiian Hotel, I decided to *finally* style my “Let’s Cha Cha” shift that I purchased off of ThredUp earlier this year. I initially purchased a “Let’s Cha Cha” shift off of Poshmark in a much smaller size in my college years that now hangs on my Lilly Pulitzer wall! During my latter college years, I ended up growing into my figure and sadly couldn’t fit into many of my loved clothing pieces (including many holy grail Lilly Pulitzer garments). While it took quite a bit of grieving on my part that I probably wouldn’t be able to fit into many of my previously worn Lilly Pulitzer holy grail pieces, I was over the moon when I *finally* found a “Let’s Cha Cha” shift in my now-size for a reasonable price (thanks to eBay and Poshmark, usually it would be out of my price range!). During those years of grieving, I definitely struggled to feel confident with my newly grown into figure and truly feeling like my best self. It wasn’t until Summer 2023 that I felt like my best self again figure-wise. All bodies are beautiful bodies folks! Through it all, truly, having a photoshoot in my “Let’s Cha Cha” shift IN HAWAII no less years after not being able to fit into my previous one was such a full circle moment for me. Only if 2021 Katie knew, she’d be SO excited and smiling SO big!

Indeed, my Lilly Pulitzer holy grail photoshoot was such a dream come true and truly a full circle moment. 100000% one for the books!

XOXO – Katie <3

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National Wear Your Lilly Day 2024

HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY Summer Solstice ANDDD National Wear Your Lilly Day!!!! SO, *of course* I am celebrating the start of my FAVORITE season in *none other than* my favorite fashion brand Lilly Pulitzer! Every Summer, I fall IN LOVE with Summer more and more and more than the Summer before. Funny enough, I used to despite Summer, as I despise the heat and humidity in the air (despite LOVING Summer ironically – LOL!). But, today and every day this Summer 2024, I am going to celebrate my favorite season of the year in *of course* Lilly Pulitzer!

*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.*

Summer brings me SO MUCH JOY! Not only is it a unique time as its peak tourist season in the prime spots that I spend Summer in aka my home base of the Washington, DC/Northern Virginia are and my Dad’s home base and my Summer escape of Bethany Beach, Delaware, but it is also a prime travel time making it much more relaxing on the work and personal front. Oddly enough, I LOVE peak tourist season, due to the fact that I get to meet people from EVERYWHERE without leaving my own backyard and it truly is a melting pot (both culturally and LITERALLY with the heat!). It truly is magical when tourists are around! Summer is truly an opportunity to explore where I live but also some new-to-me places, too, as I try to add 2-3 new places to my list of places been each Summer as well. At the same time, I LOVE the many opportunities to truly slow down, recharge, and emphasize the need to practice mindfulness in the Summer months. Truly, there are SOOO many reasons that I love Summer, and I could gush about this incredible season that I adore ALL SEASON LONG.

My Summer 2024 is an exciting one, as I have two trips planned to two very new-to-me states, yet two states that I have had on my radar for YEARS (more to come in August/September on those!). I am also going to visit some previously visited places in North Carolina and the Midwest, too, to visit some friends and enjoy some new spots in those places this Summer season. At the same time, I will ALSO be spending LOTS of weekends (and weeks too) in Bethany Beach, Delaware with my Dad, Step Mom, and their Yorkie aka my “Sissy” Ginger whom I have a close bond with, alongside our family and friends. My Summers in Bethany Beach are SO SO SO special to me and nothing short of a blessing. I also love the magic of the beach (and busy boardwalk) during the peak Summer season! At the same time, I plan to spend some special moments with my friends close to home, such as happy hours overlooking the waterfront in Old Town Alexandria, a few performances at the Kennedy Center, picnics with friends to local parks, and many days in the sunshine with my dog Rosie. Through it all, I am excited for what Summer 2024 has in store!

As we all know, Lilly Pulitzer is SUCH a Summer staple. Although I am a firm believer that Lilly Pulitzer can be beautifully styled in different ways all year long, Summer truly is THE MONTH for styling ALL THINGS Lilly Pulitzer! One of my favorite Summer staples is the Kristen Flounce Swing dress (similar style here) that I am styling that can be worn for casual Summer work from home days and walks with Rosie to dinners on the town or (in my case) the boardwalk. Truly, my love of Lilly Pulitzer and wearing it in the Summer months is the icing on the cake of my love for Summer!

My love for Summer truly continues to grow as the years go by! Lilly Pulitzer has definitely made my love for this fun month only bloom into something very beautiful. For now, I am *more than excited* to enjoy the longest day of 2024 and I hope YOU are too!!!

See my previous posts on National Wear Your Lilly Day here:

Happy National Wear Your Lilly Day 2024!!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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The Life of Katie – April 2024

April 2024 was a WHIRLWIND of a month! From my first-ever solo trip to Europe to graduation from Ignite Young Professionals to back to reality to birthday celebrations for all and everything in between, April 2024 had A LOT going for it. Many highs and lows happened in April 2024, however, through it all, I am grateful for the growth that occurred during this Spring month.

*Disclaimer: Please note that this post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase through one of my links, then I will receive a small commission. This commission is at no extra cost to you. Additionally, this post is not sponsored, and all opinions are my own.*

My Favorite Buys:

I will pre-phase that due to my trip to Ireland during the first half of this past month, most of my buys are … souvenirs (which I will *of course* share with y’all!!!). HOWEVER, I did enjoy some sample products that I got from my monthly Ipsy subscription (more on that here) and a TJ Maxx/Home Goods run! I ALSO had a very fun collaboration with a super fun brand over on my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee) that I’ll share more on in this section, too!

  • This month, I had the HUGE honor of working with 66Disco Wholesale – a plus-sized wholesale brand focused on empowering women to feel and look their best at ALL sizes. Y’all, I was BLOWN away by how adorable their selection of well-made, high-quality clothing at AMAZING prices is, too! Use my discount code KT15 for 15% off your purchase today.

  • I have been working these past few months with a super incredible t-shirt brand: Mountain Moverz. Upon returning from Ireland, I received an adorable tee with the slogan “happiness comes in waves” that I LOVED styling for an ultra-fun outing via a picnic and walk with my best friend Haley the weekend after I got home. Use my discount code KATIET20 for 20% off your purchase today!

  • On my most recent TJ Maxx haul complete with a gift card, I got these gorgeous House of Harlow 1960 gold hoop earrings (similar here) for $13. I KNOW that these hoops WILL become another staple in my wardrobe, especially since they work for my hypoallergenic ears that become ultra-sensitive to wearing earrings ALL the time.
  • I have recently been getting into thrifting more often than not ANDDD I have found some AMAZING pieces (!!!!!). One of which was a pair of Kate Spade gold sparkly block heels that happened to be in my size for a whopping $7.49 at my local Salvation Army. I ended up going to my local Salvation Army *just* a day before STEM For Her’s Elevate Her Gala, which I attended on behalf of my company and they literally were THE PERFECT shoe to wear for the occasion and extremely comfortable, too!!
  • ANNDDDD, as for Ireland souvenirs, I got a hot pink wool blanket from Ireland’s LARGEST (!!!!) woolen mills outlet: Blarney Woolen Mills, matching Daisy the sheep keychains for me and my best friend Liz, a pink wool scarf, a tartan wool scarf, and tea from Bewley’s (THANK YOU to my Instagram friend Julie of @julies_colorful_life – go follow her!!!! – for the recommendation) as well as Titantic Tea from a Northern Ireland deli. Last but not least, I went to … the Disney Store (!!!!!) and got myself another plush Olaf aka my FAVORITE Disney character EVER!

Highs:

  • I kicked off April 2024 with … a solo trip to Ireland! I had a home base in Dublin for 8 days and traveled ALLL across the country thanks to the power of the Viator app. I went to Northern Ireland, Connemara, Cork County, Glendalough, The Atlantic Way, and ALL around Dublin. My trip to Ireland was my first trip to Europe since studying abroad in my college years in 2018 (5th time to Europe!!!!) and my first time in Ireland. I truly fell IN LOVE with Ireland and its culture and people and many many many incredible sights to see. Needless to say, MORE information to come on ALL the details from my incredible trip to Ireland *very* soon!
  • Believe it or not, I have hit a new peak television genre interest this April 2024: true crime. From YouTube videos on true crime stories to Mean Girl Murders binge-watching on HBO Max, the my interests has peaked. I think, for me, the biggest fascination with it all is people’s psychologies and experiences behind these tragic events that shape what happened before/after them.
  • My best friend Liz celebrated a HUGE milestone Birthday turning 30!!!! Me, Liz, and some of her closest friends and family celebrated Liz’s special milestone birthday with a beautiful arrangement and setup done by her ultra-sweet sister-in-law Katie via @fleuriste_dc (follow her on Instagram!!!!), wine at The Winery at Bull Run, and dinner at Thompson Italian in Falls Church. Nevertheless, I had an INCREDIBLE time celebrating my best friend Liz to kick off Taurus season with her amazing friends and family.

  • I attended STEM For Her’s Elevate Her Gala for the third time at the end of April, alongside some of my super sweet coworkers all of whom have volunteered with STEM For Her – an incredible nonprofit focused on providing scholarships and academic opportunities and support to empower the next generation of girls and women in STEM. I have gotten to know some of the inspiring students and volunteers and board members that make the uplifting community and me proud to be a fellow Woman in STEM!

  • To kick off my Birthday week, I went to Barca Pier and Wine Bar in Old Town Alexandria aka a FAVORITE of my family’s and I’s for *none other than* a tapas BIRTHDAY BRUNCH (!!!!!) with Aunt Amy and Papa. It was such a special brunch AND a beautiful day to be on the Potomac River with those that I LOVE.

  • Just 10 days after my trip to Ireland, I packed my bags *yet again* for another trip to … Bethany Beach, Delaware to visit my Dad, Step Mom, and Sissy aka their Yorkie Ginger. My best friend Amanda came to visit for the weekend, too, and we enjoyed some super nice dinners, including to Ava’s Pizzeria and Wine Bar and The Libation Room, both in nearby Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. We also enjoyed a gorgeous day to Assateague Island National Seashore and Berlin, Maryland *complete* with a boozy ice cream refreshment. All in all, we enjoyed a super nice, relaxing, and rejuvenating weekend!

  • I have adored ALLLL the flowers this Springtime. Flowers bring me SO MUCH JOY and this Spring was NOOO different. I am oh so fortunate enough to live in a house with a HUGE backyard full of gorgeous Azalea blooms, making every April super duper cheerful! My best friend Haley and I ALSO went on a stunning walk to Bull Run Regional Park’s Bluebell trail, which was GORGEOUS. And, I have enjoyed taking SOOO many photos in front of ALLLL the blooms, from tulips to different cherry tree variations than the typical cherry blossom to Azaleas and EVERYTHING in between!

  • Right after I landed in the states from Ireland, I graduated from the Ignite Young Professionals Program via the Leadership Center of Arlington after 8 months of leadership, personal, and professional development amongst fellow early career professionals. I have served as the social chair for my Ignite Young Professionals cohort and it has been SUCH AN HONOR to serve my class, as we have been SOOO lucky to bond with one another over the 8 month time frame, too. While I am sad that classes are over, I am super excited to stay connected with my cohort beyond our program time.
  • In April, I have enjoyed dinners with friends and Papa and my own company (usually complete with Chinese takeout – LOL!) from a trip to Tyson’s Galleria to admire ALLLL the fashion with Liz or a home cooked meal with Briana and Papa. Dinners, whether at home or on the town, are SUCH A BLESSING when spent with those that we love!

Lows:

  • Pollen allergies are THE WORST during the April timeframe. If you know, you know! Enough said.
  • Since coming back from my travels, it is definitely tough getting back to reality and in the swing of things. Being transparent over here that while I LOVE my job, I also LOVE the time I get to completely clock off of Outlook and Teams and simply recharge. I miss Ireland dearly and truly cherished my time there. It was hard getting back to work, however, I am super grateful to have a supportive professional environment and coworkers who LOVED seeing photos from my trip, too!

Here’s to May flowers ALLL month long!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Lilly Pulitzer Sunshine Sale: January 2024

*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.*

I haven’t personally written a blog post on the Lilly Pulitzer Sunshine Sale since January 2023. And, if you’ve been following and shopping the Lilly Pulitzer Sunshine Sales this past year, then you know a few things have changed to make the sale much more exciting (!!!).

And, *of course*, if you want to shop the sale and support me at the same time, then feel free to shop here. I always appreciate every ounce of support that each of y’all have provided me in my happy community here! <3

What has changed since January 2023?! Two things:

1 – Since January 2023, Lilly Pulitzer launched their first-ever rewards program: Club Lilly (here). When the September 2023 Sunshine Sale came around, Lilly Pulitzer allowed Club Lilly members … Early Access to all next day drops. Club Lilly members can register AND redeem rewards on future purchases within the Lilly Pulitzer app (downloadable on all major phones in their app stores). SO, moral of the story is: join Club Lilly if you haven’t already!

2 – During the September 2023 sale, NOBODY I knew had to wait in the virtual queue to get into the sale. Everyone had instant access, NO MATTER WHAT time they logged onto the site, at approximately 8am. To me, it felt wayyy too good to be true, but I was SO happy to see that no one had to wait in the queue either. However, merchandise did sell quickly during the September 2023 sale, as everyone was logged on at the same time, so definitely keep that in mind. Hopefully, this no virtual queue remains true in the January 2024 sale!

If you don’t know, the Lilly Pulitzer Sunshine Sale (formerly known as the After Party Sale) is Lilly Pulitzer’s biannual sale. It typically happens every January and September for only A FEW DAYS. Lilly Pulitzer does not have a sale section on their website (only in stores which can be hit or miss) which is something unique about the brand, making their sales SO MUCH more exciting and special. It is primarily online and has been in recent years due to COVID-19, yet many Lilly Pulitzer boutiques and Signature Stores do offer early access over the weekends in stores before the sale launches online (in this case, sales started showing up in both flagship and Signature Stores the day after Christmas!). Many of Lilly Pulitzer’s Signature Stores and Zappos (sometimes Belk, too!) offer sales online (those that have websites, though) starting at midnight the day of, so definitely stay up for that! Other Signature Stores offer shipping at a flat fee when you call their storefront during the duration of the sale to purchase – THIS can be a great way to purchase from a Signature Store (which ALL are small businesses) while sometimes *EVEN* getting a product you wanted from the sale which could be out of stock online before you get a chance to shop. Check out several of Lilly Pulitzer’s Signature Stores and their websites, which I list in this blog post here: https://pinkchickadee.com/2021/11/20/preppy-small-businesses-to-support-this-holiday-season/

Lilly Pulitzer’s Sunshine Sale is an experience to not be missed. Personally, I prefer to shop online as I am NOT a fan of the big crowds and long lines which may come with shopping in-store the weekend before. However, I DID get the amazing opportunity to shop the Sunshine Sale in-store in September 2022 (the most recent Sunshine Sale) at The Pink Crab in Annapolis. The ladies at The Pink Crab were SOOOO sweet and made my shopping experience one that I look back on and smile about to this day. The same goes for when I went into the Lilly Pulitzer Flagship store in Alexandria, Virginia in September 2023. I have, since, become friends with the ultra-sweet ladies at that location, too! Though I did shop in-store twice during the Sunshine Sale, I have yet to experience the typical crowds that come with shopping it this way. But, on the other hand, as someone who primarily works from home, I get so giddy to wake up at 8am on a Monday morning to shop and then get going on my work without the occasional early work morning blue’s. Sometimes, I *even* shop the drops the next day(s) during the Sunshine Sale, too (which Club Lilly members get early access to!!!!). It is just such an exciting time!

While I won’t dedicate this blog post to writing a bunch of tips about the Sunshine Sale, I will share some blog posts that I wrote in years past that include TONS of Sunshine Sale tips that are still pretty relevant to this day! I will say, though, that my biggest piece of advice is to be open-minded about what may be in the sale. I know many people who have made lists for the things that they want in the Sunshine Sale, which can either be a good or bad thing. I have also seen people being given the wrong package during the Sunshine Sale (especially in September 2022 – tons of complaints on Lilly Lovers Facebook groups!) so BEWARE and MINDFUL. In the meantime, you can read my previous Sunshine Sale blog posts, including several tips (!!!), here:

Happy shopping!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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National Wear Your Lilly Day 2023

Happy Summer Solstice and first *official* day of summer (!!!). Over the years, summer has surprisingly been my least favorite season. I, then, despised the hot and humid weather and simply wanted to curl up in a warm blanket and sweatshirt and pajama pants with a cup of tea and admire the snow outside with a fire pit in the background. However, in recent times, I have started to LOVE the warmer months of summer and spring much more than the cooler ones (although, I will ALWAYS be a sucker for fall!!). To kick off the first day of summer aka the day that this post is published on the blog, fellow Lilly Pulitzer lovers like myself commemorate the start of summer with National Wear Your Lilly Day (see my 2022 posting on it here)!

This past weekend, I got to spend the weekend with my Dad and Step Mom in Bethany Beach, Delaware and my best friend Amanda came to join us, too (it was Amanda’s first time in Delaware!!). We had such a special weekend together and it was truly incredible. Going to Bethany Beach was such a GREAT way to kick off Summer 2023, SO I had Amanda take some photos of me here to share on this platform with y’all in honor of *none other than* National Wear Your Lilly Day. I feel so incredibly lucky to have such an amazing friend like Amanda whom I can call family, as we’ve known one another since we were little.

So, you may be wondering, what is National Wear Your Lilly Day (NWYLD)?! NWYLD is a day commemorated today (or the day that I published this blog post!!!) aka the First Day of Summer/Summer Solstice. THIS IS A DAY in which ALL Lilly Pulitzer lovers love to embrace. We can commemorate our love of the Lilly Pulitzer brand, our community, and share it with others, too. The Lilly Pulitzer brand all started with a juice stand in Palm Beach, Florida. Lilly (McKim) Pulitzer had recently moved to Palm Beach, Florida with her husband and simply needed something to do. So, Pulitzer started a juice stand and uncovered that there were no dresses and pieces that she loved that would cover her juice stains. And, well, that was how the brand of Lilly Pulitzer begun: Pulitzer started making brightly and beautifully printed clothing that would cover her juice stains. Soon after, the likes of the Kennedy family (including former First Lady Jackie Kennedy!!!) and many more flocked to the Lilly Pulitzer brand which has become a prominent brand that many love to this day. Knowing the start of the Lilly Pulitzer brand (which I wrote MANY high school and college papers on – LOL!) is helpful in bringing together the community that Lilly Pulitzer has brought to me and several others as well.

My FAVORITE part of kicking off NWYLD is the sheer fact that I can *finally* use the #SummerInLilly acceptably – LOL!! Every day feels like summer when you’re in Lilly Pulitzer, though (!!!). I decided to *finally* pop the tags on my Cody Shift dress from the Sunshine Sale back in September 2022, which I write about here, and pair it with my Talbots straw navy and white striped pineapple clutch which I got from ThredUp, Jack Rogers pineapple and flamingo sandals, and jewelry from the likes of Kendra Scott, Amazon, Target, and The Inspiration Co. This outfit was PERFECT for shopping on the Bethany Beach boardwalk and dinner nearby afterwards. It was also the best look to commemorate #SummerInLilly!

Needless to say, summer is ALWAYS better in Lilly Pulitzer!!! What can I say?!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Let’s Celebrate Lilly Pulitzer’s Birthday 2022!

Late fashion designer Lilly Pulitzer once said: “it’s always summer somewhere!” On this very day, Lilly Pulitzer would be celebrating her 91st Birthday. And, today, we are partying like it’s 1931 in our brightest Lilly Pulitzer shifts and a cocktail in hand in her honor! As a little girl, I fell in love with the Lilly Pulitzer brand and my love for the brand only continued to grow throughout my high school and college years. The Lilly Pulitzer fashion brand has helped me express myself and become who I am today.

*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.*

Lilly Pulitzer embodies everything in a person that I want to be! She was kind, classy, bright, bubbly, and always down for a GREAT time. Growing up, the brand Lilly Pulitzer embodied to me someone who was everything that Lilly Pulitzer, herself, was. My late Great Aunt Margaret was a Lilly Pulitzer lover as well. She introduced me to the brand as a little girl when we passed The Pink Crab – an Annapolis, Maryland-based Lilly Pulitzer Signature Store and I immediately wanted to buy everything in the store. Just like Lilly Pulitzer, Aunt Margaret truly embodied the woman that Lilly Pulitzer was. That all being said, today is a day that I think is well worth honoring these two women that helped shape me into who I am today.

In college, I was known as “the Lilly [Pulitzer] girl”: a namesake that I am truly proud of to this very day. I ALWAYS wore Lilly Pulitzer in college and both of my dorms along with my college apartment were decked out in all things Lilly Pulitzer-themed. At the same time, I constantly hosted my friends over for dinners, parties, and viewing parties of The Bachelor in my apartment with my roommate and one of my best friends to this day Sophie. Thankfully for us both, Sophie and I both have a very Lilly Pulitzer-like taste in home decor! I truly found the love of spreading joy, wearing bright colors, and being kind to go a loooonnggg way. All times of life are stressful by my college years surrounded by ALL things Lilly Pulitzer truly made me life a party and I dressed like it regularly, too!

“Anything is possible with sunshine and a little pink”

— Lilly Pulitzer

All things taken into consideration, I truly loved my college experience wearing Lilly Pulitzer for practically EVERY event that we had and living up to my nickname of “the Lilly girl”. I am truly proud to be someone that has never been afraid to be herself. Lilly Pulitzer once said “being happy never goes out of style” and it truly doesn’t. There is ALWAYS an opportunity to spread some joy to others, no matter what the occasion may be. In recent times, my Dad’s side of the family has unfortunately experienced some losses. But, through it all, my Aunt Sherri always made sure to give everyone a laugh. To her, laughter is the best medicine and I truly agree. I am a firm believer, just like my Aunt Sherri, that laughter always brings some happiness *even* during the toughest of times. Wearing Lilly Pulitzer brings me SO much joy.

To celebrate Lilly Pulitzer’s 91st Birthday, I have linked some of my favorite Lilly Pulitzer gifts for the strong and extraordinary Lilly lovers in your life!

Here’s to all the strong women in our world – may we know them, may we raise them, may we be them. And, may we honor them today and everyday! Today, I will honor my Great Aunt Margaret who helped shape my fashion sense and personality with her loving nature, kindness, poise, and bubbly personality. I will also honor the late fashion designer Lilly Pulitzer who gave me a love for a brand that I will cherish forever with memories and love of my Aunt Margaret and many others in my life whom I truly love and care for.

XOXO – Katie <3

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The Life of Katie!

From shopping the Lilly Pulitzer Sunshine Sale to working 9-5 to travel in 3+ different states and enjoying time with family and friends all in between, life has been crazy to say the least! If you follow along on my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!), then you probably have seen ALL of my recent adventures. Currently, sheer exhaustion is the NAME of the game recently, yet the exhaustion of mine has not kept me from making memories in the midst of it all. Personally, I believe that we ALL have one life to live and we should live it to the fullest that we possibly can – even if that means doing a lot all at once!

  • Planning Fall trips – Currently, my Papa and friends and extended family and I are planning trips for this Fall 2022 season. Y’all, it’s going to be a BUSY one in terms of travel. My trips include: Greenville & New Bern in North Carolina this September, Philadelphia and Shenandoah National Park and Annapolis with some Washington, DC day trips sprinkled in this October, and the Delaware beaches and Raleigh and Maryland beaches along the Eastern Shore this November. This December, I am looking up and ahead to*yet another* Raleigh trip for my best friend Hannah’s Birthday Weekend along with a long weekend in New York City to see the Rockettes (ticket ALREADY booked!!!) with my best friend Alanna and her family. I am really excited for my upcoming adventures, as they are mostly on the weekends so I can focus on work at home (which has been far from the truth these past few weeks!).
  • Lilly Pulitzer Sunshine Sale Excitement!!! – If you know me, then you know that I LOVE LOVE LOVE Lilly Pulitzer! In case you didn’t know, Lilly Pulitzer only has a sale twice a year – known now as the Sunshine Sale (it used to be called the After Party Sale) – and it is currently going on NOW as I am writing and publishing this post (!!!!). I previewed the Sunshine Sale over this past weekend at my nearest Signature Store (or local Lilly Pulitzer boutique): The Pink Crab in Annapolis, Maryland. My late Great Aunt Margaret who was also a Lilly Pulitzer lover shopped there A LOT, so I am glad that I got to live out my best life for her! The ladies at The Pink Crab are THE SWEETEST and made my shopping experience there such a great experience. I’m excited to visit again. Afterwards, I went over to Bitty & Beau’s – a cafe that primarily hires people with intellectual and developmental disabilities – for some coffee and an amazing chocolate muffin, where I hung there for a bit and socialized with the super sweet staff. It was a super duper fun Lilly Pulitzer Sunshine Sale preview day! To read more about the Lilly Pulitzer Sunshine Sale this September 2022, look no further than here: https://pinkchickadee.com/2022/09/09/lilly-pulitzer-sunshine-sale-september-2022/#/
  • Trader Joe’s Obsession – I have recently established an obsession with Trader Joe’s. I went there on Saturday after hitting up The Pink Crab’s Sunshine Sale preview. Needless to say, the prices at Trader Joe’s were REALLY GOOD for the grocery items that I consistently like to purchase as compared to some of the other grocery stores that I frequent closer to home. I typically purchase fish filets (such as salmon and shrimp), salad, fresh vegetables to roast/air fry, granola bars, and yogurt. Well, along with *of course* coffee. Not to mention the fact that Trader Joe’s has ALLLL the seasonal staples when it comes to grocery items and standard-sized pumpkins to put on your doorstep for under $5 each. That all being said, I am definitely going to be hitting up Trader Joe’s more for groceries!

Y’all, I would write more BUT I am way too tired haha! At this current moment, I am very happy to be back at home for the time being with only weekend trips on the horizon. I am currently counting my blessings and enjoying every second of every moment, no matter how I may feel. I hope you do just the same.

XOXO – Katie <3

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Lilly Pulitzer Sunshine Sale September 2022!

Is it just me or does the gap of time between the January Lilly Pulitzer Sunshine Sale and the September Lilly Pulitzer Sunshine Sale feel MUCH larger than between September-January?!?! I think YES! BUT, we’re here now, folks. The Lilly Pulitzer Sunshine Sale September 2022 sale is *FINALLY* upon the horizon and I can stop complaining now about waiting much longer for it!!! If you follow me on Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!), then you probably know that I am a 5+ year Lilly Pulitzer lover. SO, Lilly Pulitzer’s Sunshine Sale is like my own version of the Super Bowl, as it may be for you too. Cheers!

The Lilly Pulitzer Sunshine Sale September 2022 will occur Monday September 12-Wednesday September 14 and will be online only. Some participating Signature Stores will have in-store sales starting Saturday September 10-Sunday September 11. See the list of Lilly Pulitzer stores here: https://www.lillypulitzer.com/stores/?showMap=true&horizontalView=true&isForm=true

*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.*

To shop ANYTHING in the sale or on the Lilly Pulitzer site for that matter, use this link: https://rstyle.me/+ZX8-I5owdYcX1fQgk_d8zg

If you don’t know, the Lilly Pulitzer Sunshine Sale (formerly known as the After Party Sale) is Lilly Pulitzer’s biannual sale. It typically happens every January and September for only A FEW DAYS. Lilly Pulitzer does not have a sale section on their website (only in stores which can be hit or miss) which is something unique about the brand, making their sales SO MUCH more exciting and special. It is primarily online and has been in recent years due to COVID-19, yet many Lilly Pulitzer boutiques and Signature Stores do offer early access over the weekends in stores before the sale launches online. Many of Lilly Pulitzer’s Signature Stores and Zappos (sometimes Belk, too!) offer sales online (those that have websites, though) starting at midnight the day of, so definitely stay up for that! Other Signature Stores offer shipping at a flat fee when you call their storefront during the duration of the sale to purchase – THIS can be a great way to purchase from a Signature Store (which ALL are small businesses) while sometimes *EVEN* getting a product you wanted from the sale which could be out of stock online before you get a chance to shop. Check out several of Lilly Pulitzer’s Signature Stores and their websites, which I list in this blog post here: https://pinkchickadee.com/2021/11/20/preppy-small-businesses-to-support-this-holiday-season/

Lilly Pulitzer’s Sunshine Sale is an experience to not be missed. Personally, I prefer to shop online as I am NOT a fan of the big crowds and long lines which may come with shopping in-store the weekend before. PLUS, as someone who primarily works from home, I get so giddy to wake up at 8am on a Monday morning to shop and then get going on my work without the Monday blue’s. I have never shopped a Lilly Pulitzer Sale of any kind in store – I have shopped gifts with purchase, though, in-person. HOWEVER, the Sunshine Sale does have its moments which may be trying. Last January and September 2021 before the sale then, compiled a list of Sunshine Sale tips which you may read here:

Whether this is your first or 30th time shopping the Lilly Pulitzer Sunshine Sale, it is always an experience never to be missed. I personally *every time* get the mega thrill of shopping this fun and exciting sale twice a year. I hope you do, too! Happy shopping!!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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The Life of Katie!

Recently, life has been busy but in a good way! If you follow me on Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee), then you have probably seen all of the excitement going in on my life recently. One of my best friends, Bryn, moved to the Washington, DC area for the summer (and has been here for almost TWO months now!), I have gone into the city for a few day visits, and I have enjoyed essentially the dog days of summer before I head off on an almost-month long adventure through 10+ different states.

*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.*

  • Visits to the city – Recently, I have been enjoying quite a few visits into the city. If you have been following the blog for quite some time, my local city is Washington, DC! I have LOVED going into the city that I truly love and am proud to call my home. Funny story – I went to a picnic at the gorgeous Glen Echo Park – located just Northwest of Washington, DC in Maryland – and my Mom and one of my family friends who works at my company were joking about how I didn’t want to leave my college state of North Carolina post-graduation to move up to Washington, DC. And, well, here we are – one of the BEST decisions I EVER made was moving to the Washington, DC area and out of North Carolina!! My recent visits have involved going to Dupont Circle, the National Mall, Metro Center, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery. Here’s to many more memories exploring my gorgeous city!
  • Local walks – One of my goals of the current moment or *I guess* dog days of summer is to go on MORE WALKS! Especially with my recent health and fatigue, I want to be able to enjoy the moments and the little things in life, which I feel a walk allows me to do. I can admire the gorgeous flora, fauna, and the stunning beauty that is around me. I have gotten a lot of walking in on my day trips into Washington, DC along with the near-to-me Heron Pond in Fairfax Station, Virginia. Personally, Heron Pond feels like a fairytale cove – some photos below!
  • Planning for my upcoming trips! – On my Instagram the other day, I shared a bit about the planning process for my upcoming travel over the next 6 weeks. Yes, you heard me right – I will be on the road for the majority of the next 6 weeks! Papa and I are going to visit 10+ states on 2 road trips together and I will be visiting *yet another* state on a third trip on my own with some friends from college, too. Currently, we have been in the process of booking hotels, planning out snacks and other meals, choosing activities to do, mapping out our routes from place-to-place, and listing out what we need to pack. And, for me, I am *ALSO* planning out my content for all things The Pink Chickadee! Some of the states that we are going to include: Maine, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Iowa, Ohio, South Dakota, North Carolina, and Indiana. In addition to 10+ states, we are going to Canada for a few day trips as well. Needless to say, I am SO EXCITED for it all!
  • Healthy eating – Along with walking, I am also making it a dog days of summer goal of mine to focus more on healthy eating. Recently, I have been striving to eat more in and less takeout. While, at the same time, exploring some healthy meal options, such as: baked tilapia with roasted veggies, veggie bowls over rice, egg bowls packed with vegetables, and baked feta pasta with veggie-based noodles and broccoli, onions, and mushrooms. There’s A LOT of great healthy eating options, and I am more than excited to explore what the world of healthy eating has to offer to me!
  • Breaking open my brand-new Lilly Pulitzer agenda – It is July 31 as of the day that this blog post goes live, which, well, means that tomorrow is August 1! August 1 is Day 1 of breaking open my brand-new Lilly Pulitzer agenda (!!!!). I always buy the jumbo-sized agenda, since my handwriting is HUGE. I use my Lilly Pulitzer agenda to map out: what I plan to eat, when I plan to workout, what professional development activities I plan to do, what blogging tasks I plan to accomplish, and what activities I am going to be doing for the week/month. As my best friend Shivani says: ” I get my every penny out of my planner” (she owns an Erin Condren planner!!). And, just like Shivani, I do (and plan to do!) the exact same thing. In the meantime, shop my favorite planner here and my favorite Lilly Pulitzer planners and accessories below: https://rstyle.me/+cJphmW-md5iOOQEFMkMggQ

XOXO – Katie <3

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A Summer in Lilly Pulitzer Workwear Look

If you’re a big Lilly Pulitzer fan (like myself!!), then you probably know that Lilly Pulitzer has its own unique #SummerInLilly across its social media channels. Many Lilly Pulitzer lovers – like myself! (follow me @_thepinkchickadee on Instagram) – love to show off their #SummerInLilly ALL across social media. Lilly Pulitzer is typically seen as a resort luxury fashion brand. I mean, the fashion house was founded in Palm Beach, Florida! BUT, there is so much more that Lilly Pulitzer can be styled for besides a nice outfit for vacation or a night out in the summer. Here, I am going to be sharing a summer in Lilly Pulitzer workwear look!

For similar content, look no further than these blog posts:

SO, you may be thinking: Lilly Pulitzer AND work do not seem like a worthy combination. BUT, IT IS! Flash back to when I was in college and I was known as “the Lilly [Pulitzer] girl” amongst my classmates and across my college campus. At the same time, many of us were talking about internships and professional events that we went to. I LOVED and still love Lilly Pulitzer and wanted to incorporate it into my everyday wardrobe, including *yes* my workwear wardrobe when I was working 9 to 5 like I do now. Many of my friends would disagree with me on the idea that Lilly Pulitzer can be worn for work and tried to sway me to look elsewhere and to other brands for workwear. While that can be true in some regards for workwear and specific work events and meetings and days, it isn’t the case all the time, especially for my work from home life and the casual more so open-ended dress code that my company has for when we do go in person. However, in my college years, I was fearful that I would have to let go of my love for Lilly Pulitzer in the work space.

Although I was nervous that I would have to dress in any brand BUT Lilly Pulitzer for work, that was ONLY just a fear of mine. It happened to be that many Lilly Pulitzer pieces can be worn in the workplace if styled accordingly. One of my favorite fellow influencers and friends of mine on Instagram for styling Lilly Pulitzer and well in general is Julie of @julies_colorful_life on the gram (definitely go check her out!!). Julie is the QUEEN of styling bright, colorful, and preppy work looks on Instagram, many of which include none other than Lilly Pulitzer. Many of Julie’s work looks with Lilly Pulitzer involve gorgeous cardigans, jackets, Sarah Flint shoes, and classic totes from brands like Louis Vuitton and Longchamp. Julie ALWAYS looks so adorable in her work looks and has inspired me and made me realize that I could do just the same for my work wardrobe, too. The office does not have to be a neutral-only place, like many think!

Funny story: so, I went to a work event back in early April and I was 1/2 folks dressed in bright color out of the ENTIRE conference room. The other one was my fellow work friend Katherine and we were SO proud of our fun, colorful looks and we OWNED it! One of my fellow coworkers who had just met me immediately was obsessed with my look and exclaimed “you look like Elle Woods!!” aka the BEST compliment yet and she was given immediate bestie status – LOL! The bottom line of this story is to BE YOU and wear what YOU WANT – though, within reason – for the office. Usually, most will be happy you did and you will be too!

So, for my outfit, I stuck to some pieces that I either thrifted or purchased during the Lilly Pulitzer Sunshine Sale back in September 2021 aka my Lilly Pulitzer pineapple midi dress. As for the headband aka the exception to where all pieces were purchased along with my tote, I got it from Spartina 449 via a FabFitFun Edit Sale. My tote was customized via my alma mater Meredith College’s Alumnae Marketplace – the Meredith Market – around Christmas time. It is LL Bean! Meanwhile, my thrifted finds include my hot pink Tommy Hilfiger cardigan and my Valentino rock stud flats dupes from the Mix No5 brand sold at DSW currently. I got the flats for a whopping $1 at Philly Aids Thrift – which donates all proceeds to LGBTQ+ nonprofits – in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania while with my best friend Violet last September. The pearl necklace was given to me by my Mom.

So, remember that YOU can wear Lilly Pulitzer for workwear!

XOXO – Katie <3

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