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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National Wear Your Lilly Day 2022!

If you know me or follow me on social media (follow me on Instagram @_thepinkchickadee!), then you know that I am a HUGE fan of the fashion brand Lilly Pulitzer! Lilly Pulitzer has been my favorite fashion designer for a LOOONGGG time now: I fell in love with her bright and bubbly designs. And, in my high school and early college years, I started expanding my wardrobe to include Lilly Pulitzer pieces. Since then, I have amassed a HUGE closet full of Lilly Pulitzer pieces, a bedroom decked out in Lilly Pulitzer, an office space decked out in Lilly Pulitzer, and *of course* a love for the community and culture of the brand.

Read more on my love for Lilly Pulitzer on the blog here:

*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.*

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.

This year’s look to commemorate NWYLD (besides the shift that I am wearing to the office today) was styled a few days ago in Pennington, New Jersey – my hometown up until the age of 8. My favorite piece that I purchased so far this year is my Parigi Skort Romper in Blue Horizon Coming In Hot. I wore this romper favorite of mine for my 23rd Birthday. I styled my romper with my heart-shaped printed pouch that Lilly Pulitzer is Birthday gifting with purchase along with a 15% off Birthday discount with any $150 or $200+ purchase (upon registration for an account and listing your birthday on the Lilly Pulitzer website) that is sent on one’s birthday or around it. And, *of course* I had to wear a Lilly Pulitzer top knot headband and my bright pink Classic Jacks Jack Rogers sandals because I LOOVVEEE my Jack Rogers sandals! Shop the Parigi Skort Romper here: https://rstyle.me/+TMrZQf3de8KAAIkjUgIbJA

Also, I have linked some of my current favorite Lilly Pulitzer products below!

Now, Happy NWYLD & Summer Solstice!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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My Lilly Pulitzer Gallery Wall

Be the sunshine is one of Lilly Pulitzer’s BEST mottos. And, now my gallery wall feels like sunshine 24/7! I posted on my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!) my Lilly Pulitzer Gallery Wall reveal a few weeks back. Well, I *finally* thought that I would share ALLL of the details about my Lilly Pulitzer Gallery Wall!! The best part?! I spent $0 on it and used only things that I already had on hand.

Lilly Pulitzer has been my favorite fashion brand for YEARS now *surprise!!!*. I have been purchasing and growing my Lilly Pulitzer collection for over 5 years now. My Lilly Pulitzer collection has gone with me since graduating from both high school and college, a move to North Carolina, a move to the Washington, DC area, and employment. Needless to say, I have had many great memories in the items within my ever-growing Lilly Pulitzer collection that has become super special to me. Many of my Lilly Pulitzer pieces still fit me from over the years and many also do not. Part of me could not part with getting rid of or even selling these Lilly Pulitzer pieces of mine that mean so much to me. So, I thought, why not put them on display and show them off?!

Flashback to last year when I first moved into my apartment and I decided to create a gallery wall with old photos from my college apartment down in North Carolina. Well, after about 10 months later, seeing the same prints on display from my college apartment got a bit old *confession*. However, I knew I didn’t want to spend a ton of money on so something new. On the flip side, my prints from my college apartment are apart of many memories from my college experience, including my Class of 2021 Top 10 Outstanding Seniors Award, Class of 2021 Freshmen Service & Dedication Award, Gold Star Student Leader of the Year Award, Top Student Advisor Award, Big Sis/Lil Sis painting that I made with my Big Sis at my first-ever college event that I helped host, and many many many paintings of sweet Meredith College. Don’t worry: I saved ALL of my sweet prints to have for years to come. But, I knew it was time for a change.

One of my fellow Lilly Pulitzer lovers and influencer friends Rachel (follow her @livingcolorfulilly on Instagram!) has a Lilly Pulitzer lounge in her home, which she has a gallery wall ALLL decked out in some of her many gorgeous Lilly Pulitzer collection pieces. Needless to say, Rachel’s Lilly Pulitzer lounge inspired me to deck out my own gallery wall with my Lilly Pulitzer pieces. Some of my Lilly Pulitzer pieces include: my holy grail Let’s Cha Cha shift dress, my dog printed shift dress, my flamingo printed shift dress, and my holy grail Hotty Pink First Impressions mini skirt. Most of my Lilly Pulitzer collection was bought either during one of the brand’s well-known bi-annual After Party Sales (now known as Sunshine Sales) Not to mention, I *HAD* to put my Glitter & Daisies pink bow glitter Disney ears made by my good friend Holly on display as well. At the same time, I couldn’t resist not putting my flamingo painting made by my super sweet college friend Miranda in storage. Overall, I am OH SO excited about my brand-new Lilly Pulitzer Gallery Wall, as it goes PERFECTLY with my couch all decked out in Lilly Pulitzer pillows, too!

For more preppy style & grand millennial home content, check out my Preppy Fashion & Grand Millennial Home page.

XOXO – Katie <3

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The Perfect Work to Happy Hour Dress

The other week, I posted on Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!) about the STEM For Her fundraising gala that I attended. A few weeks ago, I went to a fundraising cocktail gala for a nonprofit that I volunteer for – STEM For Her. The STEM For Her gala was held right after my work day. So, for me that meant that I had to strategically think of something to wear that could carry over from the work day to happy hour (the gala’s dress code was cocktail attire!). Well, I found the PERFECT work to happy hour dress straight from my own closet. And, surprisingly enough, this dress happens to be *YES it happens to be* 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.*

I have been in love with Lilly Pulitzer’s pearl-lined Adalee shift since around 2019-2020 when I saw photos of it everywhere on other influencers’ social media pages. I would see fellow preppy fashion influencers style their Adalee shift for Walt Disney World trips, dinner outings, and much more. However, I never thought I could style my Adalee shift for work and even a happy hour!! Lilly Pulitzer has sold the Adalee shift over at least the past few years, including in colors such as hot pink, aqua, white, navy, and black. Indeed, I own the Adalee shift, myself, in white and aqua (the aqua of which I wore to the STEM For Her Fundraising Gala!). My first-ever Adalee shift (the aqua one!) was purchased in Summer 2020 during Lilly Pulitzer’s Surprise Sale in June/July of that year. I, then, purchased my white Adalee shift during the After Party Sale in September 2020. Since then, I have hoped that the hot pink Adalee shift would be restocked and sold again on Lilly Pulitzer’s website.

As for the fit of the Lilly Pulitzer Adalee shift, it fits well, but is pretty tight at the bust/chest. Though, there is a zipper at the chest that can be adjusted to your liking and fitting. That being said, be sure to size up, especially if you have a bigger bust (like myself). Otherwise, the Lilly Pulitzer Adalee shift fits well below the chest. It is flowy and fits pretty comfortably. I styled my Lilly Pulitzer Adalee Shift with my Jessica Simpson neon pink pumps and pearl clutch from the 1960’s that used to belong to my Grandma (it’s a family heirloom!).

Shop the Lilly Pulitzer Adalee shift here (currently Lilly Pulitzer only sells the Adalee shift in black!): https://rstyle.me/+93JYj61yICryq-C3sp1R0Q

XOXO – Katie <3

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The Life of Katie!

My life has been a whirlwind of craze this past week! Stressful to say the least has been the word of the week. There has been a lot of things going on within my family, but luckily we are all OKAY and no one is sick or hurt. As I share my Life of Katie blog posts, I want to be as authentic as I can when it comes to sharing a bit into my life. There has been some uncertainty recently which has been nerve-racking to say the least. Yesterday, Papa and I went out for a much-needed dinner at a local restaurant – The Secret Garden Cafe in the local to us town of Occoquan, Virginia – I shared ALL the details on my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee). However, I am ready to take on what life has to bring one smile and shot of confetti at a time!

*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.*

  • Stress – This past week has been stressful to say the least. I am getting ready to make a pretty big purchase amongst other things. While I am super super super excited for this big girl purchase of mine (more to come on that very soon!!), it is also super stressful going through the process of it all. Big purchases are daunting, y’all!
  • Devotional – I have been fortunate enough to win my fellow blogger friend Liz of Palmettos and Pineapples‘s (check out her lovely site here!) giveaway with Maghon Taylor of All She Wrote Notes and Day Spring Cards 100 Days of Praise and Positivity Devotional (shop here). This week, I have been turning a lot to this great devotional of mine as I navigate uncertain waters and simply for self growth and peace. Personally, although I don’t share much here on my platform about it, I proudly use my Christian faith as a way of processing all of what life may bring – both in the good and bad times. As I watch Legally Blonde on YouTube since it’s currently free with ads as I write this blog post while struggling to sleep, Elle Woods says “we must have faith in ourselves”. Indeed, we must have faith in ourselves and my faith in myself is also thanks to my devotion to my Christian faith that I am so blessed my Mom brought me and my brother up in with our tight-knit church family.
  • Great Movies on YouTube Free with Ads this week – HAHA! Just as I write this blog post, I am watching both Legally Blonde and Legally Blonde 2 on YouTube. Y’all, this week YouTube has been KILLING IT with their movies that they’ve made Free with Ads. Along with Legally Blonde movies, Confessions of a Shopaholic – another movie favorite of mine was made free with ads, too. And, *of course* I had to make the time to watch them ALL!
  • Early Birthday Purchase to ME! – SO, I have a little tradition with myself! Every year, I buy myself a brand-new Lilly Pulitzer dress *surprise* at full price (I usually leave my Lilly Pulitzer purchases for their Sunshine Sale – read more about ALL the details on the Sunshine Sale from September 2021 here and January 2022 here). Since Lilly Pulitzer is currently having an AMAZING Gifts with Purchases promotion going on as they do quite a bit, I decided to take the plunge and treat myself a bit early as my Birthday is not until May 1. My Birthday purchase to myself is linked here!
  • Cherry Blossoms Excitement – If you know anything about Washington, DC, then you know that it’s well-known for its Cherry Blossom Season. Washington, DC’s Cherry Blossoms are expected to peak on March 23-26 (if I recall!). And, I cannot WAIT for them to blossom. When I was in Raleigh a few weekends ago, the cherry blossoms were starting to bloom there. Needless to say, excitement is an understatement to describe how I feel about Cherry Blossom season as a new Washingtonian!

Here’s to a GREAT week for y’all!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Throwing My Best Friend a Lilly Pulitzer-Themed Birthday Party!

This past weekend, I went to my college town of Raleigh, North Carolina to celebrate my good friend Alanna’s 25th Birthday – YAY!! Alanna has been one of my best friends made via my college experience and she is ALSO a fellow Lilly Pulitzer lover. One of Alanna’s dreams was to have someone throw her a Lilly Pulitzer-themed Birthday Party, so our mutual best friend Hannah and I decided to make just that happen. Today, I am going to be sharing ALLL the tea on Alanna’s Lilly Pulitzer-themed Birthday Party!!

So, for Alanna’s Birthday party, I wanted to start by planning out my outfit. I asked Alanna what her favorite Lilly Pulitzer prints were and discovered that we share one of the same favorites – Seaing Things! Y’ALL, I own 6-7 (I lost track haha!) things in this specific print. So, I decided to wear my maxi dress that I purchased during the Lilly Pulitzer Sunshine Sale back in January 2022 along with my Lilly Pulitzer x Lele Saudoughi headband in that exact print, too.

NOW, onto the decorations!! Personally, I ALWAYS choose a few base colors based off of a print and/or theme. Fun fact: for my college dorm room Freshmen year, I based it off of Lilly Pulitzer’s Peel N’ Eat print and chose the colors: aqua, gold, coral/hot pink, white, and gold. SO, I *had* to do the same base color planning for Alanna which happened to be: hot pink, white, and aqua with pops of gold. I went to The Dollar Tree *surprise* for pretty much all of it. I made out a list via my vision for Alanna’s Birthday Party, in order to make it ALLLL happen. I made a list and checked it twice while at The Dollar Tree. Some of the items on that list included: pink and white balloons, B-DAY balloon, pink tablecloths, pink utensils, ribbon, and a Birthday banner. I also allowed some room for myself to simply be creative and see what I could find via my creative soul that could go with the theme. The items that I picked up included: a “Happy Birthday” banner, a gold foil garland, ribbon, gold glittered hand lettered cake topper, a white “Birthday Girl” sash, hot pink utensils, pink and white balloons, and a gold “B-DAY” balloon. As for the Lilly Pulitzer prints, unfortunately, my printer was not working to print out images of Alanna’s favorite prints, so I went through my crafting supply bin and luckily found some old Lilly Pulitzer planner sheets. All in all, my mind was EVERYWHERE when planning Alanna’s Birthday Party decorations, but in the end, it definitely all came together beautifully.

ONTO the execution!! We hosted Alanna’s 25th Birthday Party at Hannah’s place. Hannah and I started decorating a few hours before Alanna arrived and essentially went through ALL of the decorations (which, by the way, fit beautifully into my carry-on luggage) and put them all up together before Alanna arrived. Alanna is a holy grail Chick Fil-A fan and she brought over a heart-shaped tray of 30-count nuggets. Once Alanna arrived to Hannah’s place, we all went to Publix (it was actually my first time there – yay me!!) and we picked out two cakes, cotton candy-flavored wine courtesy of Alanna’s choosing, actual cotton candy, and some chips. It was such a fun memory with some of my best friends and simply catching up with all of ours’s mutual friend Jasmine.

Through it all, I felt oh so blessed to be able to give Alanna the Lilly Pulitzer Birthday Party of her dreams. It was the first time ever that I planned a Birthday Party and it all was such a blast!

XOXO – Katie <3

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The Lilly Pulitzer Winter 2022 Sunshine Sale – Tips & Tricks!

Popping that champagne since it’s officially 2022 AND the Lilly Pulitzer Sunshine Sale has been announced!!! If you didn’t already know, well now you do: Lilly Pulitzer has a HUGE sale twice a year more recently known as the Sunshine Sale (formerly known as the After Party Sale). For more on the Sunshine Sale, you can read my post about last year’s sale in September 2021 here. It was announced to be this Monday January 3 online – ONE DAY ONLY. I know many of y’all have been shopping the preview of it all in corporate stores this past week and yet cannot still wait to shop this Monday, too. Now, let’s get into some tips & tricks that are ALL about the Sunshine Sale.

*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.*

As you’re reading some tips and tricks on how to shop the Lilly Pulitzer Winter 2022 Sunshine Sale, feel free to use this link to shop the sale and potentially enter the waiting line to find some great finds!

Tips

  • Log onto the Sunshine Sale as soon as you can the morning that it starts. Yes, you WILL be put into a waiting line once the sale kicks off. The sale starts at 8am, but people may log on as early as 7am or 7:30am. During the September 2021 sale, I ended up waiting the longest that I ever have in all the years that I have shopped it – 45 minutes. I know some others who waited both longer, shorter, and even shopped the sale and got placed back into the waiting line. Essentially, it seems that one’s wait time is to be the luck of the draw. Be mindful and aware of the waiting line no matter how annoying it may be, but know that it is all just simply apart of the Lilly Pulitzer Sunshine Sale magic!
  • Be patient!!! The Lilly Pulitzer Sunshine Sale’s waiting line may take some time, but through it all, DO NOT reload your browser!!! If you reload your browser, then you will be placed into the waiting line at the very end of the line. Your waiting time will probably be longer, too.
  • Log onto the sale on different devices and browsers. Yes, you heard me right: it does not matter how many devices or browsers you log onto during the course of the Lilly Pulitzer Sunshine Sale as long as they’re not the same one. This will, then, allow you to most likely get into the sale quicker, as different browsers/devices have differing wait times, no matter when you log on.
  • If you really want something, then buy it right then and there. A unique feature of the Lilly Pulitzer Sunshine Sale is that all items in your cart aren’t reserved until you buy them. So, if you want it and you want to got it, too, then buy it right then and there. Items that are Luxletic and popovers and even Finn tees tend to sell out fast, too.
  • Shop small! All Lilly Pulitzer Signature Stores offer the Sunshine Sale deals, too, and they’re ALWAYS worth checking out. Some of them even start selling sale finds the weekend before in-store and online as well as at midnight on the day of. Check out a full list of them in my Preppy Small Businesses to Support this Holiday Season blog post.
  • Be mindful of the fact that you may have an order cancellation. Sadly, you may have wanted it and got it, but then it got cancelled. Websites sometimes sell more than they have available which means that certain items you may have purchased could be cancelled in the end. In my own experiences, I have found this to be true more so with smaller Signature Stores than with corporate, but I know some who have had order cancellations via corporate orders.

Above all else, HAVE FUN! The Lilly Pulitzer Sunshine Sale is meant to be a fun experience to score some amazing and rarely seen Lilly Pulitzer deals. You WILL find something you love during the sale and enjoy it in real life, too. Happy Shopping!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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