The Life of Katie!

Recently, I have been nevertheless embracing that it’s FALL Y’ALL!!! Last Life of Katie, I was having a hardddd time accepting that Fall was coming around yet again, but I am now proud to say that I’m fully excited for this new season that I’ve been enjoying. One of my fellow Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee) besties gave me the SWEETEST compliment: that my content gives her Gilmore Girls vibes (!!!!!) HOW SWEET! Anyhow, I’m hoping to continue to sharing Fall my way, however, this Fall may look for me in hopes of inspiring y’all, too!

*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 sponsored, and all opinions are my own.*

  • Recent purchases – I made one *too* many purchases at the end of September into early October. One of my most notable purchases was the Urban Decay Naked eyeshadow palette reboot (since I never snagged one of these notable palettes the first time around!). And another being a pair of Kate Spade bow printed pajamas and some candles from a now favorite brand of mine Red Leaf Candles at TJ Maxx/Home Goods.
  • Some self care Friday afternoons – I had a busy work week, recently, so I decided to take a few hours of out my Friday for some self care. I ended up going to Washington, DC’s Georgetown neighborhood and wandered the gorgeous cobblestone streets and admired the magnificent architecture as well as had a delicious brunch at Clyde’s on M Street. The next Friday, I went to my local Giant grocery store during my lunch break to find … free wine tastings thanks to Noble Vines – a California-based wine company sold at least in some of my local grocery stores.
  • Walks with Rosie – One of my favorite forms of self care and ways to practice mindfulness while remaining active is to walk my dog Rosie in the afternoons. I have LOVED our walks, too! We usually stay within our neighborhood and on occasion go to the neighborhood pond, Heron Pond, and also explore some local trails. I LOVE getting to catch a few breaths of fresh air and enjoy time with my dog.
  • Time with friends – I have been spending and striving to prioritize LOTS of time with my friends. Briana and I visited Texas Roadhouse (it was my first time there and it DEFINITELY won’t be my last!) and the beautiful Catoctin Breeze Vineyard in Thurmont, Maryland, as well as Trummer’s in Clifton, Virginia  over the past few weeks. Haley and I had a lovely dinner outdoors at The Secret Garden Cafe in Occoquan, Virginia with our high school friend Mary who was in town from Atlanta. My friend Stephanie had a lovely Birthday celebration where I got to catch up with our mutual friend from college Ashley and meet her husband Ryan for the first time. Sarah and I had a super nice pizza and Halloween movie night. I also got to meet up with my friend Andrea after briefly meeting and connecting on socials at the Lucketts Holiday House back in 2022 (WAYYYYY over due!) at Carnegie Diner in Vienna, Virginia for a lovely brunch! When it comes to family, Papa and I had a delicious Italian dinner at Villa Bella in its magnificent Amalfi-inspired atmosphere in Burke, Virginia.
  • Going brunette – ANDDDDD last but not least, I went …. Brunette!!!!! I have natural brunette roots and finally decided to embrace them! You can read more about my Brunette chapter here. To celebrate becoming a brunette, I treated myself to a nice solo dinner at this adorable sushi restaurant nearby my hair salon: Sushi Prince.
Dinner with Haley & Mary
The beautiful atmosphere at Villa Bella (dinner with Papa)!
My 2015 dreams have come true!
Self care dinner at Sushi Prince
Finally connecting with Andrea for brunch!
Mimosa at brunch!
Carnegie Diner ALL decked out for brunch
Stephanie celebrating her birthday with the most adorable wine bottle!
Trying Austrian wine at Trummer’s!
Free wine tasting + bottle purchase at Giant Food
Leaves changing at Heron Pond
Golden hour walk with Rosie
Rose all day at Catoctin Breeze Vineyard
In the vines!
That golden hour sunlight
Styling a fun floral Fall dress to celebrate Stephanie!

Georgetown, DC Strolls:

Here’s to Fall … the Katie way!

XOXO – Katie <3

The Life of Katie!

Since getting back from Hawaii earlier this month, I have had nothing short of an emotional roller coaster that’s ended in feeling so much gratitude for where I’ve been and what’s in store for me moving forward. I have been sharing tons of Hawaii content over on my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee) and I STILL feel as if I’m in multiple mega “pinch me” moments realizing that I was in the Aloha State to kick off September 2024. My week on Hawaii was incredible and such a blessing to me. Getting to spend time with my friends Bryn and Maxwell (our amazing host and tour guide!) all across most of Oahu and Maui was AMAZING!!!! Truly, a dream come true to me!

I loved over these past few weeks either preparing for the trip to Hawaii, getting to explore and take photos in Hawaii, or organizing my apartment and looking through ALLLL the almost 1,000 photos that I took on my camera while in Hawaii once I got home. Pinch me now!!! Most of my life recently has revolved around the empowerment that it took to go on such a huge trip (with 15+ hours of travel time each way!) and coming home feeling so empowered to take on all that comes my way back at home. But, at the same time, I have enjoyed taking on a new leadership role in my 9-5, time catching up with family and friends and my dog Rosie, and moments to focus on my wellness as it felt GREAT taking 10,000+ steps a day in Hawaii. Needless to say, my trip to Hawaii was truly transformative for my physical and mental wellbeing overall.

Now, as always, I bring y’all … recent life updates:

  • Wellness journey – I have started to make some recent health changes. While in Hawaii, I discovered (or finally realized) that I have a resistance to certain liquors, including tequila, rum, and vodka. I also have a major resistance to large amounts of sugar. Since cutting these high-sugar items out of my diet, it has been … groundbreaking. At the same time, I am starting to get in more steps, including during the work day, as I’m *confessions* one to simply sit at the desk all day long without many breaks up and at it. September is the time to change all of that.
  • Happy hours – While I do LOVE an excellent cocktail even if not as frequent, I do Stan being a wine-loving queen! I have enjoyed some happy hour moments (with wine!) with some friends and family and cohort classmates at Screwtop Wine Bar, Ozzie’s Good Eats, Barca, Virtue Feed and Grain, and Metrobar. At the same time, I have ALSO enjoyed some at-home happy hours with homemade Aperol spritzes and *of course* some wine!
  • Lilly Pulitzer Sunshine Sale & Lenox Spice Village – My first week home was a BIG shopping week for me. The September Lilly Pulitzer Sunshine Sale came around, which is my FAVORITE annual Lilly Pulitzer sale to stock up during (!!!!!). At the same time, Lenox released its iconic spice village again at its original price for preorder, which I may or may not have snagged the entire 24-piece collection of ….
  • Hawaii flight – I am beyond proud of myself for surviving the 11 hour flight from JFK Airport in New York City ALLLL the way to Honolulu. Bryn and I met up at JFK Airport after connecting flights from our respective cities and sat next to one another via the loooonggg haul to Honolulu. The same on the way back to the United States mainland (as Hawaiians call it!) as we flew from Honolulu to Detroit airport. Unfortunately, I have recently had trouble sleeping on flights which made me super sleep deprived on both long treks to and from Hawaii. Nevertheless, the crazy long amounts of travel time was SO WORTH IT, especially to see beautiful Hawaii when landing/taking off from our window seat!
  • Hawaii 2024 – aka one of THE BEST TRIPS I have ever taken!!! More in-depth content to come soon from this incredible trip. But, for now, enjoy some content on my journey to Manoa Falls and my Lilly Pulitzer holy grail moment at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel.
  • Car issues – UGHHHHH … sometimes I feel like I have THE WORST luck with car issues. Whenever they happen, it always seems that multiple issues pile up all at once. This time around was NO different when my car needed to go in for new front brakes and the back brakes started to malfunction. Needless to say, it feels super frustrating at times to have a huge lineup of car issues. ARGH!
Metrobar Happy Hour + trivia!
Making an at-home Apple Cider Aperol Spritz
The incredible view when landing in Honolulu!
Bryn and I right before we took off at JFK!
The beautifully decorated doors at Virtue Feed and Grain
Happy hour with Stephanie at Screwtop Wine Bar!
*yet* Another at-home Aperol Spritz!
Dog days of Summer with Rosie!

More to come soon!

XOXO – Katie <3

The Life of Katie!

In recent times, I have been sharing monthly life updates (see May’s, June’s, and July’s), however, I have missed sharing updates on an-almost weekly basis with y’all! So, I am going to get back into that brief and more concise format of updates. I am excited to share more frequent life updates that are MUCH easier to put together than a monthly update. Needless to say, here we go!

August is one of my FAVORITE months and August 2024 has not disappointed so far. I truly love the Summer lull and the so-called dog days of Summer that August brings. To kick off August, I visited my best friend Lindsay in Indianapolis (see one of our adventures this time around here) and Chicago (here). We have decided to make a Summer Midwest adventure a Summer tradition moving forward, too (!!!!). And, back at home, I have enjoyed some fun times on the town and some lowkey times at home with Papa and Rosie. August 2024 has truly been a great balance of fun and relaxation.

  • Thrifting for Fall – This Fall 2024, I have LOVED getting to thrift at my local Salvation Army and 2nd Avenue thrift shops to find some adorable finds to wear for the upcoming season. Many of these pieces are designer household names, such as Theory, Nicole Miller, Tory Burch, and Alice + Olivia. I *even* found an Oscar de la Renta (!!!!!!) caftan that I plan to style for my final Summer trip (more on that below!) for $3.75! I also found a Giorgio Armani work dress in July, too. While I am pretty much shopped out for Fall 2024 fashion, I am SO excited to style many of the name brand pieces that I found for this upcoming season. And, soon, I plan to share more thrifting content here and on Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee).
  • Summer Restaurant Week – my friends Briana, Torie, Brittany, and I tried Smoke & Mirrors – a rooftop bar looking over Washington, DC’s stunning skyline – and Ambar (Clarendon location in Arlington!) – an adorable Balkan cuisine restaurant that offers unlimited small plates for DC Summer Restaurant Week. I LOVED getting to enjoy several moments catching up with and vibing with each of my friends. Truly, friendships are a gift and I am striving to find more moments to be together with friends, especially before we all may have more commitments in life in the coming years.

Smoke & Mirrors

Ambar – Clarendon location

  • Mamma Mia! The Musical – My best friend Haley and I since March have planned to see Mamma Mia! The Musical when it came to the Kennedy Center for a matinee performance! It did NOT disappoint (!!!!!). Mamma Mia! Is my favorite musical and gives me SO many memories of my study abroad time in London (here). I LOVED getting to experience this incredible musical again, but this time, close to home and with Haley. We had such a great time and enjoyed getting a nice early dinner afterwards at Tatte’s Foggy Bottom location (which ALSO did not disappoint!).

  • Emily in Paris Pop-Up – My friends Briana, Torie, and I went to check out the exclusive Emily in Paris Pop-Up at Morris American Bar in Washington, DC *just* before I jetted off to the Midwest. While the menu is mostly drinks and small plates (macarons included for dessert!), the vibes were immaculate and ALLL-THINGS Emily in Paris! We enjoyed complimentary Lillet x Emily in Paris-themed shots, cocktails, and charcuterie and took several photos (!!!). All in all, a great time to celebrate the brand-new Emily in Paris season that I’ve enjoyed watching!

  • Nationals Game – This time around, I *finally* went to a Washington Nationals baseball game AND got to see the President’s Race (!!!!). Normally, I’m never paying attention to see the President’s Race or have already left the game – whoops! As a Prospective Member of the Manor House Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) chapter, the ladies of Manor House invited me and others to the game, which was SO fun. It was great to get to know some of the fellow DAR ladies better than the brief times I have met them in the past.

  • A brief trip to Delaware – To kick off August, I visited my Dad, Step Mom, and Yorkie aka my “Sissy” Ginger for a quick two days in Delaware. We went to the beach, dinner at The Restaurant at Lighthouse Sound (here), and time watching The Olympics. While a quick trip, it was a memorable and special one, too!

  • Planning for my final Summer trip – For about 2 years, my friends Bryn and Maxwell and I have been looking at going to visit Maxwell in Hawaii where he is attending college at. SO, finally, after 2 years, Bryn and I are packing our bags for a week getaway and saying Aloha to Honolulu! My thrifted Oscar de la Renta caftan, alongside LOTS of Lilly Pulitzer shifts I’ve thrifted throughout this year will be coming along with me for my furthest trip away from home. I am SO excited for Hawaii and to see Maxwell’s stomping grounds for these past few years with Bryn.

All in all, the (more than) first half of August 2024 has been memorable for sure. One of the biggest lessons that I’ve learned this month so far is to find joy in the little things, the mundane, and to count your blessings.

XOXO – Katie <3

The Life of Katie – July 2024

 

July 2024 was a WHIRLWIND of a month. It started off pretty rough with lots of uncertainty and it ended with a clear path forward and lots of clarity. Through it all though, I have been able to find the joy in a rather crazy month and make lemons out of lemonade. In life, we are always managing and navigating through one conflict or another or perhaps multiple, so why not find the joy during these times?!?! Needless to say, through it all, I am very proud of myself for staying busy and making time for myself, my loved ones, and to recharge, too.

*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:

  • Strolling through the aisles of Target with Papa, I found this Universal Thread dress *right* before I checked out and snagged it in pink. Then, I went back and ordered it in TWO more colors on sale!
  • I have been EYEING a set of House of Harlow pajamas for MONTHS (since finding a pair earlier this year and not grabbing it when I wished I had). However, in July of 2024, I scored a House of Harlow tank pajamas set at TJ Maxx for $15!
  • Bottles of Rosé at Trader Joe’s for under $10 is ALWAYS a favorite buy of mine! End of story.
  • This past month, I inherited some family-owned gold utensils, candle holders, Pillsbury salt/pepper shaker set, plates, parfait glasses, and a hydrangea vase. I have been decorating these incredible finds around my apartment to put on display for generations to come. It is a HUGE blessing to be able to inherit these beautiful finds of mine with family ties.
  • Thrifted scores were AMAZING this past month. These thrift scores included: Kate Spade leopard pumps at Bee Thrifty, Giorgio Armani dress at Salvation Army, Lilly Pulitzer for Target shift at Current Boutique, Brooks Brothers shirt dress at Salvation Army, ginger jar at Jayne’s Reliable, and a chinoiserie wine glass that I’ve been frequently using at Bee Thrifty.

Highs:

  • July 2024 included an incredible trip: the Thompson Family Reunion and visit with my bestie Amanda in the SAME WEEKEND in Bethany Beach, Delaware. The Thompson Family Reunion had 14 people, 1 dog, 1 cat, and LOTS of memories made in the same house. We enjoyed pool time, dinners at Good Earth Market and Dockside, lots of at-home happy hours, thrifting at ACTS Thrift Shop and Jayne’s Reliable, and simply catching up. Times like the Thompson Family Reunion truly remind me of the importance to take a step back, savor the moment, and love my family for who they are.

  • During the Thompson Family Reunion, we took a day trip to Berlin, Maryland. Berlin, Maryland is an ultra-charming town known as “America’s Coolest Small Town” located within close proximity to Ocean City, Maryland and the Delaware beaches. It boasts many small businesses that are local to Berlin, ranging from shops to art galleries to bars to ice cream parlors to restaurants. One of the biggest draws to Berlin shop-wise is their plethora of amazing antique shops. I enjoyed strolling throughout the streets of Berlin, lunch and beer with the family at The Globe, taking charming downtown photos of Berlin.

  • To commemorate Independence Day, I took a pre-July 4th stroll at Old Town Alexandria and enjoy a nice solo happy hour at the city’s brand-new Hotel Heron’s rooftop bar Good Fortune. Good Fortune has the highest altitude in all of Alexandria, Virginia for a rooftop bar and offers AMAZING skyline views of Old Town Alexandria, the Potomac River/Woodrow Wilson Bridge, and parts of Washington, DC/Virginia/Maryland. SUCH A COOL SPOT!

  • I took Rosie on a Starbucks outing on a Wednesday afternoon once I finished a work briefing. It brought me SO MUCH JOY to see my sweet pup enjoying a nice outing with me to my local Starbucks, which I LOVE to frequent a few times a week! I LOVED bringing Rosie with me as she brought me and so many other fellow customers lots of joy.

  • July 2024 brought about many great moments to catch up with friends, including lunch with Stephanie and Ashley at Ballston, Arlington’s Punch Bowl Social (including a post-lunch stroll at the Smithsonian Castle), dinner with Briana at Occoquan’s The Secret Garden Cafe and Lorton’s Naty’s, dinner at Old Town Alexandria’s Barca with Brittany, solo dinner date at Washington, DC’s La Grande Boucherie, dinner with Papa at Burke’s Spartans Family Restaurant, and a movie night at Washington, DC’s The Wharf with Briana, Brittany, their Mom, and Torie seeing Dream Girls at sunset. All in all, I am extremely blessed to have such incredible friends and family members in my life to make memories with.

  • Walks and chats at the local-to-us Burke Lake Park and Heron Pond with my best friend Haley have been MAJOR blessings in my life and especially this past month. With having gone through a pretty chaotic July, I have truly cherished my local walks with Haley and will continue to do so moving forward, too.

  • My return to church (which I write about more here) and many more memories were made this July 2024 with Papa who is recovering from his knee replacement surgery! We have been going to church on Sunday’s together and plan to continue this Sunday tradition beyond his recovery and into the Fall with our church’s Wednesday Night Dinners and other events which kick off in September. At the same time, we have been going on outings to Target and enjoyed homemade potato pancakes (which Papa made for us!) from his garden.

Lows:

  • Stress and uncertainty due to family-related things was how I kicked off July 2024. Needless to say, the month started off with a bang, but fortunately, these family-related things are things that have since subsided and are improving for the better. During this timeframe, I learned to truly be grateful for the moments that we have with our loved ones and strive to find the good in everything.
  • Extreme burnout in late-July hit me like a TON of bricks, and, as a result of lots of chaos going on earlier in the month. However, at the end of the day, I am beyond proud of myself for identifying what I was struggling with as burnout and for simply taking the time to recover and recharge and take care of me.
  • Allergies due to pollen of ALLLL the things kept me super exhausted most evenings until I got a shower. Classic with pollen, I guess. Pollen definitely feels like the carousel that NEVER stops turning – LOL!

As we wrap up July 2024, I will note that August 2024 is going to be one of my MOST exciting travel months to date (!!!!). I am going to be visiting two new-to-me states (one of which will go into September, as it’s over Labor Day Weekend and into the week!). This post will probably be short and sweet into August, but many many many travel posts will be coming soon on this platform, alongside my slowly-coming reflections of my day trips and experiences on my solo trip to Ireland (here, here, and here so far!) that I have been in the process of sharing. Needless to say, August here we come!

XOXO – Katie <3

The Life of Katie – February 2024

February 2024 was the official end of the trial month of 2024 aka January 2024. January 2024 was a ROUGH month for me, as I got COVID and was pretty much on the mend the entire month (even having to reschedule an exciting trip to March which I still remain oh so excited for). SO, entering into a month beyond January in 2024 was nothing short of excitement for me. Now that I have been into February 2024, I am oh so grateful to *finally* be feeling like myself again in 2024 in general. I had SOOOO many highs to truly kick off the year 2024, including not one but TWO weekend trips, some fun happy hours with colleagues and fellow Meredith College alumnae, meals and walks and overall time with family, some fun shopping trips, and memories made with friends both locally and in North Carolina and Texas. A few lows occurred too, such as a lengthy recovery via lingering COVID and then pretty much no break into seasonal allergies (which I very much prefer to lingering COVID and am still SOOOO grateful that it is over for me mostly!) and fatigue period. Though February was a pretty great month, I am super blessed and excited moving into March 2024 to what is to come during this new and glorious year!

*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:

  • One of my best friends Liz was soooo sweet enough to gift me Lilly Pulitzer perfume that her Mom found at TJ Maxx in recent times. Liz and I both have Lilly Pulitzer perfumes now which is SOOOO special to me. I shared the perfumes on my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee) during the latter part of January when Liz scored them, but received this incredible gift in early February! Another thing that I found during the month of February was my late Aunt Margaret’s never before opened Elizabeth Arden perfume and lotion set. It was soooo special to uncover AND truly have a piece of my Aunt Margaret whom I love sooo dearly to this very day.
  • Lilly Pulitzer came out with their 65th anniversary print which IS a pink toile print aka my favorite kind of print (!!!!), SO I *of course* cashed in my credit card rewards miles to get some Lilly Pulitzer goodies! I got: the Lilly Loves DC Getaway Packable Tote & 65th Anniversary Print Popover.
  • February was a Target month for sure! In recent times especially in February 2024, I have started to enjoy grocery shopping of ALLLL the things to do at Target at *none other than* … Target. However, alongside a few token grocery items (such as Meyer’s Soap and Liquid IV), I have purchased and LOVE my brand-new Opalhouse online exclusive Pineapple Lamp, Good & Gather Sparkling Water (where a 12-pack costs only $3.75!!!!), & 2 wayyy too many Universal Thread cane handbags (here and here).
  • When I was in Dallas, I consigned not one, but TWO incredible pieces *both* for under $50 (!!!!): authentic Louis Vuitton black leather logo flats AND a Lilly Pulitzer Original patchwork shift dress. My Mom told me to check out the consignment stores in Dallas, since she heard that they are some of THE BEST in the country, and, well, she was RIGHT!
  • ANDDDD, last but NOT least, I bought as a Valentine’s Day gift to myself not one but TWO customized Stanley 40 ounce tumblers (!!!!!). I have found the Stanley tumblers to not only help me stay hydrated, but also stay healthy and *even* lose weight. My Stanley tumblers are spread ALLLL across my apartment to maximize usage and minimize me carrying them from place to place across my apartment – LOL!

Highs:

  • My best friend Liz and I had a super-fun Grammy’s viewing party at my apartment the night of the Grammy’s. The excitement was REAL when Taylor Swift announced her brand-new album AND WON two Grammy’s (!!!!!). It was ALSO fun to watch other incredible artists such as Miley Cyrus get honored, too! I also got to try the ultra-amazing Rob’s Backstage Popcorn for the first-time ever. HOWEVER, the best part of Grammy’s night was Liz was simply being in one another’s company and simply hanging out and catching up together. Liz is such an incredible friend that I am SOOO blessed to have in my life!

  • Early on in February, I took a solo museum date to the National Portrait Gallery & Kogod Courtyard to see the brand-new portrait of Oprah and The Future of Orchids temporary installation with a pit stop at Le Pain Quotidian. While at Le Pain Quotidian, I happened to connect with a group of ultra-sweet ladies from England who were visiting Washington, DC for the first time, whom I have since connected with on socials! I *almost* didn’t make a pit stop for some food and coffee, but I am SOOO glad I did!!!

  • In around September 2022, my best friends Briana and Brittany and I enjoyed a nice lunch at a nearby to us spot known as Brickmaker’s Cafe. Brickmaker’s Cafe is conveniently situated right along the Occoquan River (an offshoot of the Potomac River!) in Lorton, Virginia. Papa has been DYINGGG to check out Brickmaker’s Cafe & we *finally* went together in early February! Papa LOVED Brickmaker’s Cafe, too!! The night before Brickmaker’s Cafe, I had a Galentine’s at The Spot on Mill Street in Occoquan, Virginia! My besties Haley, Briana, Sarah, and Stephanie ALL came out for the night and we enjoyed an incredible dinner (and drinks!) together and time with one another. We had this GREAT wine cellar room to mostly ourselves which was amazing! An incredible fact that I learned about The Spot on Mill Street when talking with the bartenders there who shared a bit about its historical significance as a place where President George Washington bunked during the Revolutionary War era. HOW NEAT!

The Spot on Mill Street:

Brickmaker’s Cafe:

  • Happy hours are starting to pick up for 2024 (after missing them throughout the month of January due to COVID). I arranged a happy hour with my Ignite Young Professionals cohort in between classes AND was SOOOO excited to have such a great turnout at it despite worrying beforehand about turnout. We met up at Open Road’s Rosslyn location, which is a spot my bestie Shivani and I frequent! The next happy hour was after my February Ignite Young Professionals class with my classmates at Courthaus Social. And, my third and final happy hour of the month was hosted by my amazing Alma mater Meredith College’s Washington, DC area Alumnae Chapter in honor of our Giving Day at this ADORABLE and super fun spot in Clarendon called Green Pig Bistro! All in all, each happy hour brought about GREAT conversations, networking, and time to bond with those around me. Blessings ALLL around!!!

  • Professionally, I got my first-ever certification! I feel SOOO lucky to work for an incredible organization that supports their employees in their own professional endeavors AND offers lots of opportunities to get certified within the company of your own coworkers. I found my certification experience and coursework to be super fun, especially surrounded by some incredible coworkers and people within my own company, many of which I had yet to meet before taking the course! HOWEVER, after completion of the certification, I felt as if I had a great group of classmates and colleagues that I got to know better and become friends with, which is SUCH A GIFT, especially working primarily remotely!
  • I have *officially* made hosting a Galentine’s Party an annual tradition (!!!!!). I had my second annual Galentine’s Party a few days after Valentine’s Day with an excellent turnout! On actual Valentine’s Day, Papa got me a beautiful bouquet of daisies, which I was SOOOO excited to put on display on my gorgeous Valentine’s Day tablescape for my Galentine’s party. I am OH SO BLESSED that some of my very best friends were willing and able to come out for such a sweet evening together!

  • Throughout the middle of February, I enjoyed back-to-back Birthday weekend trips to Dallas, Texas to celebrate my fellow influencer bestie Lindsay of @sunshineandstairclimbs on Instagram (here) & Charlotte, North Carolina to celebrate my fellow Meredith College bestie Alanna (here)! SO much time catching up with friends that I LOVE so dearly and meeting new one’s too!!
  • The final weekend of February, Papa and I enjoyed a nice local weekend helping my Mom out with some things around her new house. We ALSO were able to squeeze in a gorgeous walk with Rosie alongside Mason Neck State Park’s Marsh Trail (!!!!!!) which was GORGEOUS *even* in the Winter months where the trees don’t block the scenic views nearly as much as they do in the Summer time!

Lows:

  • Into February, unfortunately, I am *still* fighting looming COVID fatigue. At this rate, I likely have prolonged COVID to some extent, given that I have a lingering cough and fatigue. Lingering COVID can make travel (which I did PLENTY of this month) extremely exhausting more so than it already is. However, I am extremely grateful, thankful, and blessed for my loved ones for simply supporting, listening, and allowing me to rest and meet my needs, given my prolonged COVID. Luckily by the end of February, my COVID fatigue started to fade away and become replaced with *none other than* … seasonal allergies.
  • With some GREAT highs and travels in February 2024 comes some lows on the personal development front. With getting COVID in January of this year, I have gotten WAYYYY too comfortable at home which has taken a toll on me mentally. Now is the time for me to get back out there and enjoy 2024!
  • Seasonal depression DEFINITELY hit me this early 2024. After the holidays departed and I got COVID and had a lengthy recovery, it *truly* sucked for me this Winter 2024 which hit me a bit into February 2024. January 2024 was HARD for me amongst many others that I love in my network. Just remember that none of us are alone.

Here’s to exciting the Winter months and being ONE STEP CLOSER (!!!!!) to Spring and then Summer and then Fall and then Thanksgiving (shoutout to the meme that I saw earlier today on Instagram – LOLLL!).

XOXO – Katie <3

The Life of Katie – January 2024

Being transparent over here, January 2024 was a month filled with more trials than triumphs. Indeed, I have called January the “trial month of 2024” more often than not *whoops*! January 2024 was the month that I got COVID, after having ended the *very* end of December 2024 via a stressful and rather traumatic event that I needed to process too. As a result of getting COVID and a few looonggg weeks of recovery, I have LITERALLY had to move mountains within my own personal and even work calendar to account for it all. Through it all, I have remained proud of myself for navigating through some tough moments and finding the silver lining amongst it all. Going into February 2024, I feel more than ready to kick off 2024 the fabulous Katie way!!!

*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.*

During the month of January, I revamped my Shop.LTK page after about a year-long hiatus. I am MORE THAN excited (!!!!!) for my Shop.LTK revamp and am excited to share some of my many favorite finds with y’all in 2024 and beyond! That all being said, I am going to each month share 3 of my favorite purchases, whether it be something ordered via carry out (as in the case of January’s), a clothing/home/beauty item, grocery item or travel-related item! In the meantime, you can follow along my Shop.LTK shop here!

A Few of My Favorite Purchases

  • The Tuckernuck Sample Sale went LIVE during the month of January and I am more than pleased to say that my entire Spring/Summer 2024 wardrobe is ready to go. One of my favorite purchases was a restock of my absolute favorite tortoise heart-shaped sunglasses. I share ALL of my sale purchases and favorite picks from the sale here!
  • ALLLLL while I had COVID, I was craving *none other than* … Chipotle! SO, once I was feeling up to it, I got a Chipotle steak and fajita veggie bowl and it has definitely been one of my favorite purchases in January 2024!
  • Across my Instagram feeds, I have been seeing Poppi soda becoming a fan favorite. SO, I *FINALLY* popped open a can of Poppi soda to see what the hype was for myself (!!!!!). And, yes, I completely understand the hype now. I WILL be buying another can again in the future ANNDDD perhaps a pack from Amazon, too!
  • Bonus: I found a 2024 calendar year Lilly Pulitzer agenda at … Home Goods (!!!!) for $15. I snagged that beauty up within SECONDS!

Highs

  • Tradition-wise, I usually spend New Year’s with my Dad. AND, ringing in 2024 was NO different! I rang in 2024 with my Dad and Step Mom and their Yorkie Ginger by spending the first week of January AND New Years with them in their home base of Bethany Beach, Delaware. We had an incredible New Year’s Eve dinner at the gorgeous Restaurant at Lighthouse Sound (here) on the Ocean City, Maryland sound. Dad and I enjoyed MANY evenings after work from home watching movies and drinking champagne out of the circa 1900 Thompson family Christmas china and *of course* Ginger snuggles (!!!!!). And, I got to dine at Ocean View Brewing Company where I had some of THE BEST mahi mahi I’ve ever had and enjoy the vibes and atmosphere at Libation Room, a lounge inside of Rehoboth Beach’s Summer House. All in all, it was SUCH A special time with my family (and quite peaceful, too!!).

  • While in the midst of my recovery from COVID, when I became no longer contagious, I was able to *finally* go see Frozen on tour at The Kennedy Center after two failed attempts (thanks to COVID boo) with my friends Briana and Brittany. We ended up dining at the Roof Terrace Restaurant (onsite at The Kennedy Center on *surprise* the terrace!!!). The vibes and views and company were immaculate AND I got to live out my BESTTTT Frozen life, as Olaf IS my spirit animal (!!!!!). Needless to say, seeing Frozen (and Olaf!!!) was THE BEST way to officially kick off 2024!!!!

  • Papa and I *finally* made it to Restaurant Week thanks to its extension and had an AMAZING time trying Trummer’s Restaurant in Clifton’s Historic District in Northern Virginia. Trummer’s serves up New American cuisine and delicious cocktails, including their signature cocktail (which I tried and LOVED) The Titanic! At the same time, Papa and I LOVED getting to try some of the delicious cuisines that Trummer’s has to offer, including crab dip, Weiner schnitzel, and scallops. HOWEVER, I cannot finish raving about my incredible experience at Trummer’s without mentioning their GORGEOUS atmosphere and vibes both at the bar and in the upstairs dining area (!!!!).

  • My best friend Liz and I had a much-needed outing post-COVID where I *finally* got to check out a much, in-fact, years-along anticipated visit of mine to a local thrift store that I somehow haven’t visited until this month … Unique! Liz and I spent HOURS sifting through the racks and racks and racks of incredible finds. Let’s just say that I did some damage (whoops!). HOWEVER, I am more than excited to say that I have just about everything that I could ever want and need for my Spring/Summer 2024 wardrobe (!!!!). And, I of course LOVED some much-needed time chatting with Liz as we admired ALLLL the merchandise on the floor at Unique. I am SO grateful to have Liz as one of my best friends!

  • As apart of my Ignite Young Professionals program, I have been volunteering with the Museum of Contemporary Art in Arlington (aka the ONLY art museum in Arlington, Virginia AND it is definitely worth visiting and free to do so!!!) with a group of classmates from my cohort. As apart of our groups’ volunteering efforts, we have been helping to stock the Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington’s Amazon HQ2 Innovation Studio storefront that they have for the next year+. It was SUCH A COOL and AMAZING opportunity to watch the ribbon cutting ceremony for the storefront and see some of my network through Ignite Young Professionals at the event. I also got to meet one of the Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington’s artists and his son that will be onsite at the storefront selling artwork and mingling with customers and guests, alike, for the next 6 weeks. It was such a full circle moment for the staff at the museum and my group within my cohort!

Lows

  • ANDDD, it happened …. I got COVID. My first time with COVID came about this January 2024 and it was NOT FUN. I feel thankful to say that somehow I was marked safe from COVID for a whopping 4 years and that I had a pretty mild case (however COVID is COVID and it’s NO fun). At the same time, I am also lucky that I got COVID when the weather was snowing and storming outside, so there really wasn’t anything that I would be missing out on, despite missing my January Ignite Young Professionals class and planning another happy hour afterwards and having to reschedule my friend Bree coming to visit (sigh!). AND, well, I ended up with a lingering cough and a few failed attempts at getting medications to work to relieve the cough, too. As a result, I had to reschedule many events with friends, coworkers, and family, including a much-anticipated Outreach trip to Raleigh, North Carolina at my Alma mater Meredith College (however, I luckily have a new date for this at the end of March AND reservation at a restaurant that I have been so psyched to try!!!). Needless to say, I do not wish COVID on anybody, but I am grateful for COVID truly forcing me to do something I legit never do unless I am literally on vacation: slow down.
  • Rescheduling plans due to COVID and inclement weather seemed to be THE THEME of January 2024. Whelp! It kind of got annoying having to CONSTANTLY reschedule plans again and again and again. HOWEVER, if January 2024 taught me ANYTHING, it is that plans can and will change and we have to adapt from time to time.

Here’s to an INCREDIBLE February 2024 and beyond, given all of the self growth, trials, and triumphs of January 2024!

XOXO – Katie <3

The Life of Katie – June 2023

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

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

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

Highs:

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

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

Bree’s Grad Party in Charlotte, North Carolina

Flight reads brought to your by Bethany Beach Books

  • Dining within the Washington, DC area is ALWAYS a high for me each month to month. This June 2023, I dined at some pretty incredible places, including Ada’s On The River in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia; Trattoria Villagio in Clifton, Virginia; and The Bazaar by Jose Andres in Washington, DC. At the same time, I enjoyed many meals (and wine!) at home with my Papa and our neighbors. Many memories were made with both friends and family via my Washington, DC area dining outings as always, too (more to come in a future blog post on DC Dining – June 2023)!
  • My weekend in Bethany Beach, Delaware was SO special. My childhood best friend Amanda drove to stay with us for the weekend which was SO SO SO nice. Amanda is practically like a sister to me and she truly fits in with my family, which was super sweet, as my Dad and Step Mom and even their Yorkie (my “Sissy”) Ginger joined us for practically everything. Our activities included: beach mornings/afternoons (where we *even* overheard the college-aged male lifeguards in the stand right by us talking about their girlfriends – my Dad called it “lifeguard love stories” – LOL!), dinners and drinks at some incredible Bethany Beach-area restaurants (I plan to write a dining guide soon-ish, too!), parasailing which was AMAZING for the first-time ever with Amanda, shopping on the boardwalk where I bought one wayyyy too many books at Bethany Beach Books and *of course* fudge at the local chain Candy Kitchen, mini golf, ice cream, and climbing a former World War 11 tower that is now free and open to the public and has amazing views, too. We all had such a special weekend together, too, as so so so many memories were made that will last a lifetime.
  • To kick off summer, just the day before I left for the Carolina’s, Papa and Rosie and I went for a day trip to Harpers Ferry, West Virginia (read more about my experience last summer here). We ended up picking a day to go that was rather rainy and foggy which meant for gorgeous views of the fog amongst the Appalachian Mountains and the rivers that intersect there. I saw an exhibit on Louis and Clark’s expedition that partially took places in Harpers Ferry, grabbed a cup of coffee for $2.50 (aka a steal for living in the Washington, DC area and being addicted to Starbucks to some extent), and took in ALL the views within Harpers Ferry National Park and the town which only has a population of ~250 people. It was a STUNNING and literally perfect day – MORE to come in a future blog post!
  • I hosted my first-ever summer dinner party!!!! I decked out my deck in *none other than* a flamingo summer theme and had pizza, salad, and charcuterie for 3 of my good friends and dog Rosie who were able to show up and celebrate the kick off of summer with me. We had a BLAST catching up with one another and talking about our summer plans. Each of my friends that showed up had either went to my high school or college, which makes me feel SO beyond lucky that we are able to still remain friends to this very day. ALSO, I LOVE that each of my friends has become friends in a way with some of my other friends – it truly is special!
  • Work has become nothing short of exciting this past June 2023. Firstly, my work OOTD’s have become a highlight of my day-to-day 9-5 life. In summary, I used to feel a huge lift in my spirits when I wore a cute outfit to school in my high school days and am glad I reinstated wearing cute outfits while working from home and sharing them on my Instagram stories (follow me @_thepinkchickadee) on the daily. Second, my passion for healthcare policy has only grown this past month so much that others on my team have noticed and are wanting to pull my into more policy work. My excitement has grown for my 9-5 world in many different ways, so much so that when I signed off for my out of office week at the end of the month I knew that I would have something to look forward to in July (along with my word OOTD’s which will continue!).
  • One of my fellow Lilly Pulitzer lover friends Lorena and I met up at Barboursville Vineyards (here) in Barboursville, Virginia near downtown Orange, Virginia. I took a day trip to meet up with Lorena and explore this gorgeous well-known to the area vineyard (it was about 2 hours away from me!) and the drive was GORGEOUS *just* as if I was transported into a STUNNING painting of the rolling hills of Virginia’s countryside. Lorena and I kicked off our day with a 3-course lunch at their delicious on-site restaurant Palladio before exploring the nearby Barboursville Ruins and taking in ALL of the scenic views along the meadow-filled trail there. Last but not least, we went into the winery where I bought some wine bottles as gifts for my parents. Later that night, I made the trek back home to Northern Virginia and enjoyed family time via a cookout with ice cream cake for my Mom’s Birthday. All in all, a GREAT day with many loved one’s all around!
  • Early June 2023, I got to experience *even more* adventure in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia aka one of my FAVORITE spots in all of the Washington, DC area. This time around, my friend Brittany and I went to paint pottery at a local shop called Paint This (where I painted a cupcake) before parting ways where I got Mexican food and a cocktail and then walked around the streets and explored some of the many shops there. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Old Town Alexandria, Virginia and its beauty SO MUCH that I hope to live near there in the next few years.

Lows:

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

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

XOXO – Katie <3

The Life of Katie!

The Bachelor Live!, Stoney Clover Lane X Target, and George Mason’s Gunston Hall, OH MY! This week has been a whirlwind of adulting, exciting hauls aka Stoney Clover Lane X Target, touring the historic George Mason’s Gunston Hall (more to come on that soon in a future blog post!!), and seeing some of my favorite stars from ABC’s The Bachelor at The Bachelor Live!, and, needless to say, it has been pretty great. If you follow me on Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee), then you probably have seen a bit of this whirlwind known as my life on a daily basis. Now, here’s your semi-weekly/weekly peek into the life of Katie!

*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.*

Shop my top here: https://rstyle.me/+3QwPZMW88nVNslmZ0u72cQ

  • Stoney Clover Lane X Target – So if you’ve following along on social media/Target’s current ongoings, this past April 2, Target launched its collaboration with Stoney Clover Lane. Personally, I am OBSESSED with Stoney Clover Lane’s merchandise, but not its ultra-high price tags. I have purchased a few Stoney Clover Lane products in the past, yet was nervous at the high prices and with inflation they have gotten even higher than when I bought some things. So, when Target launched its designer collaboration with Stoney Clover Lane, I couldn’t’ resist NOT shopping it! For those of you who follow me on Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!), then you know I purchased a whooping 4 orders full of Stoney Clover Lane X Target goodies – all of which have arrived. Stay tuned for a Reels featuring ALL of my Stoney Clover Lane X Target goodies!!
  • Seeing The Bachelor Live! – For those of you who know me well know that I am OBSESSED with ABC’s The Bachelor franchise. Currently, The Bachelor franchise is on tour via The Bachelor Live! which does a mini live version of a season of ABC’s The Bachelor hosted by former Bachelorette and fangirl celebrity crush of mine – Becca Kufrin. Last Sunday evening, The Bachelor Live! came to Washington, DC’s historic and gorgeously romantic Warner Theatre. My coworker and friend and The Bachelor franchise fan Katherine and I decided to go together and got tickets to the ultra peaceful VIP Lounge and Bar before the show. We ALSO got Orchestra section seats to get a close-up view of Becca Kufrin LIVE aka my dream and onstage Bachelor – Justin Glaze from Katie Thurston’s season of The Bachelorette. All in all, last Sunday night was a DREAM come true. Stay tuned on a blog post soon on my experience!!
  • The Dollar Tree Haul!! – Last week, I took a trip to The Dollar Tree on a whim. To my surprise, I found so much stuff that I not only needed, but also could benefit from and enjoy, too. I found monogrammed initial wine glasses and coffee tumblers *yes, The Dollar Tree has GORGEOUS monogrammed initial merchandise now!!!*, floral mugs and tea towels that give me Lilly Pulitzer meets High Tea vibes, ribbon, cleaning supplies, Clorox wipes for on the go, bins for office organization, office supplies such as sticky notes and scissors, and some Easter decorations. I posted a Reel about it ALL on my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!!). My Dollar Tree haul was a blast and such an unexpected way to spend part of my post-work evening!
  • Touring George Mason’s Gunston Hall – A hidden gem right by my house – actually, like 15 minutes away – is George Mason’s Gunston Hall. George Mason was a Patriot and Virginia resident who was influential in the development of The Bill of Rights. Gunston Hall to me feels like a Grand Millienial’s paradise and such a breath of fresh air from reality. Next week, I plan to write a blog post ALL about my adventures to Gunston Hall, so stay tuned!
  • MORE Solo Adventures to Come – Last month, I took a solo adventure to Charlottesville, Virginia (read more about that here!). I loved loved loved my solo adventure to Charlottesville, Virginia SO much that I ended up booking and planning a few solo adventures for the coming months of this April and this May. I am oh so excited for what’s to come, so stay tuned!!!

Here’s to all the great that’s to come for us all!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

The Life of Katie!

Cherry blossoms, Starbucks features, and hustling – OH MY! If you follow me on Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!), then you know that all has been a whirlwind for me recently. Life has been crazy in a good way recently AND I probably say this about every single The Life of Katie! blog post, yet here we go again – haha!! The life of Katie has been a crazy good recently, with Spring coming in the air yet going again and the process happening all over again, a peaceful week schedule-wise, and a reshare BY STARBUCKS of my content on their own page. Needless to say, it’s been going well over here at The Pink Chickadee. Updates, as always, are listed below.

  • A freezing weekend at the Tidal Basin – Over the weekend, my best friend Shivani and I headed out to the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC to see the cherry blossoms as apart of the National Cherry Blossom Festival. It was most definitely a zoo at the Tidal Basin, as the cherry blossoms were in peak bloom then, too. I remember vividly getting off at Metro and there being literal stampedes of people getting off – haha! The stampedes continued throughout the walk to the Tidal Basin as well. However, what neither Shivani nor I expected was there to be rain and sleet *yes, rain AND sleet in the end of March* while we were walking. Thankfully though, the rain and sleet was not as drastically impactful as to damper our day at the Tidal Basin nor keep us from seeing those drop dead gorgeous cherry blossoms. Indeed, the weather was all simply apart of our fun journey to the Tidal Basin!
  • A girl’s weekend staycation in Ballston, Arlington, Virginia with my best friend Shivani – My trek to the Tidal Basin with Shivani was all apart of a super duper fun staycation girl’s weekend with her at her apartment in Ballston, Arlington, Virginia. Before moving to the Washington, DC area, I had never heard of Ballston. BUT, once I did, I was in for a treat – Ballston is a super duper fun and lively suburb apart of Arlington, Virginia right outside of Washington, DC. Ballston, indeed, felt like a city outside of a city! Shivani and I enjoyed time simply catching up, as we went to the Tidal Basin, Clarendon (another suburb in Arlington), and explored Ballston a bit, too. We EVEN walked right by my best friend Bryn’s office for this summer!!
  • Making plans for this Spring & Summer! – Along with enjoying my plans for this early Spring season, I am also making plans for this upcoming Spring/Summer season. I have MANY plans already made, but there are also many more plans to be made this Spring/Summer too. I will be traveling quite a bit this Spring/Summer season and into the Fall as well, both near and far the Washington, DC area. Needless to say, I am VERY excited for it all!
  • Blast from the past early 2000’s movies on HBOMax – This week, I have been enjoying watching some essentially blast from the past early 2000’s movies (along with older episodes of Grey’s Anatomy on Netflix – what’s new there??!!) on HBOMax. So far, I have watched 27 Dresses and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Soon enough, I want to watch Bridgerton on Netflix as my good friends Holly of the Disney ears small business Glitter & Daisies (read her interview on the blog here and shop her GORGEOUS ears here!) and Lindsay of Sunshine & Stair Climbs (read her interview on the blog here!) are highly suggesting it to me. AND, I am excitedly awaiting Season 5 of Selling Sunset (April 22!!!) to appear on Netflix.
  • A content reshare by STARBUCKS!!!! – If you follow me on Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee), then you know that Starbucks reshared one of my photos on their social media pages! I was extremely excited to see that a well-known, international brand such as Starbucks wanted to reshare MY content (with my permission and crediting me, of course, Starbucks is SO sweet y’all!!). Funny enough, the photo that Starbucks reshared of mine was actually taken on a whim after getting Starbucks (my usual is a Mango Dragonfruit Refresher!) and discovered that a tree has blossomed beautifully while in Raleigh, North Carolina over President’s Day Weekend. So, in typical Katie fashion, I took a picture of my drink with the blooms: on a whim and without any plan in stow. The best lesson that I learned from Starbucks sharing my content is that all of us must be ourselves and keep doing us, everyone else is taken, so why be someone else?!

XOXO – Katie <3

The Life of Katie!

Happy Saturday! This past week was a whirlwind of stress, excitement, and everything in between. From making my first-ever “Big Girl” purchase to celebrating Papa’s birthday to the hustle at work (all great things!), it has been a great week, needless to say. If you follow me on Instagram, (follow me @_thepinkchickadee), then you probably know just a bit of the excitement and will continue to first. Now, let’s get into my current life’s goings!

  • Walks are GREAT for the soul! – Sunshine is ALWAYS good for the soul! Recently, I have been working from home a lot as my company has mainly been working remote since COVID-19 began shutting down offices. This past week, I made sure to take the time for ME and take a nice walk in the neighborhood. Last Monday, Papa and I went for a LOONGGG walk with our dog Rosie around the neighborhood and had a nice, enjoyable time too. I have to say, I felt really refreshed and knew that I needed to do it again, even if it’s for 5 minutes around the block. A simple change of scenery makes a HUGE difference.
  • I BOUGHT A CAR!!! – So, this past week, I test drove and fell in love with a little white car so much that I *had* to make the move to purchasing it. I named this beautiful now-little white car of mine Daisy. To me, I am super duper excited to have Daisy as my own, as I was driving a family car that I loved before. I had actually been searching for a car since around September of last year. The car market has been awful right now and since last year, due to supply chain issues and the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, it was also super nerve-wracking when it came to car shopping and making such a huge purchase for the first time ever on my own. However, when I drove Daisy, I knew that my car search had ended. Luckily, we were able to get a great deal on her (shoutout to my Papa for all of his generous help and time along with me – he’s the best y’all!!), given the current times, and I drove away with her just a few days after initially test driving her! Needless to say, I am SO excited about this brand-new purchase of mine and can’t wait for many more adventures to come. Also, be on the lookout for an upcoming blog post about my var shopping experience in 2022, too!
  • Going into the office – Yesterday, I *finally* got an email about picking up my keys for my desk space in my office. My company is slowly but surely going back into the office and discussing the possibilities of the company going back in, too. I am super duper excited about getting to go back into the office, I am actually starting to go back into the office myself here and there and will be more especially in the coming weeks, and even more excited at the possibilities of more and more folks going in over time. My fingers are crossed that my work life becomes more consistently hybrid over the next few months. Google, in fact, announced that all of their employees would be going into the office on a hybrid work format which I think is an exciting move for their employees after COVID-19, too.
  • Starting to Volunteer – Recently, I started volunteering with two different places – my church and a nonprofit focused on funding young girls interested in pursuing careers in STEM. Both places I am very passionate about serving others within their differing capacities and am excited to see what’s to come, too. This past Wednesday, I had volunteer meetings/events with both places and felt so so so revived and excited.
  • Papa’s Birthday!!! – Yesterday, we celebrated Papa’s Birthday!!! If you follow me on Instagram, (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!), then you probably see photos of my Papa all day every day. My Papa is one of my besties and I also live with him and our dog Rosie. Papa is my grandfather and has been a close, important person and figure in my life ever since I was born. Needless to say, I love him to death and love spoiling him. My family and I had a super sweet dinner for him at my Mom’s house nearby, complete with cake and ice cream. Papa and I got to enjoy driving around in my new car Daisy, so that he could enjoy a Birthday cocktail and have peace of mind when coming home from my Mom’s house for dinner. I ended up treating him to some crab legs (his favorite!) that we’ll make one of these upcoming days. Papa had a great Birthday and LOVED all of the sweet Birthday messages from many of y’all on Instagram and beyond, too!

Needless to say, I had a pretty good week last week and am excited to see what’s to come!

XOXO – Katie <3