The Life of Katie!

To be frankly honest, while I LOVE this time of year, it has also not been filled with 1000% Christmas cheer for me this year. I have had some health things going on (we will save that for another day) atop of other things. Due to health-related things, I have not been able to attend some holiday parties through work and friends this year. While a disappointment, I know it has been best for me at this time. But, at the same time, there have been some high’s these past few weeks, too, I have had some super fun collaborations and opportunities volunteer-wise.

*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.*

Before I get into some of the past few weeks’ highs, I want to mention that these past few weeks have been a bit of a rollercoaster, if I’m being honest. This past year hasn’t been my favorite, either. One of my friends Brianna (who with her sister Brittany I am SO grateful for!) and I talk about how we’re SO ready for 2023 as 2022 has not been the best for either of us. It’s nice to have a friend who agrees with me, too. Social media makes it SO easy to only share the positive things in our lives – something that I have done, too – so I haven’t shared much of the negatives in my life and I think many of y’all reading this can agree with me. December is the month that my Grandma’s health started to decline, only leading to her passing in early January 2017. December is a tough month, throughout the course of the month filled with holiday cheer, parties, festivities, and more, it’s hard to see that it can and is a hard month for so many including myself. So, above all else, just know that if December can be a hard month for you, you are NOT alone.

Now for some updates:

  • A trip to Delaware – If you follow me on Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!), then you likely know that my Dad lives in Bethany Beach, Delaware. I LOVE getting to go to visit him in Delaware as he lives right by the beach! This past weekend, I went to go visit him in Delaware and meet his newly rescued Yorkie Ginger. Ginger is a three-legged Yorkie that they rescued from a local Delaware shelter. Needless to say, I got SOOO many snuggles with Ginger, whether it be watching Shark Tank or Frozen on the couch or taking her shopping and to the pier at nearby Ocean City, Maryland. While in Delaware, my Dad, Step Mom, and I went to the Tanger Outlets at Rehoboth Beach (Delaware has tax-free shopping!!!), to the Delaware beaches’ notable Christmas village Schellville, to the Thompson Island restauarant for some in-house beer, and to the Ocean City, Maryland pier. Through it all, it was such a blessing to be able to get that quality time with my Dad. For my summer trip to Delaware, read more here: https://pinkchickadee.com/2022/07/05/3-days-at-the-delaware-beaches/#/
  • Keurig Advent Calendar – One of my highlights of December was getting to open a brand-new k-cup each day throughout the month of December. I purchased a 24 Cups of Cheer Advent Calendar made by Keurig AND every day up until Christmas I get to enjoy a different k-cup, from brands such as McDonald’s, Green Mountain, and Cinnabon. So far, it has been such a highlight of my month of December, too. Shop it here: https://www.shopltk.com/explore/thepinkchickadee_/posts/0e18c734-75ae-11ed-ad6e-0242ac110004
  • Meeting up with my new influencer bestie Michelle! – A few weeks back, I met up with my brand-new Washington, DC-based influencer bestie Michelle of @annyongmichelle on Instagram (go follow her!!!) for the National Christmas Tree Lighting 2022 before it rained and we decided to leave early. Michelle and I have been connected through the wonderful world of Instagram for the past few months, and I am extremely lucky that we did. Both Michelle and I are BIG on exploring the Washington, DC area and I look forward to connecting with her more!
  • Holiday Outfits with Shapermint! – I have been SO lucky to have been able to partner up with Shapermint – a shapewear company focused on empowerment and offers amazing deals on it all – and was able to showcase 4 holiday looks featuring 4 different Shapermint products. Shapermint’s products are such high quality at a fraction of the price of its competitors. Shapermint also carries products in ALL sizes allowing for every body to feel like the beautiful body that it is! Use my discount code KATIECREW20 for 20% off and shop Shapermint products here: https://glnk.io/6ylk/katie6

Happy Holidays!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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The Life of Katie!

It’s been a while since I’ve shared a Life of Katie! On my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!), I shared that I am scaling back a bit on this platform for the time being to focus on my career (more on that down below!). Anyhow, life has been a bit of a rollercoaster these past few weeks – a trip to Greenville, North Carolina, tight deadlines at work, a cancelled girl’s weekend up in Washington, DC, dogsitting Rosie on my own, and an upcoming trip to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. SO, needless to say, it has been *just a little* crazy in my life!

  • Scaling back on this platform – With my decision to scale back here on the blog, I have been able to focus more on my career and other passions beyond the blog. I am volunteering with a local organization that promotes young girls and women in pursuing their own STEM careers along with co-leading a community of practice focused on women in data science within my company. While, at the same time, getting to enjoy nights to read a magazine with a glass of wine in bed, cook more, and spend some more quality time with family and friends. On the same token, I have noticed that the world of fashion blogging is VERY focused on consumption! Consumption when it comes to fashion can be fun on the surface, yet extremely expensive and even harmful. Realistically speaking, not everyone can afford to buy clothing items ALL THE TIME and neither should anyone feel that they have to. I plan to post less here on the blog, given my schedule, too. That all being said, I want to focus more on lifestyle and travel with bits and pieces of fashion sprinkled in and still grow my platform to the best of my ability!
  • Dog Sitting Rosie – ALL week long, I am babysitting my shepherd-chihuahua mix Rosie. In case you didn’t know, I currently live my Papa and Rosie in Northern Virginia’s Washington, DC suburbs. And, Papa is currently on a hunting trip in coastal Virginia. SO, it’s just me and Rosie. Rosie is a bit of a handful at times, but, overall, I LOVE LOVE LOVE getting to have her all to myself. We luckily have a dog walker who walks her each afternoon, while I am working and in meetings, which I am SO grateful for!! I miss Papa, too, but am trying to savor the moments with just me and Rosie along with our enjoyable crisp Fall morning walks (something I want to continue doing when Papa who usually walks her at 5am is back!).
  • The Fall Weather! – Currently, it’s feeling like it’s FALL Y’ALL here in the Washington, DC area!!!! Fall is my FAVORITE season, especially for fashion, the activities, and so much more. So far, Papa and I have gone to a pumpkin patch local to us called Nall’s Produce, I have purchased ALL the Fall-themed groceries, made slow cooker soup, and *of course* embraced the Fall fashion. I have LOVED going for walks with Rosie, too, in this crisp Fall weather. My favorite way to style my wardrobe for Fall is to add a bright flair to some more chunky, neutral pieces. It’s been SO fun to layer up after a long and humid and hot summer season!
  • Cancelled Girl’s Weekend – This past weekend, my best friends Alanna and Hannah were supposed to come up to visit me in the Washington, DC area. However, due to Hurricane Ian and the weather that came with its remnants, we decided to cancel our weekend trip. We will be planning a fun girl’s weekend with potentially more of our friends in the new year, though, as Alanna and Hannah fortunately got flight credits. I was pretty disappointed that the weekend was cancelled, as I was looking forward to visiting with my friends in my favorite home city. However, I made the best of it. Papa and I visited the Workhouse Arts Center – a nearby arts center in Lorton, Virginia where artists have and sell in-house studios. Beautiful artwork all around!!
  • Career-wise – Currently, in the world of my own career, I am transitioning into taking on different roles within my company that are more of what I am interested in. I didn’t make this decision lightly and luckily my boss and Project Managers have been super supportive of it, too. I am still on the same current projects, yet I’ll take on different roles over time. It has been a busy busy busy season, along with being a part of a planning committee within my company. Needless to say, I am extremely blessed to be able to work for such an amazing and supportive company!

Now, here’s to a great Fall y’all!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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The Life of Katie!

This week is the LAST WEEK before I leave for a month full of vacation. If you follow me on Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!), I have been sharing a bit about my travel plans AND life packing and prepping for it all, too. I will be traveling to Maine, North Carolina, and Iowa with *quite a few states (more like 10)* in between!! At the same time, life has been crazy with work (which I plan to do on while on each trip, except for Maine), trainings at work, seeing friends and family before I go, and enjoying the dog days of summer in my hometown city of Washington, DC. For more on my travel plans over the next month, read on for more here: https://pinkchickadee.com/2022/08/07/what-im-packing-for-1-month-of-travel/

NOW, for even more updates on the life of Katie – let’s get into the fun!

  • Even MORE travel plans – Yep, you heard me right! With both family and friends, I am currently planning a few more trips in the works on the weekends for both Fall 2022 and Winter 2023. Some of these trips include going to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Raleigh, North Carolina; Danville, Virginia; Indianapolis, Indiana; Boston, Massachusetts; and my childhood hometown of Pennington, New Jersey! I also have a group of friends planning to come up my way this Fall, too. Needless to say, travel is my love language and I love love love being able to focus on making many more memories with the family and friends that I am lucky to have in my life and spend time with.
  • MAJOR clothing purge & getting on Poshmark in a few weeks – As I am getting ready to travel for the next month to several different states, I am ALSO starting to purge through many of my old clothing pieces within my closet. I have SO MUCH clothing items that I have either purchased in the past few years or had for years yet just won’t plan to wear again. I am planning on creating a shop on Poshmark when I get back from travel and may have *just a few* more pieces to add to the shop from my closet when I get back from my adventures as well. Starting a Postmark shop was something that I have always wanted to do for a few years now and am excited to *finally* kick start it myself!
  • Soaking in summer Washington, DC days – Recently, I have been spending a lot of time in the nation’s capital. Located just a Metro ride and a 10 minute drive away from my home for me, I LOVE LOVE LOVE to take advantage of ALL that Washington, DC has to offer. I follow pages such as @igdc & @dcspot on Instagram and literally (if you’re one of my close friends who lives in the Washington, DC area and regularly gets DM’s from me about me gushing about every post, then you know LOL!), gush over EVERY SINGLE POST! I love my city!! In recent times, I have gone to Dupont Circle, Georgetown (stay tuned for a post in the coming days on visiting the brand-new Glossier store!), Navy Yard, the National Mall, and Metro Center for some Washington, DC fun!
  • Buying more intentionally – Currently, I am working on buying things more with intention and less with the thought of having large quantities of items JUST sitting around. I have started creating a running wish list of items that I would like to purchase, rather than buying them at an impulse on a whim. That said wish list is CONSTANTLY updated, whether it be removed from the list, an item added to the list, or the item was bought after being on the list for awhile and much thought. Some of my current wish list items include: a Kendra Scott emerald colored ring, a Honeywell tower fan (I LOVE my mini Honeywell fan), a wired dish rack, a new set of book shelves, and a SCOUT Bags storage cubby.
  • Work training – Currently, I am in a REALLY neat training as apart of my job on machine learning in Python. Fun fact: I wrote my Honors Thesis in my undergraduate college years on machine learning using data on Lilly Pulitzer’s retail sales. It was really fun to write and I learned a lot. However, having learned machine learning concepts independently initially, it was really really really nice to be able to sit in a classroom (or live Zoom webinar!) to learn some basic machine learning concepts with an instructor and others there, too. As of right now when I am writing this post, I have sat through Day 1/4 of the training, but am really looking forward to the next days of the course before I go on leave for my trip to Maine!

NOW, I am counting the days until I leave for my travel!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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The Life of Katie!

From celebrating Easter with the family, to starting to get into the groove of going back to church again, to Birthday celebrations galore, to redecorating at home, and everything in between, on my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!), I have been sharing ALLL the excitement. Recently, these past couple of weeks, there’s been A LOT of excitement when it comes to the life of Katie!

  • Celebrating Easter Sunday with my family – A few weeks back, Easter Sunday rolled around and I got to celebrate with my family altogether for the first time in a few years. The last time we were altogether was before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019. My Mom hosts every year a beautiful Easter brunch. In 2019, there were 35+ people in attendance at her Easter brunch. Even though there wasn’t nearly as many as 35 people this year, it was still a very special meal as my step siblings were in town from their respective colleges in West Virginia and Pennsylvania and we were just all simply together. We even had an Easter egg dying party the Friday before, too. I got to wear my gorgeous Easter hat (which, by the way, was a ribbon tied in a bow around a hat which were both from The Dollar Tree!). Blessings all around!
    Going back to church again – After a few trials and error, I have finally gotten in the groove of going back to church every Sunday. Over the Easter weekend, my Papa and I went to an Easter Egg Hunt hosted at my church for our local community. We also went to church there for an Easter Service on Easter Sunday. Going back to church on both occasions that weekend, I saw a lot of folks that I hadn’t seen in years from within my church community. Fun fact: I was SUPER involved in church youth group in high school! Seeing everyone again made me miss those many memories I had at my church and has made me since strive to make a habit of going every Sunday that I am around to go.
  • My Birthday Weekend! – This weekend is my Birthday weekend. And, in case you didn’t already know, around here, I live my life like everyday is a party and everyday is meant to be celebrated. Everyday is a blessing! That being said, I am oh so blessed to be able to have two of my very best friends – Hannah and Alanna – come to visit me for my Birthday Weekend up here in the Washington, DC area. We have some super duper fun Washington, DC plans this weekend, too. But, most importantly, I am super excited to simply see them and spend time with them. I truly value their friendship!
  • Office Redecoration – Currently, I am redoing my office space/Lilly *Pulitzer* lounge! My company just announced that we are able to work remotely full time if we so choose to even beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. My company is EVEN switching to hoteling full-time. And, confession, my office space is a HOT MESS that needs a makeover REALLLL bad. On my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!), I shared an Instagram Reels showing off my brand-new Lilly Pulitzer wall decor – complete and all with *maybe a few* holy grail printed pieces. This weekend, I plan to share my updated office redecoration on the blog!! But, in the meantime, check out my office space pre-redecoration: https://pinkchickadee.com/2021/07/25/my-office-space-reveal/#/
  • My Favorite Looks from recent times! – And, now, I am going to share some of my many favorite looks from recent times 🙂

XOXO – Katie <3

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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

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The Life of Katie!

This past week has been a whirlwind of exhaustion, excitement, and everything in between! I went on my first-ever solo road trip to see family and for a work conference in Charlottesville, Virginia, bought a brand-new HUGE monitor for work that I LOVE using while working from home, went to see the Cherry Blossoms at the National Cherry Blossom Festival for the National Cherry Blossom Festival Opening Ceremony at Warner Theatre, met up with my good friend Claire in a new and gorgeous neighborhood outside of Washington, DC of Del Ray, Virginia, and I started going into the office on a semi-weekly basis. I post about ALL of these goings in my life on my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!). All of this excitement and madness has occurred while Springing forward with the time change moving up an hour. So, needless to say, it has been an exhausting time but also pretty rewarding, too. Now, for even more updates!

*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.*

  • First-EVER Solo road trip to Charlottesville, Virginia – this past weekend, I attended my also first-ever professional conference at the University of Virginia which is located in Charlottesville. So, I made the trip down to Charlottesville in my brand-new car Daisy. I pretty much turned on the 80’s music via SiriusXM and listened to it ALL the way down to Charlottesville and back. Charlottesville is a beautiful town in the heart of the Virginia Wine Country and at the foothills of the Virginia mountains. I stayed the night with my Aunt Lisa, Uncle John, and cousins Mary, Joey, and Matthew and got to hang with their adorably sweet dogs too. We enjoyed the evening together and Aunt Lisa, Mary, and I all went to Grace Estate Winery and I FINALLY got to use my Virginia Wine Pass, too. The family time was priceless and such a gift. The whole weekend was (I’ll be sharing MORE about it in a blog post this weekend!). Above all else, I am proud of ME for doing it all by myself.
  • Catching up with Claire in Del Ray – Ever since I moved to the Washington, DC area, I had never even heard of the gorgeous little suburb of Del Ray, Virginia. My good college friend Claire was visiting family here in the Washington, DC area who happened to live in Del Ray, so we decided to explore it while she was here. Del Ray is located near Alexandria, Virginia and is such a homey and adorable little town. In fact, it even had a mural featuring portraits of ALLL the Dogs of Del Ray – what’s more wholesome than a mural of dog residents?! All of the businesses in town are small businesses and there were also two pet stores to add on to how wholesome this town is especially when it comes to its love of dogs. Overall, Del Ray low-key reminded me of Stars Hollow, Connecticut from Gilmore Girls, yet more urban. All in all a great time exploring a new place with a great friend that I hadn’t seen in a while!
  • My second big girl purchase – If you follow me on Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!), then you know that I recently purchased my first-ever Big Girl purchase – a White Volvo S60 named Daisy! Since buying Daisy, I bought my second-ever Big Girl purchase – a 32-inch LG Monitor for work from home. I have LOVED having this monitor since I purchased it and is 10/10 such a great second Big Girl purchase! Shop it here: https://rstyle.me/+hg-oT3mAM2TA1dWwpCz1Hw!
  • National Cherry Blossom Festival Opening Ceremony – Over the weekend, along with going to Charlottesville, I also met up with my good friend Shivani for the National Cherry Blossom Festival to not only see the Cherry Blossoms along the National Mall at the Washington Monument, BUT also to watch the festival’s Opening Ceremony at the drop dead gorgeous Warner Theatre, complete with a ribbon cutting! This Opening Ceremony was such a fun event, honoring Japanese culture (the origin of the Cherry Blossom!) along with tons of gratitude all around for the beauty of the gorgeous city of Washington, DC and America’s and Japan’s friendship. True true true beauty and many items of merchandise were purchased at the gift shop, too (sorry, Mom!).
  • Rae Dunn Jackpot Clearance at TJ Maxx – Right after attending the Cherry Blossom Festival Opening Ceremony at Warner Theatre, I made the trek to the nearby TJ Maxx (if you know me then you know that I LOVE the TJ Maxx’s in Washington, DC the most!!!) to sit out the Metro crowds right after the ceremony. When I arrived, I was nothing short of amazed at ALL of the Rae Dunn on clearance *yes, clearance* at this TJ Maxx in Metro/City Center of Washington, DC. Y’all – there were $3 MUGS and let’s just say that I got ALL stocked up on some Rae Dunn clearance goodies!!!
  • Going into the Office – My teammate and coworker and I have been meeting at least once a week to go into the office. It’s really nice to get that in-person experience, after starting out in the workforce virtually and ending my college career with mostly virtual classes. I got the keys to my desk last week and decorated it this past week, too. ALL pink and completely Katie!!! At the same time, going into work in Washington, DC traffic is nothing but exhausting despite the great in-person connections I have been making on a weekly basis. Needless to say, the hybrid workforce has been good to me, despite the pure exhaustion!

Here’s to a great week for us all!

XOXO – Katie <3

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The Life of Katie + My Favorite Kitchen Essentials!

Adaptation and embracing the change are my two keywords at the moment, especially when moving into 2022! In 2021, I graduated back in May from Meredith College – officially ending my undergraduate college years. Since then, adjusting to post-graduate life has been a whirlwind of emotions and changes. Needless to say, it has been tough and I had a tough 6 months, like many that are recent college graduates do when first out in the real world. It sucked. BUT, I have been striving to set goals to make amends and adapt to life in the postgraduate world as, essentially, an adult. Today’s Life of Katie! is ALL about those changes that I have been and am continuing to be making moving into month 2 of 2022.

*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.*

  • Professional goal setting – My company PRIDES on setting goals and achieving them over time, given that they are realistic and knowing what life may bring in our personal lives. When my personal life felt like it was up in flames after graduation, it was HARD to get on my feet professionally or simply feel as if I could. BUT, professional goal setting is something that not only my company requires for every employee at the start of each year *we LOVE that*, but also something I strive for personally. When I have something to aim for in the future, that helps me be my best self and enjoy the present.
  • Getting back into the church groove – One of the main things that I want to do in 2022 is make attending church a regular weekly activity. I used to attend church regularly in high school and LOVED my high school church (which happens to be the same one by my house in Washington, DC!). Church was a HUGE part of my high school life and, after graduating from college, I realized how much I missed it and want it apart of my life as a postgraduate. The community, while quite different people wise from 2017, still has the same foundation that it had when I moved down to North Carolina and many of the same folks there to this day. The community there is PRICELESS. Unfortunately, due to the Omicron variant, my church going days have been a bit delayed, BUT I want to strive to make a more consistent effort to attend more in the New Year. I am also starting a class at my church on getting to dig deeper into my Christian faith, actually starting today. Perhaps, you may be reading this while I am there!!
  • HelloFresh – This week, I am getting my fourth HelloFresh box in the mail! If you have been following me on Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee), then you have probably witnessed my continuous sharing of my HelloFresh recipes and meals on the *well, almost* daily. I have LOVED getting to enjoy new and unique meals that are also super healthy, too. I am also a major The Bachelor fan and one of the contestants, Elizabeth Corrigan (who I am a HUGE fan of!), shared how clean eating has helped her manage her anxiety disorder (something I also struggle with on a similar wavelength). Since starting HelloFresh, I have actively seemed out better food options AND felt so so so much better mentally, too. Knowing that others feel similarly is a great feeling!
  • Treating myself – I have been striving to spend less and save more in 2022. However, I somehow made an effort this past week to treat myself more than ever before. I customized my Spring 2022 FabFitFun box with MANY extra treats (including boxes from my FAVORITE new tea brand – Vadham!), I shopped the Tuckernuck Sample Sale for some classic workwear and comfort staples, and *FINALLY* got ahold of the Lilly Pulitzer Analeese midi dress which I found in my size in low stock at Saks Fifth Avenue online (check out Annalisese of Southern Belle in Training rocking that new dress of mine here)! This year, I have been one to struggle with treating myself, BUT I find it as a great once in a while way to show yourself some love.
  • New friends & many new memories in the Washington, DC area – Since moving to the Washington, DC area just DAYS after graduating from college, it took months to process it all. Not going to lie, it was TOUGH, but now I am more than ready to get back on my feet and enjoy my brand-new city. Needless to say, I am SO SO excited to be living in the Washington, DC area and am super psyched to explore more in this area, too. I have met some great new connections through work, professional societies, and blogging. I am oh so excited to be able to make even more this year, too.

My Favorite Kitchen Essentials!

Since starting to cook more with HelloFresh, I have started to LOVE my kitchen now more than ever before. So, I am sharing ALL of my kitchen essentials – those that I use and love on a regular basis.

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The Life of Katie!

Now that Thanksgiving is over, I am oh so excited that Christmas is officially in full swing! Personally, I have ALWAYS been a sucker for Christmas time and am ecstatic that it is December, too. Currently, my life has been crazy and overbooked but in a good way. After last year with COVID-19 pretty much shutting everything down, this year is the year to go all out and do it all. In the meantime, here are some updates into my life and all that’s been going on with me.

  • Overbooking – Nowadays, I pretty much have at least one thing a day in terms of events. I have some exciting collaborations, blog posts, and events as well as some trips coming up that it’s ALL so so so exciting. My events and things that I’m doing are so fun and it’s nice that my work is seemingly lightening up on at least one of my projects for the month of December, too. While overbooking is a lot for some, I see it as a good thing if you make it that. Life is all about what you make it, and you must make it rock as Miley Cyrus would say in Hannah Montana – hah! Though overwhelming, I like to go big or go home when it comes to the holidays and I am glad that I will be!
  • Virginia Wine Pass – the other day, I logged onto Groupon and found an amazing deal for a 2022 Virginia Wine Pass. Let’s just say that my excitement was over the moon. The Virginia Wine Pass includes discounts and deals for you and your guests when visiting several vineyards across the state of Virginia. As a proud Virginia resident, I am so excited to be able to visit not one but several vineyards in all parts of Virginia. A lot of them are day trips from my house which make it that more exciting and easy to do. Let’s just say that I have made a HUGE list of Virginia Wineries and Vineyards that I plan to visit in the new year!
  • Missing Travel – COVID-19 has halted many of our travel plans as we know it. I have made some trips within 4-5 hours away since the pandemic began and let’s just say that I really miss taking bigger trips. On the same token, I know that travel is a privilege and that many people in our world struggle to afford food and clothing, let alone taking the time and leisure to travel. So, my missing of travel is most definitely insignificant compared to others’ needs. I am hoping in the new year to take some bigger trips in the states and potentially abroad. But, in the meantime, I am hoping that no more variants spread such as the current variants that others get sick, especially if they can’t afford to be sick or take off of work or school.
  • Shopping Secondhand – In recent times, I have decided to shop secondhand more often than not. My local thrift store has so many good deals and it’s fun to be able to shop ALL of the deals! In fact, I used to shop secondhand a bunch in high school and I had a blast with it. When I moved to Raleigh for college, I never really found a thrift store that I liked with the prices and brands that I love aka the bargains. Thrifting is also super sustainable, too. I am so so so glad that I have gotten back into it now that I am living near the thrift store that I LOVED in high school. Over the past few weeks, I found and bought items from brands such as J McLaughlin, J Crew, Calvin Klein, Boden, Talbots, and Vera Bradley. Overall, thrifting is the best of both worlds – sustainable and affordable!

Life has been hectic but good at the same time. Above all else, remember that social media is only a highlight reel and everyone’s life is NOT perfect. The same idea goes for my blog posts and my blogging platform here.

XOXO – Katie <3

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The Life of Katie + Christmas Decorations Reveal!

Life has been nothing short of a rollercoaster this week – there have been some high’s and some low’s and a bit of magic in between. Through it all, though, I have been able to make some pretty great memories and savor the moments, while also working on myself too. As stated in the title, Christmas is officially in full swing at Chez The Pink Chickadee! I am oh so excited to be able to celebrate some Christmas cheer, even if it may be a bit early for some of y’all. As always, I LOVE to hear what y’all are up to too, so comment something good about this week down below at the end of this post!

What Have I Been Up To?!

  • Self Investment – Currently, I am striving to invest in myself, in my career, and in adjusting to my post-college graduation life. The other weekend when I was at my good friend Laura Kate’s wedding, my friend Lexie and I were discussing the idea that now is the time to focus on us and our world as official adults *I guess???*. There really is not time for an investment in a relationship when there is so much to invest within ourselves. Needless to say, I have been striving to establish myself within my career as a woman in data, work on myself, and keep my platform here on this blog growing and thriving. I am also looking to establish my social life here in the Washington, DC area. This week actually, I am taking a visit to the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) headquarters, as I am interested in joining and need to actually sit down and work on my application *aka procrastination at its finest!*. The DAR application is lengthy. Other influencers have also shared with me their love of The Junior League, so I may have to just look into that, too, since I would probably LOVE it! All in all, me before we at this moment and that’s how it will be for some time!
  • Embracing the holidays – I am oh so excited about the holidays coming up! Since writing my last The Life of Katie! blog post, I have been listening to Christmas music legitimately NONSTOP! And, when I say NONSTOP, I mean the 2+ hour long YouTube videos that are just classic fireplace Christmas songs. These Christmas music marathons of mine have also been amazing for me throughout my work days which are mainly at home. I’ve been planning Christmas gifts for my friends and family as well, and I cannot wait to celebrate time together with others. Personally, I have always seen the holiday season as a time to give to others and spend time with others, too, the food is also pretty great and a major highlight for me too. The other day, I sent three of my close friends money for a coffee, and it felt so so so good. I’m also planning on doing a couple’s massage BUT with my Mom because I want company when I go for my first time and she deserves it more than anyone else in my book – she was SO excited! Needless to say, the holidays are sitting with me pretty well!
  • Thrifting – The other day, I checked out a local thrift store that I have wanted to check out for a while. It had a 5 star rating, and it definitely lived up to the hype! It’s apart of the 2nd Avenue thrift store chain with storefronts in multiple states, similar to Savers and Goodwill. For Veteran’s Day, all 2nd Avenue stores are going to have a 50% off all merchandise sale, which I cannot wait to shop this weekend like they do for many other holidays. I found my favorite Vera Bradley print that is 10 years old – Pink Cupcake – in a tote for only $8 and in excellent quality. Similarly speaking, I also found a Fenton 300th Constitution Signing Anniversary plate – worth around $30 – for $5. I am so so so excited about each of these finds and to find some more gems at their sale later this week!
  • Family Time – This past weekend, my Dad and I went to my late Great Aunt Margaret’s Celebration of Life. My Aunt Margaret and I are very similar people and had a strong bond during her living years. She is the reason that I love Lilly Pulitzer and plaid and wine. She was also the hostess with the mostess and LOVED to travel. The list goes on and on and on about ALL of our similarities. I helped my Uncle’s pick out her floral arrangement to honor her life that I live out and plan to live out until the day that I die. My Uncle’s – her son’s – and the rest of my family put together a beautiful celebration of life complete with an open wine bar and coffee and tea bar to honor her. My Dad and I had a great time seeing our family and honoring Aunt Margaret with this beautiful tribute. Moments like these make me oh so grateful for family and remind me to savor every moment with those that I truly love.

Christmas Decorations Reveal!

Now, for my Christmas decorations 2021 reveal! Most of the decorations are from previous years, The Dollar Tree, Target, and Lands End. Enjoy!

XOXO – Katie <3

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The Life of Katie!

To say that life is crazy is an understatement at times. Recently, I have been babysitting my dog Rosie – a Shepherd-Chihuahua mix from Puerto Rico – and it has been nuts! Rosie is an extremely energetic, high maintenance dog that is also in her terrible 2’s. Needless to say, she takes after her Mama aka me! Although Rosie has been consuming my life for the most part over the past week, there has also been some other things going on in my world as well.

What’s Been on my Mind?!

  • The Dollar Tree being a holiday extravaganza – the other day, I took a pit stop at The Dollar Tree. I had been hearing practically everywhere that this discount store was starting to carry Christmas merchandise, so I *had* to check it out! While there, I got a bunch of Fall/Halloween finds and even some Christmas finds! I also got some gifts for family and friends and even Rosie. It was a very exciting trip and I feel very stocked up for the upcoming festivities, too!
  • Transitioning to a Hybrid Work Environment – if you have been following along on my Instagram, which I would LOVE to have you apart of my Instagram community (@_thepinkchickadee), then you know that my company has been reevaluating our working situation since I started there at the end of July. After talking with others on my projects at work, I have learned that I can work fully remote if I so choose to or I can go into the office. My company will not be in the same way that it was pre-COVID-19 moving forward as many will be able to work remote or telework if they so choose whenever they do choose to. But, that does not stop us all from being able to go into the office if we so decide! I went into the office last week and LOVED it and am excited to go in more. Personally, I am super excited about being able to go into the office and have been making the transition to go in 1-2 days a week, specifically when other coworkers are going in as well.
  • Party Planning AGAIN – I am in the process of starting to plan a small Halloween Dinner Party! I have learned the power of using a phone to send out Evite’s and how much easier it is for everyone else’s sake as well. Before the pandemic, I used to LOVE planning events at my apartment – I hosted a Friendsgiving, Blog Launch Party (read about that here), and Galentine’s Fries Before Guys Party amongst many others – and am really excited to be able to do it again in hopes of planning a Bonfire and Friendsgiving and Christmas Party, too!
  • Car Breaking Down – The other day, I was taking my car out (currently, I am using a family car until I pick out my own) and unfortunately it had some issues. I was taking the car out as I was leaving my Mom’s house and was stopped by a lady in my Mom’s neighborhood just as I was leaving this past Sunday about my car having issues that she noticed. I ended up calling my Mom and Step Dad and we thought I was fine so I went to The Dollar Tree nearby for said haul mentioned above. Then, after many phone calls, we ended up deciding to bring the car in that day. It was stressful and sucked for all parties involved, but fortunately, the car got fixed and is up to speed now. Needless to say, I am extremely thankful that it is!

These are a Few of my Favorite Things!

  • The Meredith Market – My alma Mater, Meredith College, has a sweet shop run by our Mae Grammar Alumnae House called The Meredith Market. As a donor and a proud one at Meredith, I was able to enjoy a sale on some of the shop’s merchandise. I ended up finding out that The Meredith Market is carrying some adorable new finds for preorder, including a North Carolina t-shirt in our school colors maroon and white and a custom LL Bean canvas tote with our school logo – the Meredith Lux. I ordered the t-shirt this time around along with a desk engraved Meredith Lux and a Meredith Lux car sticker for my future car. I also plan to order the LL Bean canvas tote in the coming months too!
  • Dancing with the Stars – I have really enjoyed watching Dancing with the Stars recently! Like every Bachelor Nation show aka The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, and Bachelor in Paradise I have started watching every episode of this show every week on Hulu. Traditionally, I never really watch shows the exact time that they’re live on television (although I am watching the season finale of Bachelor in Paradise as I write this!), but Hulu allows me to watch at my own pace and catch up when I do choose to. I have raved about Jojo Siwa and did last week in my post on this season of Dancing with the Stars along with the former Bachelor Matt James *surprise*! I’m so excited for next week’s two episode series since it’ll be Disney themed in honor of Disney’s 50th Anniversary.
  • Quality time with Rosie – I have loved getting to spend some quality time with my dog Rosie, since Papa has been gone this week. Rosie is Papa and I’s dog and we both love and care for her regularly very much. Since she is a lot of work even more than other dogs, it takes two to do it all. This week, I am taking it all on myself. While it is a whole lot of work, it has overall been super rewarding and most importantly special. The quality time is priceless and I cherish it so so so much!

Recent Purchases & My Wish List Items!

  • A “High Maintenance” toy for Rosie – while at The Dollar Tree the other day, I came across a toy that said “High Maintenance on it and was *of course* pink! I could NOT resist, so I got it for Rosie and she has loved it. Rosie is one to destroy all of her toys in one sitting so Papa and I never see it just to buy her new and fancy toys that will only stay snazzy for a split second once she gets it.
  • Glitter and Daisies Aurora Ears – So, my good friend Holly who runs Glitter and Daisies – a Disney ears shop – is donating a fraction of her proceeds from sales of her Aurora Ears Collection to the American Cancer Society. I most definitely had to get a pair this month as I have been wanting to but had yet to since the shop’s opening! Check out Holly’s shop here!
  • FREE Cookbooks – Last weekend, my neighborhood was having a yard sale. My Mom and I went for a walk around the neighborhood and even scored a few things along the way. One of the things that we both scored were multiple cookbooks for FREE! I got some of the Southern Living cookbook editions from the 1980’s and the 1990’s aka a blast from the past. In my free time, I have been listing out some of the many recipes that I want to try from them all and can’t wait to try them soon!

What’s on the Docket?!

  • Weekend in Raleigh – This weekend – tomorrow actually when y’all see this – I am going to be hopping on a plane to RDU with my Jean jacket and a shift dress. Get the reference – hah! Katie’s edition of Miley Cyrus’s Party in the USA! My Meredith College friends and I are going to enjoy some much needed time together simply catching up, especially at the Meredith Reunion Brunch where I few of us are going to be meeting up at. Although it will be for just two days, I am still very excited to be back in the City of Oaks!
  • Day trip to Charlottesville, Virginia – Since it seems to be that going to just Raleigh this upcoming long weekend wasn’t enough, my Papa and I will be taking a day trip to Charlottesville, Virginia on Indigenous People’s Day. I booked us tickets to Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello and I am so excited. I went there when I was 11, so I don’t remember much from it and am ecstatic to be going back again at an age where I can remember it all!

Now that I have shared a bunch about my life and it’s correspondences at this time, I would now LOVE to hear about yours. Comment down below something that you are looking forward to!

XOXO – Katie <3

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